---
title: "Pouce Coupe business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Pouce Coupe, and how do I get one?"
place: Pouce Coupe, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/pouce-coupe
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Pouce Coupe
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/business-licence.json"
---

# Pouce Coupe business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply

**Question:** Do I need a business licence in Pouce Coupe, and how do I get one?

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone who operates a business in Pouce Coupe needs a Village business licence, with a separate one for each business. Fees depend on the business type, for example $83.07 for retail and $99.68 for general services. Apply in person at the Village Office, 5011 49th Avenue.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Pouce Coupe, https://www.poucecoupe.ca)  
**Cost:** By business type, Schedule D of Bylaw 1062 (2025). Retail $83.07; restaurants $83.07; general services $99.68; contractors $99.68; professionals $99.68; financial $166.14.  
**How long:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. Returning businesses are invoiced in January and have up to 30 days from the invoice date to pay.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 5011 49th Avenue, Pouce Coupe, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-786-5794
- Email: Village Office, info@poucecoupe.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone who operates a business or carries on business activity in the Village, with a separate licence for each business. Some non-resident businesses are exempt (for example commercial travellers selling to merchants, vendors at one-day Village events).
  - Source: [Business Licensing](https://poucecoupe.ca/business/business-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "Anybody operating a business or conducting business activity in the Village of Pouce Coupe is required to carry a business licence."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014, 2018, s. 3.1, 3.2, 9](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/17371/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on a business or business activity in the Village without taking out and maintaining either a Village of Pouce Coupe Business Licence (paying in advance for such licence) or Inter-Community Business Licence" … "Every person who owns or operates any business within the Village shall apply for, obtain and hold a licence for each business." … "A vendor selling goods or merchandise for a one-day special event put on by the Village, unless otherwise specified; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Set by business type in Bylaw 1062 Schedule D (2025): retail businesses $83.07; restaurants $83.07; general services $99.68; contractors $99.68; professionals $99.68; financial businesses $166.14. A first-year business that starts after July 1 may be charged half.
  - Source: [Consolidated Municipal Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1062, 2025, Schedule D](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46859/)
  - Official wording: "8A Retail Businesses Not Listed $83.07" … "8D Restaurant $83.07" … "5A Services Not Listed $99.68" … "6A Contracting Not Listed $99.68" … "3A Professions Not Listed $99.68" … "1A Other Financial Companies Not Listed $166.14"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014, 2018, s. 4.2](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/17371/)
  - Official wording: "Businesses in their first year of operation may be charged a pro-rated amount of half the total identified in Schedule "D" of the Village of Pouce Coupe Consolidated Municipal Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1062, 2025, if they have not conducted business prior to July 1st of that year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** In person at the Village Office: a first-time applicant completes and signs the business licence application and pays the fee. The premises may need to pass inspections by the Licence Inspector, Fire Chief and Building Inspector, and the Village may require approval that the premises meet its bylaws. Post the licence in a conspicuous place.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014, 2018, s. 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/17371/)
  - Official wording: "shall complete, sign and deliver an application to the Village office" … "may be required to pass inspections by the Licence Inspector, Fire Chief and Building Inspector before a licence is issued for that business." … "may require a letter or certificate of approval to determine that the premises for which the licence is sought does not violate any provisions of any pertinent bylaws of the Village" … "shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the business premises"
  - Source: [Forms and Applications](https://poucecoupe.ca/residents/forms-applications/)
  - Official wording: "Application - Business Licence FORM FILLABLE"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. Returning businesses are invoiced in January and have up to 30 days from the invoice date to pay.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014, 2018, s. 4.1, 5.2](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/17371/)
  - Official wording: "Licences shall be issued for a 12-month period to commence on the first day of January and expire on the 31st day of December each year." … "Returning businesses shall be issued invoices in January the following year, and have up to 30 days from the invoice date to pay for the license."
  - Source: [Business Licensing](https://poucecoupe.ca/business/business-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "Village of Pouce Coupe business licences are valid for the calendar year only."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. The Northeast B.C. Inter-Community Business Licence is an add-on costing $130, valid in Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Chetwynd, Hudson's Hope, Taylor, Tumbler Ridge and Pouce Coupe. It is for mobile businesses and does not cover cannabis. It is in addition to the standard business licence.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Inter-Community Licences - Northeast B.C.](https://poucecoupe.ca/business/business-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "For an additional $130, any Pouce Coupe business can operate within any of the municipalities listed above without the requirement to carry separate licences for each municipality."
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 993, 2017, s. 4](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46625/)
  - Official wording: "The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is $130" … "The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is separate and additional to any Business Licence fee that may be required."
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 993, 2017, s. 2 (Participating Government)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46625/)
  - Official wording: "City of Dawson Creek" … "District of Tumbler Ridge"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** $250 for carrying on business without a licence. Business licence not displayed $100; not carried $100. Retail cannabis without a licence $750. A second offence in the same calendar year is double the penalty, a third triple.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, Schedule D](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46964/)
  - Official wording: "No Business Licence 3, 12.1(a) $250.00" … "Business licence not displayed 5.6 $100.00" … "Retail Cannabis without a Licence 8.1(b) $750.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014, 2018, s. 12.2(c), (d)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/17371/)
  - Official wording: "Where a person commits a second offence against any provision of this bylaw in the same calendar year, he or she shall be liable to pay double the original specified penalty." … "shall be liable to pay three times the original specified penalty."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014, 2018 (with Amendment Bylaw No. 1066, 2025); fees in Consolidated Municipal Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1062, 2025, Schedule D; Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 993, 2017.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014, 2018, Title](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/17371/)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 1014, 2018"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014, 2018, s. 3.1](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/17371/)
  - Official wording: "Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 993, 2017"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/17371/), anyone who operates a business or carries on business activity in Pouce Coupe needs a licence, with a separate licence for each business. Some non-resident businesses are exempt, such as commercial travellers selling to merchants and vendors at one-day Village events. Fees are set by business type in Schedule D of [Bylaw 1062](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46859/) and are non-refundable.

## Steps

1. Complete and sign the business licence application. Get it at the Village Office or from the Village's forms page.
2. Pay the fee in person at the Village Office. The premises may need to pass inspections by the Licence Inspector, Fire Chief and Building Inspector.
3. Post the licence in a conspicuous place.

## Good to know

- A first-year business that starts after July 1 may be charged half.
- Cannabis retail and cultivation fees are $2,769 (up to 2 years) and need a Council letter of support.
- Mobile businesses can add the Northeast B.C. Inter-Community Business Licence for $130. It is valid in Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Chetwynd, Hudson's Hope, Taylor, Tumbler Ridge and Pouce Coupe, does not cover cannabis, and is on top of the standard licence.
- Fines: $250 for operating without a licence; $100 for not displaying it; $100 for not carrying it; $750 for retail cannabis without a licence. A second offence in the same calendar year is double the penalty, a third triple.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licensing, Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.ca/business/business-licensing/)
- [Forms and Applications, Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.ca/residents/forms-applications/)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014 (PDF)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/17371/)

## Related questions

- [Pouce Coupe home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/home-based-business.md)
- [Pouce Coupe short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/short-term-rental.md)
- [Pouce Coupe building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/building-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/business-licence.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/business-licence.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/business-licence.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/business-licence.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/business-licence.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing, Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.ca/business/business-licensing/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Forms and Applications, Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.ca/residents/forms-applications/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1014, 2018 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/17371/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Consolidated Municipal Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1062, 2025 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46859/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 993, 2017 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46625/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46964/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Pouce Coupe. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/business-licence/_