Prince Rupert business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply
Do I need a business licence in Prince Rupert, and how do I get one?
Short answer
Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in Prince Rupert needs a City trade licence before starting, including before advertising. Complete the trade licence application and return it with the fees to Customer Services at City Hall, 424 3rd Avenue West. Licences run January 1 to December 31 and renew yearly.
Key facts
| Who needs one | Anyone carrying on a business in Prince Rupert (a commercial or industrial undertaking, or a professional, personal or other service for gain or profit) needs a Trade Licence before starting, including advertising it. A separate licence is needed for each business and each premises.Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, s. 2.01, 2.02(b)-(c), 3.01; Business Licenses, page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall carry on business within the City of Prince Rupert any business defined without having first obtained a City of Prince Rupert Trade Licence Any person who carries on more than one business in or from any one premises shall obtain a separate licence for each business. without first obtaining a Trade Licence If you are operating as a business or trade in the City of Prince Rupert, you are required to apply for a business license. |
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| Fee | Varies by type of business in Schedule B of the Trade and Licencing Bylaw. Examples: home occupation $85; barber shop or beauty parlour with 1 chair $85; short term rental $17. Half fee if first liable after July 31.Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, Schedule B; s. 2.02; Business Licenses, page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording4900 HOME OCCUPATION $85.00 1000 1 chair $85.00 1505 Short Term Rental $17.00 shall be reduced by one-half in respect of List of License Fees (PDF) |
| How to apply | Complete the trade licence application and return it to Customer Services at City Hall with the fees. The licence is granted if building, zoning, health, sanitation and business bylaws are met; approvals from the City Planner, Fire Chief, Building Inspector or Health Inspector may be needed first.Business Licenses, page; Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, s. 2.03, 2.05(a); Trade Licences brochure, page 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPlease complete the trade license application and return it to Customer Services at City Hall along with the required fees. Every person applying for a licence shall complete the form(s) supplied by regulating building, zoning, health, sanitation and business approvals from the City Planner, Fire Chief, Building Inspector and the Health |
| Renewal | Licences run January 1 to December 31 each year and are renewed annually. A licence can be suspended if the renewal fee is not paid in time.Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, s. 2.02, 2.05(a)(iii); Business Licenses, page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinglicences shall be granted for a one year period, to commence on the first day of January and to terminate on the thirty-first has failed to pay their renewal fee or application fee within the specified Licensing is renewed annually, and all fees must be paid in order to have a license in good standing. |
| Inter-community licence | None set. The City of Prince Rupert has no inter-community licence. |
| Fine | Carrying on business without a licence: $100 municipal ticket (Ticket Bylaw 2783, Schedule C, s. 2.01). On conviction: $25 to $2,000, plus the unpaid licence fee. The ticket schedule is the 2000 consolidation; it lists $150 for carrying on after suspension, under the old section number.Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2783 (PDF, consolidated to 2000), Schedule C; Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 3560, s. 1(b); Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, s. 5.02 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCarrying on business without a licence 2.01 $100.00 Carrying on business with suspended licence 6.01 (e) $150.00 Trade or Business Licence Bylaw No. 3532, 2024 fine of not less than $25.00 and not more than $2,000.00. the amount which should have been paid for such a Licence shall be added to |
| Bylaw | Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingTRADE AND LICENCING BYLAW NO. 3532, 2024 |
How it works
Under the Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, anyone carrying on a business in Prince Rupert (a commercial or industrial undertaking, or a professional, personal or other service for gain or profit) needs a trade licence before starting, including before advertising it. You need a separate licence for each business and each premises.
The licence is granted if building, zoning, health, sanitation and business bylaws are met. Approvals from the City Planner, Fire Chief, Building Inspector or Health Inspector may be needed first. Food and child care businesses also need Northern Health approval.
Steps
- Download and complete the Business/Trade Licence Application.
- Look up the fee for your type of business in Schedule B of the Bylaw.
- Return the application and fees to Customer Services at City Hall.
- Renew every year. A licence can be suspended if the renewal fee is not paid in time.
Good to know
- Licences run January 1 to December 31. No licence fee is refundable. Transferring a licence to new premises costs $10.
- The City has no inter-community licence.
- BizPaL is a free online tool that lists the permits and licences a business needs from the federal, provincial and participating municipal governments.
- The Economic Development Office (250-627-5138) helps people starting a business. The City has an investment portal at princerupert.ecdev.org.
- Fines: carrying on business without a licence is a $100 municipal ticket. On conviction the fine is $25 to $2,000, plus the unpaid licence fee. The ticket schedule is a 2000 consolidation and lists $150 for carrying on after suspension, under the old section number, so section numbers may be out of date.
What you'll need
- Completed Business/Trade Licence Application (fillable PDF, updated 2026)
- The licence fee for your business type
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Port Edward · Kitimat · Terrace · Port Clements · Stewart · New Hazelton
Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licenses, City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Trade Licences brochure (PDF), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2783 (PDF, consolidated to 2000), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 3560 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Contact a City Department, City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Ticketing, Fine Payment and Disputes, City of Prince Rupert (City Hall hours) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.