Qualicum Beach business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply
Do I need a business licence in Qualicum Beach, and how do I get one?
Yes. Anyone doing business in Qualicum Beach needs a Town business licence, including home-based businesses, contractors from outside the Town, bed and breakfasts and daycares. Most categories cost $110 a year. Apply with payment at Town Hall or by mail.
Key facts
| Who needs one | Anyone doing business in Qualicum Beach, including contractors and other mobile businesses based outside the Town. Home-based businesses, bed and breakfasts, daycares and mobile food vendors also need one (daycares need provincial licensing as well).Business Licences · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingTo conduct business in the Town of Qualicum Beach, you require a business licence This includes contractors and other mobile businesses that may have a primary location outside of Qualicum Beach. A business licence from the Town is also required. |
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| Fee | Per calendar year: hotel/motel $110; banks and credit unions $270; real estate $110 per agent (max $300); door-to-door or phone soliciting $245 per person; retail up to 2,000 sq. ft. $110, over $220; professional $110 per person; insurance agency or adjuster $220; restaurants, cafes, delis $110; contractors $110; businesses not described $110 per classification; special event $55; transfer $25.General Business Licence Application, Schedule A, Business Licence Fee Structure · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUSINESS LICENCE FEE STRUCTURE HOTEL, MOTEL (Room rentals) $110.00 BANKS, CREDIT UNIONS, TRUST COMPANIES $270.00 DOOR TO DOOR OR TELEPHONE SOLICITING (per person) $245.00 PROFESSIONAL (per person) $110.00 INSURANCE AGENCY/ADJUSTER $220.00 CONTRACTORS/SUBCONTRACTORS $110.00 SPECIAL EVENT LICENCE $55.00 TRANSFER FEE $25.00 |
| How to apply | Submit the Business Licence Application with payment, in person at Town Hall (#201-660 Primrose Street, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) or by mail (PO Box 130). Include a floor plan with all measurements, and a site and parking plan; business location, contact information and premises details (parking, floor area, employees) are asked. Town staff check zoning, parking, and building, sign, health and fire needs.Business Licences, Business Licence Application; General Business Licence Application, Department use only · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingApplications and payment must be submitted together, by one of the following methods: Each application must be submitted with a floor plan showing all measurements of spaces, windows, doors, and washrooms, along with a site and parking plan. Business premises details (parking, floor area, employees etc.) Yes No ICBL N/A Zoning Compliant Category Code Yes No Fee Code N/A Zoning Business License # Permitted Use Roll # Parking Compliant Annual Fee Yes No • requires the B&B declaration • requires a Fire Department inspection application & fee (inspection appointment coordinated by Town staff) • guest rooms must be contained in the dwelling unit |
| Renewal | Licences are renewed each year in December and run for the calendar year ending December 31. Bylaw 506 (an older consolidation) halves the fee for a business that starts after July 31, except special event licences and transfer fees; the Town's page and form do not mention this.Business Licences; Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506, s. 3.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingwhich is renewed each year in December 31st. of December excluding special event licences |
| Inter-community licence | Yes. A business located in Qualicum Beach that serves other Vancouver Island communities can add an inter-community business licence for $150 a year; it is in addition to the Qualicum Beach licence. The form says it covers 12 other participating municipalities.Business Licences, Inter-Community Business Licence; General Business Licence Application, page 1; Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 688, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe inter-community licence is required in addition to a business licence for Qualicum Beach. The annual fee is $150 for all participating municipalities. This license allows you to operate in 12 other participating municipalities on Vancouver Island without requiring individual business licenses. Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 688, |
| Fine | Municipal ticket: $200 for having no business licence; $150 for failing to get a licence for more than one premises or to transfer a licence. Each day can be ticketed.Qualicum Beach, What are the Fines for Non-Compliance?; Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506, s. 5.1; Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 626, Schedule 4 of Bylaw 626 (Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506.07) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe fine for failure to obtain a valid Business License in the Town of Qualicum Beach is $200.00 as per the Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 626, 2008. Tickets can be issued daily for each offense. conviction to to a fine fine not not exceeding exceeding Two Two Thousand Dollars ($2000.00). ($2000.00). No Business Licence 2 $200.00 Fail to Obtain Licence for More Than One 3.9 $150.00 may be imposed for each day that the offence continues. |
| Bylaw | Town of Qualicum Beach Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506 (consolidated, to Amendment Bylaw No. 506.09)Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506, title and consolidation · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBylaw Bylaw No. 506.07- No. 506.07 - Business Licencing Licencing and and Regulation Regulation Bylaw Bylaw January 2007) 2007) to Amendment Amendment Bylaw Bylaw No. 506.09 No. 506.09 of 8 Page 7 of |
How it works
Anyone doing business in Qualicum Beach needs a Town business licence, including contractors and other mobile businesses based outside the Town. Home-based businesses, bed and breakfasts, daycares and mobile food vendors also need one (daycares need provincial licensing as well). Rules are in the Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506.
Fees, per calendar year: hotel/motel $110; banks and credit unions $270; real estate $110 per agent (maximum $300); door-to-door or phone soliciting $245 per person; retail up to 2,000 sq. ft. $110, over that $220; professional $110 per person; insurance agency or adjuster $220; restaurants, cafes, delis $110; contractors $110; businesses not described $110 per classification; special event $55; transfer $25. A business with more than one classification pays a separate fee for each.
Inter-community licence: a Qualicum Beach business that serves other Vancouver Island communities can add one for $150 a year, on top of the Town licence. The form says it covers 12 other participating municipalities.
Renewal: licences are renewed each year in December and run for the calendar year ending December 31. The older consolidated Bylaw 506 halves the fee for a business that starts after July 31 (not special event or transfer fees); the Town's page and form do not mention this, so ask.
Steps
- Complete the Business Licence Application, with a floor plan showing all measurements and a site and parking plan.
- Submit it with payment at Town Hall or by mail.
- Town staff check zoning, parking, and building, sign, health and fire needs.
Good to know
- Fines: a municipal ticket is $200 for having no business licence, and $150 for failing to get a licence for more than one premises or to transfer a licence. Each day can be ticketed.
- The posted Bylaw 506 is an older consolidation; the Town's page and application form give the current fees.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Parksville · Lantzville · Port Alberni · Nanaimo · Sechelt · Comox
Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach (read 2026-11-06)
- General Business Licence Application (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach (read 2026-11-06)
- Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506 (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach (read 2026-11-06)
- Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 688 (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 626 (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach (read 2026-11-06)
- Qualicum Beach (read 2026-11-06)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.