---
title: "Quesnel business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Quesnel, and how do I get one?"
place: Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/quesnel
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Quesnel
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** In Quesnel every business operating in or from premises needs a City business licence, including home based businesses. Most pay $75 a year, plus a $50 administration fee on a new licence. Apply online or at City Hall (410 Kinchant Street). Licences expire December 31.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Quesnel, https://www.quesnel.ca)  
**Cost:** Most businesses $75 a year; home based $50 (minor) or $75 (major); mobile vendor $250; liquor-serving $125; large retail over 1,000 m2 $500; financial institution $1,000. A new licence adds a $50 administration fee; in the first year the fee is prorated by 50% after July 31. Other categories are in Schedule A5.  
**How long:** Not stated. Applications are not processed until payment reaches City Hall.  
**Where:**
- Online: New Business Licence form, https://www.quesnel.ca/business-services/business-licences/new-business-licence
- In person: City Hall (pay here), 410 Kinchant Street, Quesnel, BC V2J 7J5 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; cash, debit or cheque)
- Phone: Bylaw Department / City Hall, 250-992-2111
- Email: Bylaw Department, bylaw@quesnel.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Every business operating in or from premises in the City, including home based businesses. A separate licence is needed for each business category, each location (except mobile businesses and vendors) and each trade name. No licence for a garage sale held no more than three days a year at a property.
  - Source: [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 1810, 2016, ss. 1.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/81398)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw applies to all business activity in or from premises within the City" … "No license shall be required for a garage sale, which shall not occur at the same property more than three days in a single calendar year." … "For each trade name or type of business"
  - Source: [New Business Licence, New Business Licence page](https://www.quesnel.ca/business-services/business-licences/new-business-licence)
  - Official wording: "All businesses operating in the City of Quesnel must obtain a business licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Most businesses pay $75 a year. Home based $50 (minor) or $75 (major); mobile vendor $250; liquor-serving $125; large retail over 1,000 m² $500; financial institution $1,000. A new licence adds a $50 administration fee. In the first year the fee is prorated by 50% after July 31.
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw 1683, Schedule A5](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/master-fee-bylaw-january-1-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "12.0 All other Businesses $75" … "8.0 Mobile Vendors selling goods and food products $250" … "Establishment serving liquor $125" … "Commercial Retail - Department Store (greater than 1000 m2) $500" … "3.0 Banks and Financial Institutions $1,000" … "An additional non-refundable administration fee of $50.00 will be applied to the initial application." … "the licence fee will be prorated by 50% after July 31 of the given calendar year." … "For the first calendar year of the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Apply online with the City's form, or submit the printed form by mail or in person at City Hall (410 Kinchant St). Provide photo ID for all owners (may be shown in person) and proof of incorporation if incorporated, a society or a partnership. Applications are not processed until payment reaches City Hall.
  - Source: [New Business Licence, New Business Licence page](https://www.quesnel.ca/business-services/business-licences/new-business-licence)
  - Official wording: "To submit online, fill in the form below or to submit by mail or in person, download the application" … "Copy of valid photo identification from ALL owners/operators" … "Proof of Incorporation (Incorporated, Society, or Partnership)" … "Applications will not be processed until payment is received at City Hall." … "IN-PERSON - 410 Kinchant St"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences expire December 31. The renewal fee must be paid before March 1 under the bylaw. The City's renewal page says payment is due by March 31 or a $25 penalty applies; the fee schedule charges $25 on renewals paid on or after April 1. (Sources differ: The bylaw, the web page and the fee schedule give three different deadlines. Renewal notices are mailed in January. Pay in person, by bank transfer over the phone, or by online banking. Tell the City if your name, address or ownership changes.)
  - Source: [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 1810, 2016, s. 4.6.2](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/81398)
  - Official wording: "the fee must be paid before March 1st of each and every year that the business activity continues."
  - Source: [Renew Business Licence, Renew Business Licence page](https://www.quesnel.ca/business-services/business-licences/renew-business-licence)
  - Official wording: "payment is due no later than March 31 of each year or a $25 penalty will apply."
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw 1683, Schedule A5](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/master-fee-bylaw-january-1-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "An administration fee of $25.00 will be applied to all business licence renewals paid on or after April 1st of the year."
  - Source: [New Business Licence, New Business Licence page](https://www.quesnel.ca/business-services/business-licences/new-business-licence)
  - Official wording: "All business licences expire on December 31 of the current year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fine:** Operating without a business licence: $200 first offence, $500 second within 12 months, $1,000 subsequent offences within 12 months.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1774, consolidated October 18, 2024, Schedule 5 of Bylaw 1774](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/1774-mti-consolidated-2024pdf)
  - Official wording: "Operating without a Business License" … "First Offence $200" … "Second Offence (within 12 months) $500" … "Subsequent Offences (within 12 months) $1,000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Quesnel Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 1810, 2016, as amended by Amendment Bylaw No. 1910, 2021 (effective January 1, 2022).
  - Source: [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 1810, 2016, cover](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/81398)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS REGULATION AND LICENSING BYLAW NO. 1810, 2016"
  - Source: [Amendment Bylaw No. 1910, 2021, Bylaw 1910 preamble](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/136043/)
  - Official wording: "to improve the clarity of the language and better interpretation."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Quesnel's [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw 1810](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/81398), as amended by Bylaw 1910, requires a licence for every business operating in or from premises in the City, including home based businesses. A separate licence is needed for each business category, each location (except mobile businesses and vendors) and each trade name. No licence is needed for a garage sale held no more than three days a year at a property. The bylaw does not cover federal, provincial, local government or Indian reserve activity.

## Steps

1. Apply online with the City's form, or submit the printed form by mail or in person at City Hall (410 Kinchant St).
2. Provide photo ID for all owners (may be shown in person), and proof of incorporation if you are incorporated, a society or a partnership.
3. Pay in person (cash, debit or cheque), by cheque in the mail, or by e-transfer to financedepartment@quesnel.ca with "business name + Business Licence". The City does not process an application until payment reaches City Hall.

## Good to know

- Renewals: licences expire December 31. The bylaw says the renewal fee must be paid before March 1. The City's renewal page says March 31, after which a $25 penalty applies; the fee schedule charges $25 on renewals paid on or after April 1; and the application form says fees are due January 1. Follow the bylaw date, and confirm with the City. Renewal notices are mailed in January.
- Landlords of two or more units who do not live in one, and commercial landlords, need rental or accommodation licences.
- Operating without a licence: a municipal ticket of $200 for a first offence, $500 for a second within 12 months and $1,000 for later ones. Court prosecution can bring $50 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.
- The Director may ask for title searches or permits before issuing a licence. Tell the City if your name, address or ownership changes.
- No inter-community business licence was found.

## Official forms and pages

- [New Business Licence (online form)](https://www.quesnel.ca/business-services/business-licences/new-business-licence)
- [General Business Licence Form (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/sites/default/files/general_bl_application_form.pdf)
- [Information and Guide for Business Licence Applicants (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/information-and-guide-business-licence-applicantspdf)
- [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 1810, 2016 (PDF)](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/81398)

## Related questions

- [Quesnel home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/business-licence.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/business-licence.md)
- [McBride](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/business-licence.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/business-licence.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/business-licence.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of Quesnel](https://www.quesnel.ca/business-services/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [New Business Licence, City of Quesnel](https://www.quesnel.ca/business-services/business-licences/new-business-licence) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Renew Business Licence, City of Quesnel](https://www.quesnel.ca/business-services/business-licences/renew-business-licence) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Accommodation Business Licence, City of Quesnel](https://www.quesnel.ca/business-services/business-licences/accommodation-business-licence) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 1810, 2016 (PDF)](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/81398) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Amendment Bylaw No. 1910, 2021 (PDF)](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/136043/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw 1683, Schedule A5 (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/master-fee-bylaw-january-1-2026pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1774, consolidated October 18, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/1774-mti-consolidated-2024pdf) (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 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Quesnel. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/business-licence/_