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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Under Business Licence Bylaw 2801, every person who owns or operates a business in the City of Rossland needs a City licence for each business and each premises. Most businesses pay $125. Fill in the Business Licence Application and email it to city.hall@rossland.ca.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Rossland, https://rossland.ca)  
**Cost:** $125 for most businesses; $150 for a licensed restaurant or bar; $75 for a home occupation, mobile vendor or door-to-door sales. A one-time $150 inspection fee applies to new applications where required (Schedule B of Bylaw 2801).  
**How long:** The City's pages do not give a processing time. You cannot start business until the licence is approved and issued. Licences run January 1 to December 31.  
**Where:**
- Email: Send the completed application to, city.hall@rossland.ca (The email address printed on the City's Business Licence Application form.)
- In person: Rossland City Hall, 1920 Third Avenue, Rossland, BC V0G 1Y0 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Phone: City Hall, 250-362-7396
- Online: Make a Payment (online payment page), https://rossland.ca/make-a-payment/

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Every person who owns or operates a business in the City needs a licence for each business, a separate licence for each premises, and a separate one for each business at the same premises. Not covered: registered societies and charities not running a regular commercial business, occasional non-profit fundraising, government activities, and rentals under the Residential Tenancy Act.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2801, 2024, ss. 1.7, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/38323)
  - Official wording: "Every person who owns or operates a business within the City of Rossland shall apply for, obtain and hold a licence for each business." … "Every person who operates a business at more than one premises, shall obtain a separate licence for each premises" … "a society registered in British Columbia or Canada or a registered charitable organization that does not operate a retail or other commercial business on a regular basis;"
  - Source: [Licenses and Permits](https://rossland.ca/licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "All businesses located in or providing services within City of Rossland boundaries must be in possession of a valid business license."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** $125 for most businesses; $150 for a licensed restaurant or bar; $75 for a home occupation, mobile vendor or door-to-door sales. A one-time $150 inspection fee applies to new applications where required (for example restaurants and other new businesses). Short-term rentals and bed and breakfasts have their own fees.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2801, 2024, Schedule B](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/38323)
  - Official wording: "Licensed Full-Service Restaurant/Bar $150" … "Home Occupation/Mobile Vendors/Door-to-door Sales $75" … "All other businesses not listed $125" … "New Application Inspection (when and where applicable) $150"
  - Source: [Business Licence Application, Licence Type](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/46865)
  - Official wording: "ALL OTHER BUSINESS NOT LISTED (+ $150 one-time inspection fee)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Fill in the Business Licence Application and email it to city.hall@rossland.ca, signed by the applicant and the property owner. Staff check zoning, the building inspector, fire inspector and Interior Health sign-offs as required. You cannot start business until the licence is approved and issued.
  - Source: [Business Licence Application](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/46865)
  - Official wording: "Please send completed form to city.hall@rossland.ca" … "cannot commence business until such time as a business licence has been approved and issued."
  - Source: [Business Licence Application, Business Licence Application (office use)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/46865)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Application Office Use Only Planning Zoning Type: Title Search Completed: Admin Fee: $ Sign Permit Received: Notes:" … "Building Inspector: Required_______________ Name: Signature: Date: Comments: Fire Inspector: Required____________ Name: Signature: Date: Comments: Interior Health Comments:" … "Comments: Fire Inspector: Required____________ Name: Signature: Date: Comments: Interior Health Comments: Final Approval: Name: Signature: Date:"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2801, 2024, s. 8.1](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/38323)
  - Official wording: "the applicant therefore has complied with the requirements of the bylaws of the City regulating building, zoning, health, sanitation and business."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run for one year, from January 1 to December 31, each year.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2801, 2024, s. 4.1](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/38323)
  - Official wording: "the licence period shall be one (1) year, to commence on January l 51 and to terminate on December 3l 51"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes, for travelling service businesses such as trades, cleaning and pest control. The Kootenay-Wide Inter-Community Business Licence is $100 a year on top of a standard licence from a participating town where the business has a premise, and lets it work in the other participating towns. Not for short-term rentals, accommodation or mobile food vendors.
  - Source: [Business Licence Application, Licence Type](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/46865)
  - Official wording: "$100 Additional Fee - INTER-COMMUNITY Kootenay Wide (includes Castlegar, Nelson, Salmo, Creston, New Denver and Silverton)"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2801, 2024, s. 13.1; Schedule A](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/38323)
  - Official wording: "Notwithstanding activities in regards to Short Term Rentals and accommodations" … "are hereby exempted from the requirements to hold a current business licence issued by" … "an agreement among the municipalities of the City of Trail, the Village of Warfield, the Village of Montrose, the Village of Fruitvale and the City of Rossland"
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 2704, 2019, Bylaw No. 2704, 2019, ss. 2, 3, 4 and Schedule A](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/8168/)
  - Official wording: "The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is separate" … "means a Business that performs a service or activity" … "within more than one Participating Government by moving from client to client rather than having clients come to them."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Not holding a valid licence: $500 ($250 if paid early, within 14 days). Operating with an expired licence: $300 ($150 early). In court: $2,000 to $50,000 plus costs.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2801, 2024, Schedule C; s. 14.3](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/38323)
  - Official wording: "Not in possession of valid Business Licence 2.1 $500 $250" … "Operating with an expired Business Licence 2.4 $300 $150" … "(Paid within 14 days)" … "liable on conviction to a fine of no less than two-thousand dollars ($2,000) and not more than fifty-thousand dollars ($50,000.00)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Rossland Business Licence Bylaw No. 2801, 2024
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2801, 2024, s. 1.1](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/38323)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as City of Rossland "Business Licence Bylaw 2801, 2024"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City of Rossland's [Business Licence Bylaw 2801](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/38323), every person who owns or operates a business in the City needs a licence for each business, a separate licence for each premises, and a separate one for each business at the same premises. Not covered: registered societies and charities not running a regular commercial business, occasional non-profit fundraising, government activities, and rentals under the Residential Tenancy Act. A licensed general contractor does not need a separate licence as a sub-contractor. Mobile vendors and door-to-door sellers need their own licence.

## Steps

1. Fill in the Business Licence Application, signed by the applicant and the property owner.
2. Email it to city.hall@rossland.ca.
3. Staff check zoning, and the building inspector, fire inspector and Interior Health sign-offs as required.
4. Pay the fee. You cannot start business until the licence is approved and issued.

## Good to know

- Short-term rentals and bed and breakfasts have their own fees: $400 residential or $800 commercial short-term rental, and $500 bed and breakfast, each plus $150 inspection.
- Fees are not refundable except on denial, less 50%. Unpaid fees owed to the City must be paid on application.
- Licences run for one year, January 1 to December 31. The bylaw and form do not say how or when to renew; ask City Hall (250-362-7396).
- Inter-community licence: for travelling service businesses such as trades, cleaning and pest control, the Kootenay-Wide Inter-Community Business Licence is $100 a year on top of a standard licence from a participating town where the business has a premise. It lets you work in the other participating towns. It is not for short-term rentals, accommodation or mobile food vendors.
- Not holding a valid licence: a bylaw notice is $500 ($250 if paid within 14 days). Operating with an expired licence is $300 ($150 early). In court, the fine is $2,000 to $50,000 plus costs.

## What you'll need

- Business operating name, nature of business and physical address
- Name and contact details of the property owner on title (the form asks for the owner's signature)
- For a licensed restaurant or bar, total floor area and number of seats

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/46865)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2801, 2024 (PDF)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/38323)
- [Licenses and Permits, City of Rossland](https://rossland.ca/licences-and-permits/)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 2704, 2019 (PDF)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/8168/)

## Related questions

- [Rossland home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/home-based-business.md)
- [Rossland short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/business-licence.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/business-licence.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/business-licence.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/business-licence.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/business-licence.md)
- [Grand Forks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Licenses and Permits, City of Rossland](https://rossland.ca/licences-and-permits/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2801, 2024 (PDF), City of Rossland](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/38323) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Application (PDF), City of Rossland](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/46865) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 2704, 2019 (PDF), City of Rossland](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/8168/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Make a payment, City of Rossland](https://rossland.ca/make-a-payment/) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Rossland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/business-licence/_