---
title: "Saanich business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Saanich, and how do I get one?"
place: Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/saanich
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Saanich
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. All businesses operating in Saanich need a valid Saanich or Intermunicipal business licence. It runs January 1 to December 31. Apply online through a MySaanich account; there is no application fee. Most annual licences are $100.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca)  
**Cost:** Annual: home-based $100; home crafts $50; commercial under 5,000 sq ft $100, over 5,000 sq ft $200; non-resident $100; daily $25 per day (max $100 per event); mobile food vendors $100. Half fee for new businesses after July 31. Non-refundable.  
**How long:** The licence is issued, and the fee charged, only after all approvals.  
**Where:**
- Online: Business licence application (MySaanich), https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/application-process.html
- Phone: Business Licences, 250-475-5401
- In person: Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Ave., Victoria BC V8X 2W7 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** All businesses operating in Saanich need a valid Saanich or Intermunicipal business licence. A business is any commercial or industrial undertaking or professional, personal or other service for profit or gain. Government and charitable, philanthropic or religious activity run only for those purposes is excluded.
  - Source: [Who Needs a Business Licence, Who Needs a Business Licence?](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/who-needs-a-business-licence.html)
  - Official wording: "All businesses operating in Saanich must have a valid Business Licence or a valid Intermunicipal Licence." … "Any professional, personal or other services for the purpose of profit or gain."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213, s. 2, 3](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/business-licence-bylaw-2002-no-8213.pdf)
  - Official wording: "but does not include any activity carried on by the government, its agencies or" … "No person shall carry on within Saanich, any business unless he or she is the holder of a valid"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Annual: home-based $100; home crafts $50; commercial under 5,000 sq ft $100, over 5,000 sq ft $200; non-resident $100; daily $25 per day (max $100 per event); mobile food vendors $100. Half fee for new businesses after July 31. Non-refundable.
  - Source: [Business licence fees, Fees page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/fees.html)
  - Official wording: "Home-based: $100" … "Commercial – small (<5,000 sq. ft.): $100" … "Commercial – large (>5,000 sq. ft.): $200" … "Non-resident: $100" … "Daily – per day (trade shows): $25" … "Licence fees are non-refundable"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213, Schedule A](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/business-licence-bylaw-2002-no-8213.pdf)
  - Official wording: "10. Daily – per day (to a maximum of $100 per event) $25.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Apply online through a MySaanich account; there is no application fee. Planning checks zoning; Inspections, Fire and Island Health may need to approve. The licence is issued, and the fee charged, only after all approvals.
  - Source: [Business licence application process, Application Process](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/application-process.html)
  - Official wording: "Create a MySaanich account to start and complete an application." … "There is no fee to apply for a business licence." … "The Planning Department will assess if the zoning bylaw allows your business activity at commercial or residential properties." … "We can only issue a business licence once we get final approvals from all departments."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31 and are paid annually; the holder must renew before each licence period starts. Licences cannot be transferred.
  - Source: [Business licence fees, Fees page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/fees.html)
  - Official wording: "Business licence duration: January 1 – December 31" … "Licences are paid annually"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213, s. 3](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/business-licence-bylaw-2002-no-8213.pdf)
  - Official wording: "it shall be incumbent upon each person to renew such licence prior to the beginning"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. A Saanich resident with an eligible mobile business can get an Intermunicipal licence covering Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay, Central Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney, View Royal, Esquimalt, Colwood, Langford, The Highlands, Metchosin and Sooke. Fee: $100 home-based; $200 or $300 with a commercial location (under or over 5,000 sq ft).
  - Source: [Home-Based Business licence, Home-Based Business page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/business-licence-types/home-based-business-licence.html)
  - Official wording: "An intermunicipal business licence allows a Saanich resident, with an eligible mobile business, to operate across these municipalities:" … "- Colwood - Langford - The Highlands - Metchosin - Sooke"
  - Source: [Business licence fees, Fees page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/fees.html)
  - Official wording: "Home-based with intermunicipal: $100" … "Intermunicipal with commercial location (<5,000 sq. ft.): $200" … "Intermunicipal with commercial location (>5,000 sq. ft.): $300"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $200 after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $150 within 30 days, $200 after. Saanich's page says you could be fined up to $200 per day.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule 3](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Carrying on a business 3 $150.00 $50.00 $50.00"
  - Source: [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 3](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Carrying on a business without a licence 3 $150.00 $200.00"
  - Source: [Who Needs a Business Licence, Who Needs a Business Licence?](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/who-needs-a-business-licence.html)
  - Official wording: "You could be fined up to $200 per day."
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, s. 3.1](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "if received by the District within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to" … "if received by the District more than 28 days after the person received or is"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213, title](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/business-licence-bylaw-2002-no-8213.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW, 2002, No. 8213"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/business-licence-bylaw-2002-no-8213.pdf), every business in Saanich needs a valid Saanich or Intermunicipal business licence. A business is any commercial or industrial undertaking, or professional, personal or other service, for profit or gain. Government activity, and charitable, philanthropic or religious activity run only for those purposes, is excluded.

Licences run January 1 to December 31 and are paid annually. You must renew before each licence period starts. Licences cannot be transferred.

An Intermunicipal licence is available to a Saanich resident with an eligible mobile business. It covers Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay, Central Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney, View Royal, Esquimalt, Colwood, Langford, The Highlands, Metchosin and Sooke. It costs $100 home-based, or $200 or $300 with a commercial location (under or over 5,000 sq ft). Eligible business types are in Schedule B of the bylaw.

## Steps

1. Apply online through a MySaanich account. There is no application fee.
2. Planning checks zoning; Inspections, Fire and Island Health may need to approve.
3. Once all approvals are in, the licence is issued and the fee is charged.
4. Renew before January 1 each year.

## Good to know

- Fees are non-refundable. New businesses applying after July 31 pay half.
- Fines: a bylaw notice is $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $200 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $150 within 30 days and $200 after. Saanich's page says you could be fined up to $200 per day. The bylaw itself says a fine on conviction of not less than $150.
- Questions: Business Licences, 250-475-5401.

## Official forms and pages

- [Who Needs a Business Licence, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/who-needs-a-business-licence.html)
- [Business licence fees, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/fees.html)
- [Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/business-licence-bylaw-2002-no-8213.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Saanich home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [Saanich short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/short-term-rental.md)
- [Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Saanich bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/business-licence.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/business-licence.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/business-licence.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/business-licence.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/business-licence.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence Types | District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/business-licence-types.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/business-licence-bylaw-2002-no-8213.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Who Needs a Business Licence, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/who-needs-a-business-licence.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business licence fees, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/fees.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business licence application process, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/application-process.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Home-Based Business licence, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/business-licence-types/home-based-business-licence.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/business-licence/_