Saanich business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply
Do I need a business licence in Saanich, and how do I get one?
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.
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.Who Needs a Business Licence, Who Needs a Business Licence?; Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213, s. 2, 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll 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. 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 |
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| 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.Business licence fees, Fees page; Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHome-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 10. Daily – per day (to a maximum of $100 per event) $25.00 |
| 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.Business licence application process, Application Process · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCreate 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. |
| 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.Business licence fees, Fees page; Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213, s. 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBusiness licence duration: January 1 – December 31 Licences are paid annually it shall be incumbent upon each person to renew such licence prior to the beginning |
| 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).Home-Based Business licence, Home-Based Business page; Business licence fees, Fees page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAn intermunicipal business licence allows a Saanich resident, with an eligible mobile business, to operate across these municipalities: - Colwood - Langford - The Highlands - Metchosin - Sooke Home-based with intermunicipal: $100 Intermunicipal with commercial location (<5,000 sq. ft.): $200 Intermunicipal with commercial location (>5,000 sq. ft.): $300 |
| 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule 3; Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 3; Who Needs a Business Licence, Who Needs a Business Licence?; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, s. 3.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCarrying on a business 3 $150.00 $50.00 $50.00 Carrying on a business without a licence 3 $150.00 $200.00 You could be fined up to $200 per day. 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 |
| Bylaw | Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW, 2002, No. 8213 |
How it works
Under the Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213, 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
- Apply online through a MySaanich account. There is no application fee.
- Planning checks zoning; Inspections, Fire and Island Health may need to approve.
- Once all approvals are in, the licence is issued and the fee is charged.
- 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
The same question in other places
Oak Bay · Esquimalt · Victoria · View Royal · Central Saanich · Colwood
Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licence Types | District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Business Licence Bylaw, 2002, No. 8213 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Who Needs a Business Licence, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Business licence fees, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Business licence application process, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Home-Based Business licence, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- 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. How answers are checked.