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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the District of Sechelt needs a valid District business licence for each business. A regular licence is $150 a year. Apply with the online application form; staff review it and contact you to pay.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Sechelt, https://www.sechelt.ca)  
**Cost:** Regular licence (business only in Sechelt) $150 a year; non-profit $1; a single business in two or more classifications $150 more. Licences first needed after July 31 are half price. Short-term rentals have separate fees.  
**How long:** Not stated on the page. Licences run January 1 to December 31; renewal invoices go out in December and are due January 1.  
**Where:**
- Online: Business Licences, District of Sechelt (application form and MySechelt portal), https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/business/business-licences/
- In person: Municipal Hall, 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie Street, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (days of the week not stated on the page))
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 604-885-1986

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the District must pay the licence fee and hold a valid business licence for each business. Licences are not transferable, so a new owner or a new location needs a new licence. No business that needs a licence may advertise without one.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (PDF, consolidated February 2026), ss. 3.1, 3.9, 5.1](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/msydxzws/520-2012-business-licence-bylaw-consolidation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no person shall carry on a business within the District of Sechelt unless:" … "That person is the holder of a valid and subsisting business licence issued by the Licence Inspector" … "unless they are the holder of a valid business licence issued pursuant to this bylaw." … "a new owner of that business shall apply for a new licence"
  - Source: [Business Licences, District of Sechelt Process](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/business/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Your business licence is non-transferable"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Regular licence (business only in Sechelt): $150 a year. Non-profit: $1. A single business in two or more classifications: $150 more. Short-term rentals have separate fees. Licences first needed after July 31 are half price.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Types of Business Licences](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/business/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Regular Business Licence $150 yearly fee"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 575, 2019 (PDF, consolidated March 2026), Schedule M](https://sechelt-ca.govstack.com/media/bz5dgd1e/575-2019-fees-and-charges-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Basic Business Licence Fee $150" … "Non-Profit Business Licence Fee $1" … "Multiple Business Licence Fee $150"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (PDF, consolidated February 2026), s. 3.4](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/msydxzws/520-2012-business-licence-bylaw-consolidation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be reduced by one half (50%) in respect of a person who becomes liable to be licensed after the 31st day of July"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Submit the New Business Licence Application Form (online); staff review it and then contact you to pay. The licence is meant to confirm the business meets health, fire and building codes and zoning. Other forms cover a move, change of owner, name or address, and cancellation.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Application Process](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/business/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Complete and submit a business licence application." … "New Business Licence - Use the New Business Licence Application Form" … "Once your application has been reviewed, you will be contacted by staff to make payment." … "Having a business licence helps to ensure your business meets health, fire and building codes, as well as zoning bylaws."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. Renewal invoices are sent in December and are due January 1. Renew on the MySechelt portal, in person at Municipal Hall, or by phone with a credit card.
  - Source: [Business Licences, District of Sechelt Process](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/business/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Annual licences are issued for a calendar year (Jan 1 - Dec 31)." … "Renewal invoices will be sent out to all businesses December of each year and are due January 1st" … "Renewing your business licence - Use our MySechelt online portal, in person at municipal hall, or over the phone with a credit card"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (PDF, consolidated February 2026), s. 4.1](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/msydxzws/520-2012-business-licence-bylaw-consolidation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "to commence on the 1st day of January and terminate on the 31st day of December"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. An Inter-Community Business Licence lets a Sechelt-based business that visits clients work in Sechelt, the Town of Gibsons and the shíshálh Nation (the District's page also lists the SCRD). The District's page gives $225 a year in total ($150 plus a $75 add-on, per the fee schedule). Bylaw 549 says the add-on fee is $50. (Sources differ: Conflict on the add-on fee: Fees and Charges Bylaw 575 Schedule M says $75 (matches the page's $225 with the $150 licence); Inter-Community Bylaw 549, 2015 s. 4 says $50. Fee bylaw followed as the more recent. The business must still meet the licensing rules of every participating place where it works.)
  - Source: [Business Licences, Types of Business Licences](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/business/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Inter-Community Business Licence $225 yearly fee" … "An inter-community Business Licence allows Sechelt-based businesses to conduct business in the Town of Gibsons, shíshálh Nation and the Sunshine Coast Regional District."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 575, 2019 (PDF, consolidated March 2026), Schedule M](https://sechelt-ca.govstack.com/media/bz5dgd1e/575-2019-fees-and-charges-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the shíshálh Nation, Town of Gibsons and District $75 Licence Fee"
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 549, 2015, s. 4(a)-(b)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/sechelt-ca/media/mcfngzbr/549-2015-inter-community-business-licence.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence from the District of Sechelt shall be $50.00" … "is separate and additional to the Municipal Business Licence fee that is required."
  - Source: [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 549, 2015, preamble](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/sechelt-ca/media/mcfngzbr/549-2015-inter-community-business-licence.pdf)
  - Official wording: "between the District of Sechelt, the Town of Gibsons and the Sechelt Indian Government District"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket (Bylaw 491): $2,000 for carrying on business without a valid licence; $1,000 for not paying the licence fee. Bylaw notice (Bylaw 515): $250 for having no business licence ($300 for advertising without a valid licence).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 491, 2010 (PDF, consolidated March 2026), Appendix 2](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/sghjjzsn/491-2010-municipal-ticket-information-consolidation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1. Non-payment of License fee 3.1.1 $1,000.00" … "2. Carrying on business without valid license 3.1.2 $2,000.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw No. 515, 2012, Schedule A (Bylaw 520)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/sechelt-ca/media/d0ibsbhf/515-2012-bylaw-notice-enforcement-implementation-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No business Licence $250 Yes" … "No advertising or promotion by any $300"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** District of Sechelt Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (PDF, consolidated February 2026), s. 1](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/msydxzws/520-2012-business-licence-bylaw-consolidation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “District of Sechelt Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012.”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Business Licence Bylaw 520](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/msydxzws/520-2012-business-licence-bylaw-consolidation.pdf), anyone carrying on a business in the District of Sechelt must pay the licence fee and hold a valid business licence for each business. Licences are not transferable, so a new owner or a new location needs a new licence. A business that needs a licence may not advertise without one. The licence is meant to confirm the business meets health, fire and building codes and zoning.

## Steps

1. Fill in the New Business Licence Application Form online.
2. Staff review it and contact you to pay.
3. Renew each year: invoices are sent in December and due January 1. Renew on the MySechelt portal, in person at Municipal Hall, or by phone with a credit card.
4. Other forms cover a move, change of owner, name or address, and cancellation.

## Good to know

- The fee is not refundable if you close your business.
- An Inter-Community Business Licence lets a Sechelt-based business that visits clients work in Sechelt, the Town of Gibsons and the shíshálh Nation (the District's page also lists the SCRD). The page gives $225 a year in total ($150 plus a $75 add-on per the fee schedule). Inter-Community Bylaw 549 says the add-on is $50, so confirm the amount. The business must still meet each place's licensing rules.
- Fines: a municipal ticket (Bylaw 491) is $2,000 for carrying on business without a valid licence and $1,000 for not paying the licence fee. A bylaw notice (Bylaw 515) is $250 for no business licence and $300 for advertising without a valid licence. A bylaw notice must be paid or disputed within 14 days.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/business/business-licences/)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (PDF)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/msydxzws/520-2012-business-licence-bylaw-consolidation.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/business-licence.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/business-licence.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/business-licence.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/business-licence.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/business-licence.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/business/business-licences/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (PDF, consolidated February 2026)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/msydxzws/520-2012-business-licence-bylaw-consolidation.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 575, 2019 (PDF, consolidated March 2026)](https://sechelt-ca.govstack.com/media/bz5dgd1e/575-2019-fees-and-charges-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 549, 2015 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/sechelt-ca/media/mcfngzbr/549-2015-inter-community-business-licence.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 491, 2010 (PDF, consolidated March 2026)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/sghjjzsn/491-2010-municipal-ticket-information-consolidation.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw No. 515, 2012 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/sechelt-ca/media/d0ibsbhf/515-2012-bylaw-notice-enforcement-implementation-consolidated.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 Sechelt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/business-licence/_