---
title: "Stewart business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Stewart, and how do I get one?"
place: Stewart, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/stewart
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Stewart
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Businesses operating in the District of Stewart need a valid business licence. Fill in the Business Licence Application Form and email it to info@districtofstewart.com or deliver it to 705 Brightwell Street. Fees vary by type of business.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Stewart, https://districtofstewart.com)  
**Cost:** Fees vary by type of business and can likely be determined from the rate sheet in the Business Licence Bylaw, which was not posted in the text we read. Fees for businesses that operate all year are charged annually and are non-refundable once the licence is issued.  
**How long:** The District does not state a processing time.  
**Where:**
- In person: District office, 705 Brightwell Street, Stewart, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: District office, 250-636-2251
- Email: Business licence applications, info@districtofstewart.com

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Businesses operating in the District of Stewart need a valid business licence. A new application is required when starting a new business or changing an existing one.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Business Licensing page](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "requires that you complete a Business License application form if you are starting a new business or changing an existing one."
  - Source: [Business Licence Amending Bylaw No. 927, 2018 and application form, Application form](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4682/)
  - Official wording: "are required to have a valid business licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Fees vary by type of business; the District says they can likely be determined from the rate sheet in the Business Licence Bylaw (rate sheet not posted in the text read). Fees for businesses that operate all year are charged annually and are non-refundable once the licence is issued.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Business Licensing page](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "The Business Licence fees vary depending on the type of business." … "are charged on an annual basis, and are non-refundable once a licence has been approved and issued." … "These fees can likely be determined based on the rate sheet included in the Business Bylaw link below."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Complete the Business Licence Application Form and email it to info@districtofstewart.com or deliver it to 705 Brightwell Street, with a site plan, a parking drawing and an interior floor plan. The District checks zoning, and a building official makes a visual site inspection for BC Building Code health and safety where people come into the building.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Business Licensing page](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "complete the form on the last page and either email it to the office: info@districtofstewart.com or deliver it in person to 705 Brightwell Street, Stewart BC." … "a site plan of the property showing where the premises is in relation to the property lines;" … "The zoning designation regulates (among many items) the kind of business you can conduct within that particular zone." … "the building official will conduct a visual site inspection to ensure that the health and safety requirements of the BC Building Code are met."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Not confirmed. The District's pages read do not state this detail.
- **Inter-community licence:** Not confirmed. The District's pages read do not state this detail.
- **Fine:** Not confirmed. The District's pages read do not state this detail.
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 864, 2013 (application form replaced by Business Licence Amending Bylaw No. 927, 2018)
  - Source: [Business Licence Amending Bylaw No. 927, 2018 and application form, Amending bylaw](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4682/)
  - Official wording: "A BYLAW TO UPDATE THE APPLICATION FORM IN BYLAW NO. 864, 2013"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Businesses operating in the District of Stewart need a valid business licence under Business Licence Bylaw No. 864, 2013 (the application form was replaced by [Amending Bylaw No. 927, 2018](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4682/)). A new application is required when you start a new business or change an existing one. The application form has types such as Home Based Business, Non-Resident and Mobile Business.

The District checks zoning. Where people come into the building, a building official makes a visual site inspection for BC Building Code health and safety.

## Steps

1. Complete the Business Licence Application Form from the [Business Licensing page](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/business-licensing).
2. Add a site plan, a parking drawing and an interior floor plan.
3. Email it to info@districtofstewart.com or deliver it to 705 Brightwell Street.
4. Pay the fee the District quotes for your type of business.

## Good to know

- Fees for businesses that operate all year are charged annually and are non-refundable once the licence is issued.
- The rate sheet, a renewal date or process, any licence for businesses based in other communities, and fines are not stated in the text we read. Ask the District.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licensing, District of Stewart](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/business-licensing)
- [Business Licence Amending Bylaw No. 927, 2018 and application form (PDF)](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4682/)

## Related questions

- [Stewart home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/home-based-business.md)
- [Stewart zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Stewart short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/business-licence.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/business-licence.md)
- [Prince Rupert](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/business-licence.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/business-licence.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/business-licence.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing, District of Stewart](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/business-licensing) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licence Amending Bylaw No. 927, 2018 and application form (PDF)](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4682/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 3 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Stewart. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/business-licence/_