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

Do I need a business licence in Summerland, and how do I get one?

Summerland, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes. Anyone doing business in the District of Summerland needs a business licence. A standard licence is $125 a year (50% if applied for after July 31). Complete the application form; Development Services, the building official, the Fire Department and, for food or health businesses, Interior Health must approve first.

Key facts

Who needs oneAnyone doing business in Summerland. No person may carry on a business in the District without a valid licence.Summerland Business Licence, Summerland Business Licence page; Business Licencing Bylaw 95-004, consolidated to February 28, 2022, s. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Anyone doing business in Summerland requires a Summerland Business Licence.
No person shall carry on a business within the District without holding a valid and
FeeStandard business licence $125 a year. Other classes differ (e.g. home occupation $50 to $175, hotel/motel/campground $200, mobile vendor $100, seasonal $80). Half the fee if applied for after July 31.Fees and Charges Bylaw 98-001, Schedule F, Schedule F (Business Licence Fees) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Standard Business License $125
Hotels, Motels, and Campgrounds $200
if a license is applied for after July 31 of a year, the licence fee
How to applyComplete the business licence application form. Before the licence is granted the District needs approval from Development Services (zoning), the building official, the Fire Department and, for food or health businesses, Interior Health. The fee is payable before the licence is issued.Summerland Business Licence, Summerland Business Licence page; Business Licensing, Business Licensing page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Before the licence is granted, we will need approval from:
Development Services Department (to check zoning and other regulations)
are payable before the licence is issued.
RenewalLicences run January 1 to December 31. Renewal notices are mailed in mid-December; pay online by credit card (OptionPay, third-party fees), in person at Municipal Hall or by mailed cheque. Renewals are due January 31; 10% is added on February 1 and another 10% on March 1.Business Licencing Bylaw 95-004, consolidated to February 28, 2022, s. 1; Summerland Business Licence, Summerland Business Licence page; Business Licence Payment Options · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
to commence on the first day of January to terminate on the 31st day of
Business licence renewals are due on January 31 of each year.
A 10% penalty will be added to all outstanding accounts on February 1st.
A further 10% penalty will be added to all outstanding accounts on March 1st.
Make a payment Online by Credit Card
Please send the bottom portion of your invoice with a cheque to 13211 Henry Ave
Inter-community licenceYes. With a regular Summerland licence you can add an Inter-Community Mobile Business Licence for $150 to work in other participating places, including Armstrong, Coldstream, Kelowna, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, Vernon and West Kelowna. It is for mobile businesses that go from client to client.Summerland Business Licence, Summerland Business Licence page; Fees and Charges Bylaw 98-001, Schedule F; Mobile Business Licence Bylaw 2000-307, consolidated to February 11, 2025, Bylaw 2000-307 s. 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
for an additional $150.00 you can also do work in other participating municipalities.
Hotels, Motels, and Campgrounds $200 Inter-Community Business License 3 $150 + District fee Mobile Vendor $100
means a Business that performs a service within more than one
The fee for an Inter-Community Mobile Business Licence is $150.00 and shall be retained by the Participating Municipality that issues the licence.
City of Penticton
FineBylaw notice for no business licence: $250 ($200 if paid within 14 days; $300 late). Municipal ticket: $1,000.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375, Schedule A (Business Licence Bylaw); Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 95-030, MTI Bylaw 95-030, Schedule 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No Business licence 2 $250.00 $200.00 $300.00 Yes
No Business licence 2 $1000.00
BylawBusiness Licencing Bylaw No. 95-004 (consolidated to February 28, 2022); fees in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 98-001, Schedule FBusiness Licencing Bylaw 95-004, consolidated to February 28, 2022, title; Fees and Charges Bylaw 98-001, Schedule F · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Bylaw No. 95-004 Consolidated to February 28, 2022
SCHEDULE "F" BUSINESS LICENCE FEES Unless otherwise indicated, the Licence Fee is for a Twelve Month Period Commencing
2 For licences that are issued for a 12 month period, if a license is applied for after July 31 of a year, the licence fee for that first year shall be pro-rated 50% of the subjected licence fee (s. 4 of Business Licensing Bylaw 95-004). 3 An inter-community licence fee is an additional fee that is charged to allow a business to operate within the
THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SUMMERLAND BYLAW NUMBER 98-001 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE TO INCLUDE BYLAWS:

How it works

Under the Business Licencing Bylaw 95-004, no one may carry on a business in the District of Summerland without a valid licence. Fees are in Schedule F of the Fees and Charges Bylaw. Licences run January 1 to December 31.

Steps

  1. Check with Development Services (250-494-1373, devserv@summerland.ca) that your use fits the zoning for the address.
  2. Complete the business licence application form. The District needs approval from Development Services (zoning), the building official, the Fire Department and, for food or health businesses, Interior Health.
  3. Pay the fee before the licence is issued.
  4. Renew each year: renewal notices are mailed in mid-December. Pay online by credit card (OptionPay, which charges third-party fees), in person at Municipal Hall, or by mailed cheque.

Good to know

  • Renewals are due January 31. A 10% penalty is added on February 1 and another 10% on March 1.
  • With a regular Summerland licence you can add an Inter-Community Mobile Business Licence for $150 to work in other participating places, for mobile businesses that go from client to client. Under Bylaw 2000-307, participants include Armstrong, Coldstream, Kelowna, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, Vernon and West Kelowna, among others.
  • Operating without a licence: a bylaw notice is $250 ($200 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $1,000. The bylaw also sets a court penalty of up to $500 plus costs.
  • Short-term rentals and home occupations have their own fees; see short-term-rental and home-based-business.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Penticton · Peachland · West Kelowna · Kelowna · Keremeos · Oliver

Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Summerland Business Licence, District of Summerland (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Business Licensing, District of Summerland (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Business Licence Payment Options, District of Summerland (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Business Licencing Bylaw 95-004 (PDF), consolidated to February 28, 2022 (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Fees and Charges Bylaw 98-001 (PDF), Schedule F (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Mobile Business Licence Bylaw 2000-307 (PDF), consolidated to February 11, 2025 (read 2026-11-05)
  7. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  8. Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 95-030 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  9. Contact, District of Summerland (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. How answers are checked.