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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Sun Peaks every business, including short-term nightly rentals, needs a municipal business licence. Fill in the application form and pay the flat fee in Schedule A, for example $175 for professional or contractor services. Licences run January 1 to December 31.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca)  
**Cost:** Flat fees: professional or contractor services $175; retail up to 93 m² $225, 93 to 185 m² $350; non-licensed restaurant $350; licensed restaurant $350 to $550 by seating; all other businesses not listed $175. New applicants after July 1 pay 50%.  
**How long:** Not stated; the licence is issued after the form and fee are received.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business licences, business@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca
- Email: Payments (e-transfer), payments@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 106-3270 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC V0E 5N0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed statutory holidays))

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** All businesses operating in Sun Peaks, including short-term nightly rentals. A person is deemed to carry on a business if they advertise as open for business, perform an ongoing task for pay, are a realtor advertising a Sun Peaks property, or are an on-mountain contact.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Business Licences page](https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca/business-licence)
  - Official wording: "All businesses operating in Sun Peaks require a valid Business Licence, including all Short-Term Nightly Rentals (STNRs)."
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241, 2026, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 6.1, 6.6](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55684/)
  - Official wording: "A person must not engage in or carry on a business unless that person holds a valid and" … "performs an ongoing task for remuneration;" … "is a realtor advertising or posting realtor signage offering a Sun Peaks property for rent"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Flat fees in Schedule A, for example: professional/contractor services $175; retail up to 93 m² $225, 93 to 185 m² $350; non-licensed restaurant $350; licensed restaurant $350 to $550 by seating; all other businesses not listed $175. New applicants after July 1 pay 50%.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241, 2026, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Schedule A; s. 4.3](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55684/)
  - Official wording: "CLASSIFICATION and FEE SCHEDULE" … "providing professional/contractor services at locations within $175" … "Flat fee $225" … "Non licensed restaurants/snack bar" … "Flat Fee $350" … "All other businesses not listed Flat fee of $175" … "New applicant license applications applied for after July 1 st of each year will pay a prorated" … "license fee of 50%"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Complete the Business Licence Application Form (on the Municipality's CivicWeb library or from the office) and pay the fee; the licence is then issued. Commercial premises need a clean safety inspection within 60 days of application. The Licence Inspector may ask for more information.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Business Licences page, FAQ](https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca/business-licence)
  - Official wording: "A Business Licence Application Form is available on the municipal website or by contacting our office." … "Upon receipt of the application and payment of the applicable fee, your licence will be issued." … "Commercial premises operating within the Municipality will require a clean safety inspection within 60 days of application before a licence will be issued."
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241, 2026, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 6.2](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55684/)
  - Official wording: "A person may apply for a license by completing an application form and delivering it to the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. Renewal invoices are emailed in the last week of November. Renew by January 31 or pay a 10% late penalty.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241, 2026, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, ss. 4.5, 4.6](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55684/)
  - Official wording: "a license is valid for a term commencing on January 1 and expiring on" … "December 31 of the same calendar year." … "must pay a late renewal penalty equal to 10% of the applicable license fee, in"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Business Licences page](https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca/business-licence)
  - Official wording: "Business licence renewal invoices will be emailed during the last week of November."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** Not confirmed. The documents read do not offer an inter-community licence.
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $500 for operating a business without a valid licence; $300 for operating at a different location, not posting the licence, or failing to notify changes. A 25% late payment fee applies after 14 days (to a maximum of $500). Court: up to $50,000.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0011 (PDF, consolidated September 22, 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Schedule E](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55686/)
  - Official wording: "Operating a business without a valid licence $500" … "Operating a business at a different location than stated on the permit $300" … "Not properly posting licence $300" … "A 25% late payment fee will be applied to fines unpaid after 14 days (to"
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241, 2026, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 11.3](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55684/)
  - Official wording: "a fine not exceeding $50,000 if a proceeding is brought in Provincial Court under the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241, 2026
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241, 2026, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 1.1](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55684/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as "BUSINESS LICENSING AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 0241,"
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241, 2026, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 13.1](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55684/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw repeals Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0203,2023."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Sun Peaks licenses businesses under the [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55684/) (adopted September 22, 2026). A person is treated as carrying on a business if they advertise as open for business, do an ongoing task for pay, are a realtor advertising a Sun Peaks property, or are an on-mountain contact. You need a separate licence for each business and each premises. Licences are personal and not transferable.

Exempt: occasional fundraising by non-profits, tenancies and commercial rentals, and activities of government.

## Steps

1. Complete the Business Licence Application Form (in the CivicWeb library or from the office).
2. Pay the fee: e-transfer to payments@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca, online, in person or by cheque.
3. Commercial premises need a clean safety inspection within 60 days of application.
4. Renew every year. Invoices are emailed in the last week of November; renew by January 31 or pay a 10% late penalty.

## Good to know

- Short-term rentals also need Tourism Sun Peaks registration and an On-Mountain Contact. See short-term-rental.
- Other fees: ski lift operator and golf course $800; cabaret or night club $850; liquor, beer and wine or cannabis store $550. Fees are non-refundable after issue.
- Operating without a valid licence is a $500 bylaw notice. Operating at a different location, not posting the licence, or not notifying changes is $300. A 25% late payment fee applies after 14 days (to a maximum of $500). Court fines are up to $50,000.
- A business that does not renew may be removed from the licence records.
- No inter-community licence is offered in the documents read.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241, 2026 (PDF)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55684/)
- [Business Licences, Sun Peaks](https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca/business-licence)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Chase](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chase/business-licence.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/business-licence.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/business-licence.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/business-licence.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/business-licence.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0241, 2026 (PDF), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55684/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licences, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca/business-licence) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0011 (PDF, consolidated September 22, 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55686/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/business-licence/_