Vernon business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply
Do I need a business licence in Vernon, and how do I get one?
Short answer
Yes. The City of Vernon requires a business licence to carry on a business, with a separate licence for each business and premises. You pay a $100 application fee plus a yearly fee set by floor area, from $115. Apply online or at the Community Services Building.
Key facts
| Who needs one | Anyone who carries on a business in Vernon, as owner or operator; a separate licence is needed for each business and each premises. Non-resident businesses need an inter-community or non-resident licence. Non-profit societies need one but pay $1 a year. Exempt: concerts, arts-and-crafts shows, home-and-trade shows, farmers' markets.Business Licence Bylaw 6100, s. 4.1, 4.3; Business Licence Bylaw 6100, s. 4.5, 4.7; Business Licences & Permits, Business Licence Information & Application · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno Person will carry on, maintain, own, each Business is a separate Business for licencing purposes a performance or concert; an arts-and-crafts show; to pay a nominal Licence Fee of $1.00 per year. A Business Licence is required to operate a business in Vernon. |
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| Fee | Yearly fee for a resident business is set by floor area: $115 (0 to 100 m²), $135 (101 to 300), $275 (301 to 600), $350 (601 to 2,500), $800 (over 2,500). Plus a $100 application fee. Other rates: contractors $125, non-resident $125, home occupation $90. Fee is halved if liable after July 1.Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated, Schedule A, s. 14; Business Licence Bylaw 6100, s. 4.15-4.17 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingRB1 - Resident Business (0 -100 sq meters) $ 115 per year RB2 - Resident Business (101- 300 sq meters) $ 135 per year RB3 - Resident Business (301- 600 sq meters) $ 275 per year RB4 - Resident Business (601- 2500 sq meters) $ 350 per year RB5 - Resident Business (over 2500 sq meters) $ 800 per year Application Fee - Resident Business $ 100 per application CON - Contractors - Resident or Non Resident $ 125 per year pay to the City the applicable Application Fee. The Licence Fee will be reduced by 50% in respect to a Business that becomes |
| How to apply | Apply online through the City's business licence portal, or in person at the Planning & Community Services building, 3001 32 Ave., with forms complete. The application fee is paid when applying and the licence fee on approval. Staff check zoning and parking; Fire, Building or Environmental Health approvals may be needed.Business Licences & Permits; Business Licence Bylaw 6100, s. 4.9, 4.15-4.16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAPPLY FOR A Business Licence online Staff will verify if the Zoning District in which the property is situated will allow the particular business type approvals from the Fire Inspector, Building Inspector or the Environmental Health Officer may be necessary the Applicant does not have any expired or incomplete building permits in pay to the City the applicable Application Fee. pay to the City the applicable Licence Fee. |
| Renewal | Licences run January 1 to December 31 and are renewed yearly by paying the fee. Unpaid by March 1, the licence is cancelled and a new application and fee are needed. The City's page says licences renew automatically unless cancelled in writing before January 31 (buslicence@vernon.ca).Business Licence Bylaw 6100, s. 4.19-4.20; Business Licence Bylaw 6100, s. 4.23; Short-Term Rental Regulations, Cancelling a Business Licence · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll Business Licences will have a Licence Period of one-year, commencing on the 1st day of January and terminating on the 31st day of December in each and every the Licence Period for a Seasonal Business is six (6) months. If the Licence Fee is not paid by March 1 of the Licence will be deemed cancelled. Business licences are set to renew automatically, and fees are applied to the accounts, unless a notification of cancellation has been received before January 31. |
| Inter-community licence | Yes. A business that serves clients by moving from client to client pays its home-community licence fee plus $150 to work in the other participating places: Armstrong, Coldstream, Central Okanagan Regional District, Enderby, Kelowna, Keremeos, Lake Country, Lumby, Oliver, Osoyoos, Peachland, Penticton, Princeton, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Spallumcheen, Summerland and West Kelowna.Inter-Community Licence; Business Licence Bylaw 6100, s. 3.3 definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe City of Vernon, along with Armstrong, Coldstream, Central Okanagan Regional District, Enderby, Kelowna, Keremeos, Lake Country, Lumby, Oliver, Osoyoos, Peachland, Penticton, Princeton, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Spallumcheen, Summerland and The District of West Kelowna an additional licensing fee of $150 to allow access to all other participating municipalities. means a business licence issued by a participating |
| Fine | Bylaw notice (Bylaw 6048): $300 ($250 if paid within 14 days; $325 late). Municipal ticket (Bylaw 6049): $3,000.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 6048, Schedule A, Bylaw 6100 s. 4.1; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 6049, Schedule B, Bylaw 6100 s. 4.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo Business Licence $300.00 $250.00 $325.00 YES No Business Licence $3000.00 $3000.00 |
| Bylaw | Business Licence Bylaw 6100, 2025Business Licence Bylaw 6100, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBusiness Licence Bylaw 6100, 2025 |
How it works
Under Business Licence Bylaw 6100 (adopted July 15, 2025), anyone who carries on a business in Vernon, as owner or operator, needs a licence. A separate licence is needed for each business and each premises. Non-resident businesses need an inter-community or non-resident licence. Concerts, arts-and-crafts shows, home-and-trade shows and farmers' markets are exempt. The City's page gives garage or yard sales and farms with no retail sales on site as examples that may not need one.
Steps
- Apply online through the City's business licence portal, or in person at 3001 32 Avenue with your forms complete. Staff check zoning and parking.
- Pay the application fee when you apply and the licence fee on approval.
- Fire, Building or Environmental Health approval may be needed. The City says these inspections cost nothing when tied to a licence application.
- The licence is issued once the Licence Inspector is satisfied you meet City bylaws and provincial and federal law, have paid, owe no fees or fines, and have no expired building permits and an occupancy permit for the premises.
Good to know
- Licences run January 1 to December 31 and are renewed yearly by paying the fee. If it is unpaid by March 1, the licence is cancelled and you need a new application and fee. The City's short-term rental page says licences renew automatically unless cancelled in writing before January 31 (buslicence@vernon.ca); confirm whether that applies to yours.
- Fees are not refundable.
- Inter-community licence: if you work by moving from client to client, you pay your home-community licence fee plus $150 to work in the other participating places (Armstrong, Coldstream, Central Okanagan Regional District, Enderby, Kelowna, Keremeos, Lake Country, Lumby, Oliver, Osoyoos, Peachland, Penticton, Princeton, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Spallumcheen, Summerland and West Kelowna). Not eligible: social escort services, vehicles for hire, body-rub services, and businesses selling from a fixed location.
- Operating without a licence: a bylaw notice is $300 ($250 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $3,000. On conviction the bylaw allows a fine up to $50,000.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Coldstream · Lake Country · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Lumby · Enderby
Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licences & Permits, City of Vernon (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licence Bylaw 6100 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 6048 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 6049 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Short-Term Rental Regulations, City of Vernon (read 2026-11-05)
- Inter-Community Licence, City of Vernon (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.