---
title: "Victoria business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Victoria, and how do I get one?"
place: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/victoria
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Victoria
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/business-licence.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Every business in the City of Victoria needs a City business licence. Send the application and supporting documents to Business Licences by email, in person at City Hall or by mail. Approval takes about 10 working days. A business not otherwise named pays $100 a year.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Victoria, https://www.victoria.ca)  
**Cost:** Fees are set by business type in the bylaw. A business not otherwise named pays $100 a year; wholesale or wholesale-and-retail $200; retail with 10 or more lines of goods $3,000; storefront cannabis retailer $1,500.  
**How long:** About 10 working days for a complete application.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business Licences, businesslicence@victoria.ca
- Phone: Business Licences, 250-361-0572
- In person: Public Service Centre, City Hall, 1 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC
- Online: Business Licensing page (some applications can be done online), https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-licensing
- Phone: Business Hub, 250-361-0629

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Every business in Victoria needs a business licence. The bylaw bars anyone from carrying on a listed trade, business or profession without a valid licence, paid for in advance and displayed at the premises; a single transaction normally done only by such a business counts.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Business Licensing page](https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Every business in the City of Victoria is required to have a business licence."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026, PDF), Business Licence Bylaw 89-071, s. 4, s. 9](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw-consolidated-89-071)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on any of the trades, businesses, professions, occupations," … "displays such licence in a conspicuous place on the premises" … "performs a single transaction which is normally performed only by persons"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Fees are set by business type in the bylaw's Schedule of Licence Fees. A business not otherwise named pays $100 a year. Examples: wholesale or wholesale-and-retail $200; retail with 10 or more lines of goods $3,000; storefront cannabis retailer $1,500.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026, PDF), Business Licence Bylaw 89-071, Schedule of Licence Fees, items 34, 43, 47, 55](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw-consolidated-89-071)
  - Official wording: "SCHEDULE OF LICENCE FEES" … "any business not otherwise mentioned in this Schedule, for each such business" … "Any person carrying on the business of a wholesale or wholesale and retail merchant or trader" … "Any person carrying on a retail business which includes 10 or more distinctive line or class of goods, wares or merchandise"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Pick a location first (zoning and legal use), then send the application form and supporting documents by email to businesslicence@victoria.ca, in person at the Public Service Centre, City Hall, or by mail. Some applications can be done online. Approval takes about 10 working days; several City departments review it.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Business Licensing page](https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "by email: businesslicence@victoria.ca" … "in person: Public Service Centre, Main Floor, City Hall" … "A complete business licence application takes approximately 10 working days to process." … "Several City departments must review and approve an application before a business licence is issued."
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Step One](https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Zoning regulations vary in different areas of Victoria and determine the type of business you are permitted to operate."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 16 to January 15. Renew and pay on or before January 15; invoices are mailed (or e-billed) each November. After February 15 a $25 late fee applies.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026, PDF), Business Licence Bylaw 89-071, s. 10](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw-consolidated-89-071)
  - Official wording: "commencing on the 16th day of January and terminating" … "must renew the licence and pay the annual licence fee on or before January 15" … "a late fee of $25 in addition to the applicable annual licence fee."
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Renewal](https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Each November, you will receive a Business Licence Renewal Invoice in the mail or you can sign up for e-billing"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** Greater Victoria Inter-Municipal licence: 13 communities (Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Highlands, Langford, Metchosin, North Saanich, Oak Bay, Saanich, Sidney, Sooke, Victoria, View Royal), no extra fee. Inter-Community licence: Vancouver Island communities (City says 15; Province lists 14), $170 on top. Eligibility depends on business type.
  - Source: [Starting a Business, Starting a Business page](https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-hub/starting-business)
  - Official wording: "Inter-Municipal Business Licence: this licence includes the ability to do business in the 13 municipalities in the Capital Regional District." … "This licence is available to you at no additional cost from your base business licence cost." … "This business licence has a fee of $170 on top of your City of Victoria business licence."
  - Source: [Mobile business licences, Province of B.C., Province mobile business licences](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/managing-a-business/starting-a-business/permits-licences/mobile-business-licence-program)
  - Official wording: "Each mobile business licence area allows different types of businesses to apply."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Ticket Bylaw Schedule H: $250 for carrying on business without a licence ($200 if paid within 30 days); $250 ($200) for failing to renew; $100 ($75) for not displaying the licence.
  - Source: [Ticket Bylaw 10-071, Schedule H](https://www.victoria.ca/media/635)
  - Official wording: "Schedule H 23-067 Business Licence Bylaw Offences and Fines Column 1 - Offence Column 2 - Section Column 3 - Set Fine Column 4 - Fine if" … "Column 1 - Offence Column 2 - Section Column 3 - Set Fine Column 4 - Fine if paid within 30 days Conduct business 4(a) $250.00 $200.00 w/o licence Fail to display 4(c) $100.00 $75.00" … "paid within 30 days Conduct business 4(a) $250.00 $200.00 w/o licence Fail to display 4(c) $100.00 $75.00 licence on premises" … "Fail to comply with 8(4) $500.00 $500.00 good neighbour agreement Fail to renew 10(2) $250.00 $200.00 business licence Hinder/obstruct 13 $500.00 $500.00 inspector" … "paid within 30 days No business licence 3(a) $250.00 $200.00 Failure to provide 3(b) $150.00 $125.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 89-071
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026, PDF), title](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw-consolidated-89-071)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW BYLAW NO. 89-071 This consolidation is a copy of a bylaw consolidated under the authority of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Business Licence Bylaw 89-071](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw-consolidated-89-071) bars anyone from carrying on a listed trade, business or profession in Victoria without a valid licence, paid for in advance and displayed at the premises. The licence is non-transferable and the fee is non-refundable. Licences run January 16 to January 15.

## Steps

1. Choose a location first. Zoning and the legal use of the space decide what business is allowed. Ask Development Services (250-361-0316, zoning@victoria.ca). A change of use may need a building permit.
2. Gather the supporting documents for your business type.
3. Send the application form and documents to businesslicence@victoria.ca, in person at the Public Service Centre at City Hall, or by mail.
4. Several City departments review it. After approval you receive an invoice (unless you paid in person) and the licence is issued.

## Good to know

- Renewal: pay on or before January 15; invoices are mailed (or e-billed) each November. After February 15 a $25 late fee applies. A licence issued after January 16 is valid to the next January 15, but the full fee is payable.
- Fines (Ticket Bylaw Schedule H): $250 for carrying on business without a licence ($200 if paid within 30 days); $250 ($200) for failing to renew; $100 ($75) for not displaying the licence.
- Greater Victoria Inter-Municipal licence: covers 13 communities, including Victoria, at no extra fee. The Inter-Community licence adds Vancouver Island communities for $170 on top. Eligibility depends on business type. The City says 15 communities; the Province lists 14.
- A home-based business pays $100 a year; see the home-based-business answer.

## What you'll need

- Business Licence Application Form
- Professional certificates, if your profession requires them
- Proof of incorporation and Notice of Articles, if incorporated
- Health inspection certificate from Island Health, for food businesses
- NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code

## Official forms and pages

- [General Business Application and Change Form (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/general-business-licence-and-change-form)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw-consolidated-89-071)

## Related questions

- [Victoria home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/business-licence.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/business-licence.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/business-licence.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/business-licence.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/business-licence.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing, City of Victoria](https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-licensing) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Starting a Business, City of Victoria Business Hub](https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-hub/starting-business) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026, PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw-consolidated-89-071) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (PDF), Schedule H](https://www.victoria.ca/media/635) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Mobile business licences, Province of B.C.](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/managing-a-business/starting-a-business/permits-licences/mobile-business-licence-program) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Victoria. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/business-licence/_