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

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

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

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.

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.Business Licensing, Business Licensing page; Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026, PDF), Business Licence Bylaw 89-071, s. 4, s. 9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Every business in the City of Victoria is required to have a business licence. 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
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.Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026, PDF), Business Licence Bylaw 89-071, Schedule of Licence Fees, items 34, 43, 47, 55 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Business Licensing, Business Licensing page; Business Licensing, Step One · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. Zoning regulations vary in different areas of Victoria and determine the type of business you are permitted to operate.
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.Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026, PDF), Business Licence Bylaw 89-071, s. 10; Business Licensing, Renewal · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. Each November, you will receive a Business Licence Renewal Invoice in the mail or you can sign up for e-billing
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.Starting a Business, Starting a Business page; Mobile business licences, Province of B.C., Province mobile business licences · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. Each mobile business licence area allows different types of businesses to apply.
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.Ticket Bylaw 10-071, Schedule H · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Bylaw	Business Licence Bylaw No. 89-071Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026, PDF), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW BYLAW NO. 89-071 This consolidation is a copy of a bylaw consolidated under the authority of

How it works

The Business Licence Bylaw 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

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.
Gather the supporting documents for your business type.
Send the application form and documents to businesslicence@victoria.ca, in person at the Public Service Centre at City Hall, or by mail.
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

The same question in other places

Oak Bay · Esquimalt · View Royal · Saanich · Colwood · Langford

Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Business Licensing, City of Victoria (read 2026-11-05)
Starting a Business, City of Victoria Business Hub (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licence Bylaw 89-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026, PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (PDF), Schedule H (read 2026-11-05)
Mobile business licences, Province of B.C. (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.