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

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

View Royal, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes. The Town of View Royal requires a business licence for every business operating in the Town, whether run from a shop, a home or on the road. Fill in the application form and bring it with the fee to Town Hall, 45 View Royal Avenue. Fees run from $50 to $2,000 a year by type.

Key facts

Who needs one	Every business operating in View Royal needs a licence, whether run from a shop, a home or on the road. A non-resident business working in the Town needs a non-resident licence unless it holds a valid Greater Victoria Intermunicipal or Vancouver Island Intercommunity licence. Each premises, and each business at one premises, needs its own licence. Non-profits pay no fee.Business Licences, Business Licences page; Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 952, ss. 14(1), 14(2), 14(4); Annual Business Licence Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A valid business licence is required for all businesses operating in View Royal. and does not have a valid Greater Victoria Intermunicipal Licence or a Vancouver Island Intercommunity Licence. A non-resident business licence is required. No person shall carry on a business within the Town of View Royal without first obtaining a Town of View Royal Business License shall be deemed to be a separate business. Any person who carries on more than one business from any one premise shall Application fees are due when you deposit your application with the Town. If applying for your business licence after July 1, the fee is prorated to half for the remainder of the calendar year. Licences are valid for the calendar year January 1 to December 31 regardless of application date. \| Licence Type: \| Fee: \| Non-Profit \| No fee \| Home Crafts \| $50.00
Fee	Annual fees: Home Crafts $50; Home Occupation, Bed & Breakfast, Commercial Small (under 464 m²), Intermunicipal and Non-Resident $100; Commercial Large (464 m² and over) $200; Intercommunity $170; Liquor Sales $300; Pub $500; Apartments $15 per unit (minimum $100); Retail Cannabis $1,500; Drug Paraphernalia $2,000. Half fee if liable after June 30.Fees and Charges Bylaw 958, consolidated to September 2026, Schedule A, Business Licence; Annual Business Licence Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Home Crafts $50.00 Commercial – large $200.00 Intercommunity $170.00 $15 per unit Apartments (minimum $100) Liquor sales $300.00 Retail Cannabis Store $1,500.00 Commercial Large \| $200.00 Late Renewal Fee \| 10% of the licence fee (min $25.00)
How to apply	Complete the Business Licence Application Form and bring it with the fee (cash, cheque, debit or credit) to Town Hall, 45 View Royal Avenue. The business needs a physical address, not a P.O. box or storage unit. Depending on the licence, a parking plan and permit applications may be needed, and the zone must allow the use.Business Licences, Apply for a Business Licence; Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 952, s. 11(1)-(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Bring the completed forms, along with your payment (cash/cheque/debit/credit), into Town Hall (45 View Royal Ave). An application with a business location using a post office box or storage unit will not be accepted. Depending on the type of licence you are applying for, you may also be required to submit supplemental documents (eg. parking plan) and permit applications. Not all business activities are permitted on all properties. The License Inspector may grant a Business License when satisfied that the applicant has complied with the requirements of this and all other applicable
Renewal	Licences run January 1 to December 31. Renewal notices go out each November; payment is due by January 31. A late fee of 10% of the licence fee (minimum $25) applies from February 1. Pay in person at Town Hall, or online by credit card once registered for the Town's Online Services.Business Licences, Renew a Business Licence; Annual Business Licence Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Business licences are valid for the calendar year January 1 to December 31 regardless of application date. Licence renewals are sent out each year in November. Renewal payments are due no later than January 31 of the renewal year. ONLINE: once registered for Online Services, renewals can be paid online by credit card. Late Renewal Fee \| 10% of the licence fee (min $25.00)
Inter-community licence	Yes. A Vancouver Island Intercommunity licence ($170) covers a business working in the participating Vancouver Island municipalities. A Greater Victoria Intermunicipal licence ($100) covers a business working only within Greater Victoria municipalities (Sooke to Sidney). A business with a premises in View Royal also needs the Town's own licence.Business Licences, Mobile Business Licences; Fees and Charges Bylaw 958, consolidated to September 2026, Schedule A, Business Licence; Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 952, s. 14(3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A business that operates at locations only within municipalities within Greater Victoria. (Sooke to Sidney) A business that operates at locations within the participating municipalities on Vancouver Island. As per Bylaw No. 952. Intermunicipal $100.00 As per Bylaw No. 952 Intercommunity $170.00 As per Bylaw No. 952 Intermunicipal $100.00 As per Bylaw No. 952 Intercommunity $170.00 As per Bylaw No. 952 Business Licence $15 per unit also provides services within other municipalities, this business must obtain a business license for its premises and an intermunicipal business license.
Fine	Municipal ticket $100 for carrying on business without a licence. The Town says businesses operating without a licence are fined no less than $100 a day until licensed. On conviction the bylaw fine is $500 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 643 (PDF, to May 2026), Schedule 11; Business Licences, Fines for Operating Without a Licence; Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 952, s. 32(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Failure to obtain business license 14(1) $100. Businesses found to be operating without a valid business licence will be fined no less than $100.00/day until such time as the licence is obtained or business activities cease. a fine of not less than $500.00 and not more than $10,000.00.
Bylaw	Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 952, 2016 (fees are set in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958)Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 952, s. 1; Fees and Charges Bylaw 958, consolidated to September 2026, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as the “Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 952, 2016”. FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW NO. 958

How it works

Under Business License and Regulation Bylaw 952, no one may carry on a business in View Royal without a Town licence. Each premises, and each business at one premises, needs its own licence. Zoning decides whether your activity is allowed at your address. Fees are set in Fees and Charges Bylaw 958.

A non-resident business working in the Town needs a non-resident licence ($100) unless it holds a valid Greater Victoria Intermunicipal licence ($100) or a Vancouver Island Intercommunity licence ($170). Intermunicipal covers a business working only in Greater Victoria municipalities (Sooke to Sidney). Intercommunity covers participating Vancouver Island municipalities; see the Town's page for the current list. A business with premises in View Royal also needs the Town's own licence.

Steps

Check your property's zone on the Zoning Map and confirm your business use is permitted there.
Pick your licence type: commercial, home occupation, mobile or non-resident.
Complete the Business Licence Application Form.
Bring the form and the fee to Town Hall, with any supplemental documents or permit applications your licence type needs.
Display the licence prominently (bylaw s. 19).

Good to know

Renewals: licences run January 1 to December 31. Renewal notices go out each November, and payment is due by January 31. A late fee of 10% of the licence fee (minimum $25) applies from February 1. Pay in person at Town Hall, or online by credit card once registered for the Town's Online Services.
Changing the name or address on a licence is $10. A transfer of place of business is $10. Moving premises needs an application to transfer.
The bylaw also requires an occupancy permit before you use a new or remodelled premises.
Fines: a municipal ticket for carrying on business without a licence is $100. The Town's page says unlicensed businesses are fined no less than $100 a day until licensed. On conviction, the fine is $500 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.

What you'll need

Completed Business Licence Application Form
Application fee (cash, cheque, debit or credit)
Any supplemental documents or permit applications that apply to your licence type, such as a parking plan
A physical business address where the owner or operator can be reached directly (not a P.O. box or storage unit)
Proof of trade qualification, if your occupation falls under trade jurisdiction

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Esquimalt · Colwood · Victoria · Langford · Saanich · Highlands

Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Business Licences, Town of View Royal (read 2026-11-05)
Annual Business Licence Fees, Town of View Royal (read 2026-11-05)
Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 952 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw 958, consolidated to September 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 643 (PDF, to May 2026) (read 2026-11-05)

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