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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the Village of Warfield needs a Village business licence unless exempt. The fee is $55 a year for the primary class and $25 for each secondary class. Apply on paper at the Village Office.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Warfield, https://warfield.ca)  
**Cost:** $55 a year for the primary business class; $25 for each secondary class. Licences issued after July 1: $30 and $12.50.  
**How long:** Not stated. Licences run January 1 to December 31.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 555 Schofield Hwy., Trail, BC V1R 2G7 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; closed Friday.)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-368-8202
- Email: Village Office, info@warfield.ca

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Every person carrying on, owning or operating a business in the Village. No business may operate without a licence unless exempt under the bylaw or a provincial or federal law. Garage sales and volunteer fund-raising are not businesses.
  - Source: [Permits and Licenses, Permits & Licenses page](https://warfield.ca/warfield-services/permits-and-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "requires every person carrying on, maintaining, owning or operating a business within the Village of Warfield"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022, ss. 3(a), 5(d)](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No business activity shall be permitted in the Village unless the owner or operator" … "bona fide garage sales and fund-raising activities by volunteer"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** $55 a year for the primary business class (retail, professional, personal service, manufacturing, contracting, food, accommodation, home occupation or general). $25 for each secondary class. Licences issued after July 1: $30 and $12.50.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022, Schedule C](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Retail service (incl. store, service station, bank, etc.) $ 55.00" … "Secondary Business (full year, classes identical to Primary Business) $ 25.00" … "Primary Business (issued after July 1 – all classes) $ 30.00" … "Secondary Business (issued after July 1 – all classes) $ 12.50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Fill in the Schedule B application and give it, with the fee, to the Licence Inspector. The location and activity must comply with zoning and other bylaws, and fire, health and building checks are on the form. The Village posts a Business Licence Application download.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022, ss. 3(d); Schedule B](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a business licence application pursuant to schedule ‘B’ attached to and forming part of this" … "the business location and activity are in compliance with the Village of Warfield" … "VILLAGE OFFICE USE ONLY: DEPARTMENT CHECKS:" … "Fire Inspector _____________"
  - Source: [Permits and Licenses, Permits & Licenses page](https://warfield.ca/warfield-services/permits-and-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "- Bylaw 920 - Business License Bylaw (2022) -> https://warfield.ca/wp-content/uploads/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf - Business Licence Application -> https://warfield.ca/wp-content/uploads/Business-Licence-Application-Schedule-B-Bylaw-920-2022-1.pdf - Bylaw 905 - Village of Warfield Fire Prevention Bylaw (2022) -> https://warfield.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw-905-SIGNED.pdf"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31 and expire each December 31. A licence issued after July 1 costs half. One issued on an application received and approved on or after November 1 runs to December 31 of the following year.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022, s. 4](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall commence on the first day of January in each year and" … "shall expire on the last day of December in each year" … "fifty percent (50%) of the annual fee" … "on or after the first day of November in each year shall expire on the last day of December in the next"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inter-community licence:** Yes. The Village is a signatory to an inter-municipal business licence agreement with other Regional District of Kootenay Boundary municipalities. A holder of that licence is deemed licensed in Warfield and need not get a Warfield licence. The fee is not stated in the bylaw.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022, s. 6](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Village of Warfield is a signatory to an inter-municipal business licensing agreement with other municipalities in the Regional District" … "shall be deemed to be duly licensed under this Bylaw and shall not be required to obtain"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** A court fine of up to $2,000 on summary conviction. No ticket amount found.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022, s. 8(c)](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf)
  - Official wording: "be subject to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000.00)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Warfield Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022, s. 1](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the “Village of Warfield Business Licence Bylaw No."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the Village's [Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf), every person carrying on, owning or operating a business in the Village must hold a licence, unless exempt under the bylaw or a provincial or federal law. Garage sales and volunteer fund-raising are not businesses.

The $55 primary class covers retail, professional, personal service, manufacturing, contracting, food, accommodation, home occupation or general businesses. Licences run January 1 to December 31 and expire each December 31. A licence issued after July 1 costs half the usual rate. One issued on an application received and approved on or after November 1 runs to December 31 of the following year.

## Steps

1. Make sure the location and activity comply with zoning and other bylaws.
2. Fill in the Schedule B application (the Village posts a Business Licence Application download on its Permits and Licenses page).
3. Give it, with the fee, to the Licence Inspector at the Village Office. The form includes fire, health and building checks.
4. Renew before each December 31.

## Good to know

- The Village is a signatory to an inter-municipal business licence agreement with other Regional District of Kootenay Boundary municipalities. A holder of that licence is deemed licensed in Warfield and need not get a Warfield licence. The bylaw does not state that licence's fee.
- Penalty: a court fine of up to $2,000 on summary conviction. No ticket amount was found.
- No online application is mentioned; call the Village Office at 250-368-8202.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022 (PDF)](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf)
- [Permits and Licenses, Village of Warfield](https://warfield.ca/warfield-services/permits-and-licenses/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/business-licence.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/business-licence.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/business-licence.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/business-licence.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/business-licence.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 920, 2022 (PDF), Village of Warfield](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/BUS-LICENCE-Bylaw-920.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Permits and Licenses, Village of Warfield](https://warfield.ca/warfield-services/permits-and-licenses/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, Village of Warfield](https://warfield.ca/contact-us/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Warfield. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/business-licence/_