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

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

West Kelowna, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes. Anyone who owns or operates a business in the City of West Kelowna, including home-based businesses and independent contractors, needs a City business licence. Apply in person at the Business Licence Desk at City Hall; usual processing is two weeks.

Key facts

Who needs one	Anyone who owns or operates any business in West Kelowna, including home-based businesses and independent contractors. A person with more than one business needs a separate licence for each. A new application is needed to start a business, move it, or on a change of ownership. Registered societies with no building are exempt.Business Licences, About Business Licences; Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, s. 2.1, 2.2; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A business licence is required to own or operate any business within the City of West Kelowna. A new application is required to start a new business, move the location of a current business, or if there is a change of ownership for an existing business. No person shall carry on a business within the City without first: Any person carrying on more than one business shall obtain and pay for a separate Business Licence for each and every business. 33 Registered Society (no building) Exempt
Fee	Annual fee by tier: $60 basic (home-based businesses without a fire inspection, office subleases); $135 with fire inspection (most commercial and industrial, childcare); $360 with policing (pawn brokers, pubs, cannabis retail); short-term rental $500 plus $250 application. Prorated 25%, 50% or 75% off after April 1, July 1 or October 1.Business Licences, Business Licence Fees; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Basic licence: $60 per year. Basic, plus fire inspection: $135 per year. Basic, plus fire inspection and policing: $360 per year. After April 1 reduced by 25 per cent. 23 Retail/Wholesale Outlets $135 3 Pawn Brokers/Second Hand Dealers $360
How to apply	In person at the Business Licence Desk, City Hall, 3731 Old Okanagan Highway; pay at application by cash, debit or cheque. Usual processing is two weeks; commercial licences take at least four weeks with referrals to Planning, Building and Fire. Building and fire inspections are required (except subleases) and the business must not start until they pass.Business Licences, About Business Licences; Commercial/Industrial; Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, s. 2.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording New business licences must be applied for in person through the Business Licence Desk located at City Hall The general processing time for an application is two weeks Due to the potential complexity of these applications, processing time can take a minimum of four weeks. A building inspection and fire inspection are required for the licensing processes (with the exception of a sublease). Business operations must not commence until the inspections are deemed satisfactory. A license Inspector may grant a business licence when satisfied that the applicant has complied with the requirements of the bylaws of the City
Renewal	The licence year is January 1 to December 31. Licences renew automatically and fees are charged to the account unless cancellation is received before January 31 (email business.licence@westkelownacity.ca). A $25 late fee applies to renewal payments received after January 31.Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, s. 3.1, 3.3; Business Licences, General fee information; Cancelling; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording licences shall be granted for a one-year period to commence the first day of January and to terminate the thirty-first day of December in each year. does not renew and pay for its licence prior to January 31st of each year, a late payment fee will be applied Business licences are set to renew automatically, and fees are applied to the accounts, unless a notification of cancellation has been received before Jan. 31. Renewal fees received after Jan. 31 are subject to a late payment fee of $25. 31 Late fee for payments received after January 31 $25
Inter-community licence	Yes. An add-on to the City licence for businesses working in more than one community: $150 a year ($75 if applied for after August 1). Apply where the business has premises, or at any one participating municipality if it has none. Bylaw 0081 names 18 municipalities, including Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton; the City page lists 21, adding Sicamous, Merritt and the Regional District of Central Okanagan.Sources differ: The City page lists 16 participating communities and omits Princeton and Revelstoke, which the bylaw includes; bylaw followed. Excluded business types are in Schedule A of Bylaw 0081 (not read). The holder must still follow other municipalities' bylaws (s. 6).Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 0081, s. 3, 7, 9, 10; Business Licences, Inter-Community Business Licence; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording City of Armstrong City of West Kelowna District of Coldstream Town of Princeton City of Revelstoke City of Salmon Arm from the Participating Municipality in which they maintain a Premises. The fee for an Inter-Community Business Licence is $150 The yearly inter-community licence fee is $150 and is prorated to $75 for applications received after August 1. 15 Exhibitions/Circuses/Carnivals $135 16 Escort Services $360 17 Inter-Municipal $150 $75 (applications made after August 1st)
Fine	Bylaw notice (Bylaw 0093 Schedule 5): $500 for carrying on business without a licence (s. 2.1), $100 for no licence for each premises, $50 for not displaying the licence. Municipal ticket (Bylaw 0095 Schedule 5): $1,000 for no licence, $100 per premises, $50 not displayed.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0093, Schedule 5; Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 0095, Schedule 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No business license 2.1 $500.00 No business license for each premise 2.2 100.00 Fail to display business license 2.3 50.00 No business license 2.1 $1,000.00 No business license for each premise 2.2 100.00 Fail to display business license 2.3 50.00
Bylaw	City of West Kelowna Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, 2010Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording City of West Kelowna Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, 2010

How it works

Under Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw 0087, anyone who owns or operates a business in West Kelowna needs a licence. A person with more than one business needs a separate licence for each. A new application is needed to start a business, move it, or on a change of ownership. Registered societies with no building are exempt.

Steps

Check the zone on WestMap first; the business must comply with the Zoning Bylaw.
Apply in person at the Business Licence Desk at City Hall and pay by cash, debit or cheque.
Building and fire inspections are required (except subleases). The business must not start until they pass.

Good to know

The licence year is January 1 to December 31. Licences renew automatically and fees are charged to your account unless the City receives a cancellation before January 31 (email business.licence@westkelownacity.ca). A $25 late fee applies to renewal payments received after January 31.
The fee is prorated, 25%, 50% or 75% off, after April 1, July 1 or October 1.
Inter-community licence: a $150 a year add-on ($75 if applied for after August 1) for businesses working in more than one community. Apply where the business has premises, or at any one participating municipality if it has none. Bylaw 0081 names 18 municipalities, including Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton; the City page lists 21, adding Sicamous, Merritt and the Regional District of Central Okanagan. Confirm before you rely on it. You must still follow other municipalities' bylaws.
Fines: a bylaw notice is $500 for carrying on business without a licence, $100 for no licence for each premises and $50 for not displaying the licence. A municipal ticket is $1,000, $100 and $50 for the same.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Peachland · Kelowna · Lake Country · Summerland · Penticton · Vernon

Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Business Licences, City of West Kelowna (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 16 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Inter-Community Business Licence Bylaw No. 0081 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0093 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 0095 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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