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

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the City of Williams Lake needs a City business licence, and contractors must hold one before starting work. Fill in the application and email it to development@williamslake.ca or bring it to City Hall, 450 Mart Street. The fee depends on the type of business.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Williams Lake, https://www.williamslake.ca)  
**Cost:** Set by business category; for example $50 (non-profit) to $150 (contractors). See the fees answer. Fees are non-refundable.  
**How long:** The City does not state a processing time. Licences expire December 31.  
**Where:**
- Email: Development Services, development@williamslake.ca
- In person: City Hall, 450 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC V2G 1N3 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Development Services, 250-392-1765

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on a business in the City. The bylaw bars carrying on a business without a valid licence. The City says most businesses need one. Contractors working in Williams Lake must hold a City licence before starting. Government bodies are not 'business'.
  - Source: [Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF), s. 10, s. 7](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/143470)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on a business within the City without having obtained a" … "valid business license." … "but does not include an activity carried on by a Municipal,"
  - Source: [Business Licensing](https://www.williamslake.ca/1068/Business-Licensing)
  - Official wording: "A business license is required for most businesses operating within the City of Williams Lake."
  - Source: [Building Inspection, Contractor Business Licenses](https://www.williamslake.ca/1067/Building-Inspection)
  - Official wording: "Contractors performing work within Williams Lake must hold a valid City of Williams Lake Business License before commencing construction."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Set by business category in Schedule A, for example: business services $100; food services $120; small retail (under 200 m²) $120; contractors $150; professional services $100 per agent; hairstylists $80 per person; non-profit $50; temporary business $75. Fees are non-refundable.
  - Source: [Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF), Schedule A; s. 15](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/143470)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS SERVICES $100.00" … "FOOD SERVICES $120.00" … "RETAIL SALES – SMALL $120.00" … "CONTRACTORS $150.00" … "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES $100/agent" … "HAIRSTYLIST/ AESTHETICIAN $80/person" … "NON – FOR – PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS $50.00" … "TEMPORARY BUSINESS $75.00" … "may be prorated accordingly within a minimum fee of Fifty dollars."
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Fees & Renewals](https://www.williamslake.ca/1068/Business-Licensing)
  - Official wording: "Please note that business license fees are non-refundable."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Complete the application form and email it to development@williamslake.ca or deliver it to City Hall, 450 Mart Street. Planning (zoning), Building Inspection and Fire Services may review it, and Interior Health may too. Premises must be approved by the licence, health, fire prevention and building inspectors before a licence is granted.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Apply for a Business License](https://www.williamslake.ca/1068/Business-Licensing)
  - Official wording: "Submitted by email to development@williamslake.ca" … "Delivered in person at City Hall (450 Mart Street)" … "applications may be reviewed by several City departments, including Planning, Building Inspection and Fire Services." … "Applications may also be reviewed by Interior Health."
  - Source: [Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF), s. 24](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/143470)
  - Official wording: "shall, before any such license is granted, be approved by" … "the License Inspector, Medical-Health Inspector, Fire Prevention Officer, Building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences are valid for the calendar year and expire every December 31. Renew each year.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Fees & Renewals](https://www.williamslake.ca/1068/Business-Licensing)
  - Official wording: "Business licenses are valid for the calendar year and expire annually on December 31."
  - Source: [Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF), s. 13](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/143470)
  - Official wording: "every license issued under this Bylaw shall" … "terminate on the 31st day of December of the year in which it was issued."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** None set. Williams Lake has no inter-community licence.
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice for carrying on business without a licence: $250, or $190 if paid within 14 days; $315 if paid late. Failure to display the licence: $100 ($75 early, $125 late).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, Schedule A-4, Business Licensing Fines](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839)
  - Official wording: "Carry on Business without 10. $250.00 $190.00 $315.00 Yes" … "Fail to Display current Business 12. $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes"
  - Source: [Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF), s. 62](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/143470)
  - Official wording: "All penalties relevant to contraventions of this Bylaw being addressed" … "are contained in Schedule A-4 of the City of Williams Lake Bylaw Notice"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Williams Lake Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022
  - Source: [Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF), s. 1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/143470)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the “Williams Lake Business License Bylaw No."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Business License Bylaw 2365](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/143470) bars anyone from carrying on a business in the City of Williams Lake without a valid licence. The City says most businesses need one, and contractors working in Williams Lake must hold a City licence before starting. Government bodies are not counted as a business. A separate licence is needed for each premises and each business category at the same premises. Williams Lake has no inter-community licence.

## Steps

1. Complete the Business License Application Form.
2. Email it to development@williamslake.ca or deliver it to City Hall, 450 Mart Street.
3. Planning (zoning), Building Inspection and Fire Services review it, and Interior Health may too. The licence, health, fire prevention and building inspectors must approve the premises first.
4. Pay the fee before the licence is issued.
5. Renew every year. Licences expire December 31.

## Good to know

- Fees follow Schedule A. For example: business services $100; food services $120; small retail (under 200 m²) $120; contractors $150; professional services $100 per agent; hairstylists $80 per person; non-profit $50; temporary business $75.
- New businesses starting after Mar 1, Jun 1 or Sep 1 may be prorated, with a minimum of $50.
- A change of location, name or ownership needs a new application and a $35 administrative fee.
- Operating without a licence: bylaw notice $250 ($190 if paid within 14 days; $315 late). Not displaying the licence: $100 ($75 early, $125 late).
- The bylaw still refers to the old Zoning Bylaw 1825, 2002, which was repealed and replaced by Zoning Bylaw 2430.

## What you'll need

- Completed Business License Application Form
- Two emergency contacts, and trade qualification numbers where the form asks for them
- Proof of liability insurance and Interior Health approval for mobile food vendors

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licensing page](https://www.williamslake.ca/1068/Business-Licensing)
- [Business License Application Form](https://www.williamslake.ca/DocumentCenter/View/4968/Bus-Lic-Appln--June2023)
- [Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/143470)

## Related questions

- [Williams Lake home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/business-licence.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/business-licence.md)
- [Cache Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cache-creek/business-licence.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/business-licence.md)
- [Lillooet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/business-licence.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing, City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/1068/Business-Licensing) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/143470) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Inspection, City of Williams Lake (contractor business licences)](https://www.williamslake.ca/1067/Building-Inspection) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196 (PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Williams Lake. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/business-licence/_