Business Licences

Tier 1

Basic licence: $60 per year.

Examples of businesses that fall under Tier 1 include:

• Home-based businesses that do not require a fire inspection.
• Commercial and industrial office subleases.

Tier 2

Basic, plus fire inspection: $135 per year.

Examples of businesses that fall under Tier 2 include:

• Most commercial and industrial locations.
• Childcare facilities.

Tier 3

Basic, plus fire inspection and policing: $360 per year.

Examples of businesses that fall under Tier 3 include:

• Pawn brokers and secondhand dealers.
• Nightclubs and pubs requiring liquor primary licences.
• Cannabis retailers.

Tier 4

$500 per year plus a one-time, $250 application fee; the fee is non-refundable.

• Short-term rental and short-term rental - bed and breakfast.

The annual licence fee for a short-term rental is not prorated based on the application date.

Tier 5 - Marine Launch Licence annual fees

• Commercial marine general, tours, charters, sales, etc.: $280.
• Commercial marine valet or storage: $25 per vessel.
• Commercial marine watercraft rental, boat club service: $743 per vessel.

This licence is in addition to the required municipal business licence.

Inter-community Business Licence

Applicable tier, plus additional $150 inter-municipal fee per year.

The fee is prorated to $75 after Aug. 1.

Licences are granted for a period of one-year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Renewal fees received after Jan. 31 are subject to a late payment fee of $25.  

The annual licence fee is prorated for new applications received after the first day of each quarter. The fee reductions are as follows:

• After April 1 reduced by 25 per cent.
• After July 1 reduced by 50 per cent.
• After Oct. 1 reduced by 75 per cent.

*The annual licence fee for short term accommodations will not be prorated based on the date of application.

• Pay online through your financial institution.
  • Set up ‘West Kelowna Business Licence’ as the payee and enter your six-digit customer number, which can be found on your bill.
• Use a credit card through a third-party provider such as Plastiq and PaySimply.
• In-person payment options include cash, debit, or cheque - credit card payments are not accepted.
  • Location: 3731 Old Okanagan Highway, West Kelowna, B.C. V4T 0G7
  • Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, excluding holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  

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.

Cancellation requests can be submitted by emailing business.licence@westkelownacity.ca.

A Short-Term Rental is a form of accommodation where part of a principal residence is rented for periods of less than 30 days.  

The City of West Kelowna has merged Short-Term Rentals into two categories;

1. Short-Term Rental (STR) - Permitted on parcels that contain two dwellings - single family dwelling and secondary suite, or single family dwelling and carriage house.
2. Short-Term Rental (Bed and Breakfast) - Permitted on parcels that contain a single family dwelling.

A business licence is required to operate a Short-Term Rental. Below is the full application package to be completed and submitted to the Business Licence Desk located within City Hall. Payment is required at the time of application.  

*Applications will only be accepted in person, and by the owner/operator of the Short-Term Rental.

Required documentation

• Application Form
• One time application fee of $250 and an Annual Business Licence Fee of $500, paid in the form of cheque, cash, or debit to be included with your application package
• Parking Site Plan
• Fire Safety Plan
• Good Neighbour Agreement
• Strata Authorization, if applicable

**The updated Short-Term Rental Operator Guidebook and reflects the adopted bylaw amendments.

Additional work

A building permit may be required for any upgrades necessary for the dwelling to meet the fire safety standards and building code requirements for Short-Term Rental operation. The business licence will not be issued until the building permit has been closed.

As of May 1, 2025, all Short-Term Rental hosts, platforms, and strata hotel platforms operating in B.C. must be registered with the Provincial Short-Term Rental Registry and pay annual registration fees. This ensures that all hosts and platforms operating in B.C. are following the provincial rules.  As this is a provincial regulation, all questions regarding the registration process should be directed to the province through the above website link. The provincial registration is in addition to the required Municipal Business Licence for all Short-Term Rental operations.

A business licence is required to operate a Short-Term Rental - Resort Zone in the Resort Apartment or Resort Townhouse C5, C6, CD2, and CD7 Zones as per the Zoning Bylaw. The Short Rental - Resort Zone Licence allows for short term rental occupancies of less than 30 consecutive days and permits the operator to advertise and collect revenue from their rental business. The application form is specific to the C5, C6, CD2 and CD7 Zones as those zones do not fall under the new Short Term Rental Regulations.

Required documentation

• Application Form
• Annual Municipal Business Licence Fee of $60

As of May 1, 2025, all Short-Term Rental hosts, platforms, and strata hotel platforms operating in B.C. must be registered with the Provincial Short-Term Rental Registry and pay annual registration fees. This ensures that all hosts and platforms operating in B.C. are following the provincial rules.  As this is a provincial regulation, all questions regarding the registration process should be directed to the province through the above website link. The provincial registration is in addition to the required Municipal Business Licence for all Short-Term Rental operations.

A business licence is required for the operation of an Agri-Tourism Accommodation. All or part of the parcel on which the Agri-Tourism accommodation is located shall be classified as a farmland under the Assessment Act. Below is the full application package to be completed and submitted to the Business Licence Desk located within City Hall. Payment is required at the time of application.

Required documentation

• Application Form
• Fire Safety Plan
• Parking Site Plan
• Good Neighbour Agreement
• Owner Authorization Form (if applicable)

Additional work

A building permit may be required for any upgrades necessary for the dwelling to meet the fire safety standards and building code requirements for Agri-toursim Accommodation operation. The business licence will not be issued until the building permit has been closed. 

As of May 1, 2025, all Short-Term Rental hosts, platforms, and strata hotel platforms operating in B.C. must be registered with the Provincial Short-Term Rental Registry and pay annual registration fees. This ensures that all hosts and platforms operating in B.C. are following the provincial rules.  As this is a provincial regulation, all questions regarding the registration process should be directed to the province through the above website link. The provincial registration is in addition to the required Municipal Business Licence for all Short-Term Rental operations.

A Commercial/Industrial Business Licence is necessary for any operation that provides a service or sells a product from a commercial location. This includes the processing of raw materials, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, testing, repairing, storing, shipping, or distributing commercial or industrial materials.

Due to the potential complexity of these applications, processing time can take a minimum of four weeks. Referrals are sent to the Planning, Building and Fire Departments to ensure compliance with the BC Building Code, Fire Code, and municipal bylaws. Interior Health referrals are sent if the business type requires their approval. 

There are many factors to considered when exploring a commercial business location. Please review the New Business and Tenant Improvement Guide (PDF) to gain more information prior to purchasing or signing a lease for a commercial space.

Required documentation

• Site Plan including the following information:
  • Location of business unit in overall building; 
  • Names of neighbouring businesses and business operations if known;
  • Allocated parking spaces for the business unit;
  • Any ramps, if applicable
  • See example.
• Floor plan including the following information:
• Label all rooms based on their use including dimensions;
• Washroom location and if it is accessible;
• Exit doors; 
• Emergency lighting;
• Fire extinguisher type and location;
• Counter and display areas;
• Shelving location and height;
• Type of ventilation system if known or applicable;
• Hazardous good storage location, if applicable.

Inspections

A building inspection and fire inspection are required for the licensing processes (with the exception of a sublease). These inspections can be arranged, after the application has been submitted, by calling the departments directly. Business operations must not commence until the inspections are deemed satisfactory.

• Fire Department: 778-797-3200
• Building Department: 778-797-8811

Application

• Commercial/Industrial Business Licence Application (PDF)

*Any residence or business that owns or operates an alarm system must have a valid alarm permit. Find details on the Regional District of Central Okanagan website.

Any business being operated from a principal residence is considered to be a  Home-Based Business, and requires to a valid business licence. Independent contractors fall under this category as the business licence must be attached to a physical location - considered to be the place where the 'administration' of the business takes place.

Home-Based Businesses (HBB) are classified under two categories which are regulated by the zoning bylaw:

Minor

Smaller business operation that is limited to 25 per cent of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit to a maximum of 215.3 square feet, only one client visit to the location at one time, and limited retail sales. To learn more, see HBB Minor.  

Major

Slightly larger business operation that is limited in allowable area based on parcel size, maximum of three client visits at one time, and allows for broader retail sales. To learn more, see, see HBB Major.

Any construction work needed to accommodate the business may require a building permit. Please contact the Building Department to discuss your project. 

• Building Department: 778-797-8811.

Application

• Home-Based Business Licence Application.
• Owner Authorization Form, if applicable.

A home-based childcare facility may provide care to eight or fewer children within a principal dwelling. The childcare facility must be licenced by the local Health Authority and comply with the zoning bylaw, BC Building Code, and Fire and Safety regulations.

Required Documentation

• Site Plan including the following information:
  • Location of parking allocated for drop off, pick up and employee parking
  • Access to the childcare area if different than main entrance to home.
• Floor plan of the entire dwelling including the following information:
• Label all rooms being used for the childcare operations
• Means of egress from each floor area including basements and sleeping areas
• Window openings (egress) in any bedrooms being used 
• Location of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level - must meet the requirements of the BC Building Code in effect at the time of application
• Location, type and size of fire extinguishers
• Location of any fireplaces and heating stoves
• Fire Safety Plan showing the general layout of the facility, exits, fire extinguisher locations and instructions on "What to do In Case of Fire" is required to be posted in a visible location. See example.
• Home Based Childcare Occupancy Checklist.

Inspections

A Fire inspection and Building inspection are required for the licensing process. These inspections can be arranged, after the application has been submitted, by calling the departments directly.   

• Fire Department: 778-797-3200.
• Building Department: 778-797-8811.

Application

• Home Based Business Licence Application - Childcare (PDF).
• Home Based Childcare Occupancy Checklist (PDF).
• Owner Authorization Form, if applicable.

Businesses that operate in more than one community may be eligible for an Inter-Community Business Licence. This is an add-on to the required municipal licence, and allows businesses to operate within the interior region, removing the need to purchasing individual licences in each community. The yearly inter-community licence fee is $150 and is prorated to $75 for applications received after August 1. This licence can be added by checking the box on the application form, or by request to the licensing department.

The Inter-Community Business Licences can only be applied for in the municipality where the business is located. If the business is located outside of the participating municipalities, a Non-Resident Business Licence may be applied for in any one of the participating municipalities, and the Inter-Community Licence may be added on.

Participating Communities:

Some business types are not eligible for an Inter-Community Licence. These include, but are not limited to, mobile restaurants, escort agencies, body rub services, vehicles for hire (taxis, limousines, and buses) and boat rental/charter activities. Exempt businesses require a business licence from each municipality in which they operate.

*Please note that if your business operates within Westbank First Nation (WFN) jurisdiction you will still require a business licence from their office, as WFN is not a participant in the Inter-Community Business Licence Program.

A Marine Category Business is required to hold a valid Marine Launch Licence to carry on any launching or loading of watercraft, or picking up commercial passengers, and dropping off commercial passengers, at Gellatly Boat Launch, located at 4095 Gellatly Rd. The application must be submitted with:

• General Liability Insurance in the amount of $5,000,000.00 which will:
  • Name the City of West Kelowna as an additional insured
  • Be maintained for a period ending twelve (12) months after this agreement is terminated
  • State that the policy cannot be cancelled, lapsed, or materially changed without thirty (30) days written notice to the City of West Kelowna
  • Be issued by a responsible insurance company licensed to do business in West Kelowna, British Columbia and who meets the reasonable approval of the City of West Kelowna

Application

• Marine Launch Licence Application.
• Information sheet.

Mobile restaurant operators are required to have a valid business licence for each municipality in which they operate. The application must be submitted with:

• A copy of the comprehensive liability policy or insurance for Two Million Dollars $2,000,000.00 naming the City of West Kelowna as additional insured.
• Interior Health, or other municipal health authority, approval.

Inspection

A West Kelowna Fire inspection is required for the licensing process. This inspection can be arranged, after the application has been submitted, by calling the fire department directly.   

• Fire Department: 778-797-3200.

Application

• Mobile Restaurant Business Licence Application.
• Owner Authorization, if applicable.

Please refer to the Mobile Restaurant Bylaw Information Bulletin for operational regulations.

Businesses that do not have a physical location in West Kelowna, but provide services within the city, require a business licence. This includes contractors from out of area or province, and home-base business owners that reside on Westbank First Nation Land and provide services in the City of West Kelowna.

Application

• Non Resident Business Licence Application (PDF)