

Processing of applications
Access to the Business Licence Office is by appointment only. Walk-in service and drop-in appointments are not available.
To help process your applications more quickly, we have moved to a digital approach for applications, enquiries, and payments:
- Submit your business licence application by mail or email
- Renew your business licence online
- Customer enquiries, contact us online
Note Processing times are currently delayed. We will contact you with questions or next steps once we have processed your request.
All businesses in Vancouver require a licence to operate. This ensures that all business locations are safe and meet land-use requirements.
Business owners are required to get a business licence, but not employees.
Manage your licence and account
What's happening We're streamlining the business licence application process
Effective April 1, 2024: We are streamlining nearly 600 different licensing types into 88.
Businesses with existing licensing will:
- Be automatically transferred into their new licence type
- See it reflected on their 2025 licence