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Business Licences & Permits

Payment Options Changes

Please be advised that as of December 31, 2024 the District of Squamish will no longer accept credit card payments over the phone. The following payment options are available.

In person payment at 37955 Second Avenue with credit card (maximum $2,000), debit card, cheque, or cash.
After hours cheque drop box at 37955 Second Avenue.

Please include your contact information, folder number (e.g. Building permit number, Development permit number) or your address and reason for payment (e.g. water on/off, bulk water provision).

If you are conducting business within the District of Squamish, a valid business licence is required. Business is defined as carrying-on of a commercial or industrial undertaking of any kind or nature, or the providing of professional, personal, or other services for the purpose of gain or profit (please note gain includes non-profit and not-for-profit organizations). New or temporary businesses, and those that have changed location, changed ownership, or opened a new location; all require a new licence to operate in the District of Squamish.

Business licence operators must visibly display their business licence on the premises. Business licence holders operating a mobile business must carry the licence with them while working in Squamish.

Business operators that are unlicensed and licence holders who do not ensure their sub-contractors and suppliers are licensed are subject to fines for each day the Business Licence Bylaw offence occurs.

To look up a business licence, please visit the Business Licences Report page.

View the Business Licence Bylaw (May 2021).

Process

The processing time of an application depends on completeness of the application when received and the need for approvals by other departments or other regulatory authorities. These approvals may be in addition to District Community Planning and include Provincial agencies such as Vancouver Coastal Health, or other District departments such as Squamish Fire Rescue.

For specific types of businesses, you are required to provide the following proof of certification or authorization (depending on the nature of your business, you may also be required to provide additional documentation):

Plumbing Business – Trade Qualification Number
Electrical Business – Electrical Contractor’s Licence Number
Alarm Business – HST Registration Number
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) Business – Registration Number
Auto Sales Business – VSA Licence Number
Portable Food Vendor Business – You are required to provide the District of Squamish with a Letter of Authorization from the property owner(s) of the property on which your portable business is located.
Cannabis Retail - please read more here.

Application & Fee Processing

Type of Permit	Estimated Cycle Time
Non-resident	1-3 days
Film	1-3 days
Resident	5-14 days

Business licences are non-transferrable. If you sell, terminate, change or move your business, please notify the District in writing by emailing businesslicence@squamish.ca

Change in business ownership requires a new application and a new fee payment. Any changes in the business such as name, address, increase in square footage, etc. must be reported to the District of Squamish. The Change Form is located below.

There are generally two forms of business licence applications and these can be further categorized by business type.

Resident Business means a business carried on in or from premises within the municipality.

Non-Resident mean a business, other than a resident business, carried on within the municipality, or with respect to which any work or service is performed within the municipality.

Fees for Non-Resident or Home Occupation businesses are $130 for the calendar year. For all other businesses, please refer to Schedule 4 of the Fees and Charges Bylaw.

4 Ways to Pay

Online
Visit our online payment system. You will need your Account Number or Licence Number and Access Code available on your renewal notice. Please email businesslicence@squamish.ca if you require these details.
In Person
Visit Municipal Hall, 37955 Second Avenue
Cash, credit, debit or cheque.
Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
By Mail
Submit a cheque with your business licence number noted on the cheque to: District of Squamish
PO Box 310, Squamish, BC, V8B 0A3
After Hours Drop Box
Municipal Hall, 37955 Second Avenue.
Cheque only. Do not leave cash in the drop box.
The yellow drop box is located on the wall to the right of the main doors.