Business licences

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On November 27, 2023, the Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 12585 was adopted by Kelowna City Council

It is renewal season! Businesses that subscribed for eBilling through a Property Account were emailed their notices on December 1, and all paper subscriber notices were mailed on December 7. Business licences must be renewed annually and are subject to a $25 late payment penalty if not paid by January 15, 2024. If fees remain unpaid, licences may be cancelled. 

Create a Property Account and add your business licence account. In Property Account you can pay your business licence account by credit card, access and print your issued business licence, and view your account activity.  All you need is your account number and access code, which can be found on your business licence renewal notice. 

For more information about creating a Property Account, or for ways to pay a business licence renewal without a Property Account (i.e. online banking), please see our "How to do it all online" brochure. Please note that our system is not set up to take over the phone payments. 

SEARCH LICENCES
APPlY FOR A NEW LICENCE
CANCEL A BUSINESS LICENCE
CHANGE THE LOCATION OF MY BUSINESS
CHANGE THE OWNERSHIP OF MY BUSINESS
LOG IN TO PROPERTY ACCOUNT (RENEW EXISTING LICENCE)

A licence is required to own or operate a business in Kelowna, including a retail and commercial establishment, management and professional firm, home businessbed and breakfast and taxi company. A licence is also required to become a mobile food vendor. Your licence must be renewed annually and prominently displayed in your place of business. Operating a business without a licence can result in compliance action and fines.  

Did you know:  that any residence or business that owns or operates an alarm system must have a valid alarm permit?  For detailed information, please see the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

Homeowners or primary residents who would like to legally make their principal residence available for short-term rentals must also apply for a licence. Visit Short-term rentals to apply.

The mobile business licence program enables businesses to operate in a participating community outside Kelowna. Qualifying business can add an inter-community mobile business licence to their existing business licence for an annual fee of $150.

Kelowna is a great place to do business

Apply for a business licence online or in-person at the Application Centre on the second floor of City Hall (please bring a piece of ID and general information about the business). If you’re unable to apply for your own licence, you can sign an owner's authorization form to allow someone to apply on your behalf. The processing time for a new business licence is approximately two weeks, and can vary due to the complexity of some  licence types and inspection requirements.  

For information about new licences, or to make changes to an existing licence, contact Business Licensing 
businesslicences@kelowna.ca or call 250-469-8617. You can renew your business licence online with a credit card when there are no changes to an existing licence. Fees vary according to the business category; please check the Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw for a list of current fees. 

To find an existing licence, use our business licence search or access BizPal. Sign up for business licence e-updates to receive notifications.