Business licences & permits — New Westminster, British Columbia
Do I need a business licence or permit? What does it cost?
In the City of New Westminster, British Columbia, licence required: True; who must license: any business within the City (s.2.1); exemptions: fundraising activities, garage sales, farmers markets with street permit, mobile food vendors with MFV licence (s.2.6); fee: in Community Services Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8529 Schedule B; application fee $59; renewal: annual January 1 to December 31 (s.2.32); late penalty 10% after Jan 31, 20% after Mar 31 (s.2.34). Source: Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024; Business Regulations and Licensing (Rental Units) Bylaw No. 6926, 2004; Film Permit Bylaw No. 7793, 2016; Inter-Municipal Business Licence Agreement Bylaw No. 8487, 2024; Inter-Municipal Business Licence Scheme Bylaw No. 8475, 2024; Mobile Food Vending Licence Bylaw No. 7850, 2016; Signs Bylaw No. 7867, 2017; Street and Sidewalk Patio Bylaw No. 8318, 2022, verified 2026-06-08.
Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024
adopted bylaw
licence required
True
s.2.1
who must license
any business within the City (s.2.1); exemptions: fundraising activities, garage sales, farmers markets with street permit, mobile food vendors with MFV licence (s.2.6)
s.2.1, s.2.6
fee
in Community Services Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8529 Schedule B; application fee $59
s.2.31; Community Services Fees Bylaw 8529 Schedule B
renewal
annual January 1 to December 31 (s.2.32); late penalty 10% after Jan 31, 20% after Mar 31 (s.2.34)
s.2.32, s.2.34
scout note
Requires all businesses in New Westminster to hold a current business licence; sets application, fees, and operating conditions.
Business Regulations and Licensing (Rental Units) Bylaw No. 6926, 2004
adopted bylaw
licence required
True
s.11
who must license
persons renting or having available rental units (s.11)
s.11
fee
referenced to Business License Bylaw No. 5640, 1986 (s.11(b))
s.11(b)
renewal
annual January 1 to December 31 (s.14)
s.14
scout note
Regulates and licenses residential rental unit businesses, setting standards for rental property operators.
Film Permit Bylaw No. 7793, 2016
adopted bylaw
licence required
True
s. 3: "No person or company shall film within the City unless a valid and subsisting Permit is issued"
who must license
Any person or company filming commercially or for film school purposes within New Westminster
s. 3; s. 2 definitions of "Film" and "Commercial"
scout note
Requires permits for film and photography productions using City streets and public spaces.
Inter-Municipal Business Licence Agreement Bylaw No. 8487, 2024
adopted bylaw
licence required
True
s.1
who must license
trades contractors, maintenance contractors, home-care health professionals operating in multiple member municipalities (Schedule A s.9)
Schedule A s.9
fee
$300 (Schedule A s.9)
Schedule A s.9
renewal
12-month term
Schedule A s.11
scout note
Authorizes New Westminster to enter an inter-municipal business licence agreement with other Metro Vancouver municipalities.
Inter-Municipal Business Licence Scheme Bylaw No. 8475, 2024
adopted bylaw
licence required
True
s.3
who must license
businesses that perform services within more than one IMBL member municipality by moving from client to client
s.3
fee
$300 (s.8)
s.8
renewal
12-month term (s.11)
s.11
scout note
Establishes the inter-municipal business licence scheme enabling businesses to operate across participating Lower Mainland municipalities.
Mobile Food Vending Licence Bylaw No. 7850, 2016
adopted bylaw
licence required
True
s. 3 — "No person shall carry on Mobile Food Vending within the City of New Westminster without having first obtained a valid Mobile Food Vending Licence"
who must license
Any person operating a food truck (Mobile Food Vending) within the City of New Westminster.
s. 3 — "No person shall carry on Mobile Food Vending within the City of New Westminster without having first obtained a valid Mobile Food Vending Licence"
fee
Application fee and licence fee as set out in the Community Services Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8529, 2025; single-event licence fee also set out in that bylaw.
s. 7 — "pay the application fee and the applicable licence fee set out in the Community Services Fees and Charges Bylaw"
renewal
Annual; expires December 31 each year; licence fee must be paid prior to beginning of each calendar year.
s. 10 — "issued for a calendar year and will expire on the 31st day of December in each year"
scout note
Licenses and regulates mobile food vendors (food trucks and carts) operating on City streets and public spaces.
Pet Store Bylaw No. 7398, 2010
adopted bylaw
Regulates pet stores including licensing requirements, animal welfare standards, and sale restrictions.
Signs Bylaw No. 7867, 2017
adopted bylaw
licence required
True
s. 4.2.1
who must license
Any person placing, installing, relocating, or altering a sign, excluding signs exempt under s. 4.2.2
s. 4.2.1
scout note
Regulates placement, dimensions, and illumination of signs on private and public property; requires sign permits.
Street and Sidewalk Patio Bylaw No. 8318, 2022
adopted bylaw
licence required
True
Encroachment Agreement required
who must license
any person operating a patio on a highway or public place
s.3
scout note
Licenses and regulates outdoor patios on sidewalks and streets, setting approval conditions, fees, and safety requirements.