Business Licensing

It all starts with the Business License Bylaw which appears to have started in 2002 but was consolidated with new amendments in 2024.

A recent focus in this bylaw appears to be mobile food service businesses with the ability to park and operate from 6 designated locations:

Map 1 – Kin Beach Park

Map 2 - Fuller Lake Park

Map 3 – Chemainus Lake Park

Map 4 – Beverly Street Dog Park

Map 5 – Art Mann Park

Map 6 – Maple Mountain Municipal Forest Reserve

The Licensing page on the municipal website summarizes expectations and options for the business licensing program. There is even an online database for searching municipal licenses.

According to the business license application form, there are 4 main types of businesses that people can choose:

□ Commercial

□ Home-Based

□ Industrial

□ Mobile (Trades person, contractor etc.)

The Commercial and Industrial licenses interplay with the municipal zoning bylaw which sets out the physical boundaries across which industrial and types of commercial businesses can operate across North Cowichan.