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Business Licence Application
Application ID:  
Information we collect and why we collect it
The City of Courtenay is collecting personal information in accordance with Section 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The personal information collected in this form (name, contact information, etc.) will be used for the purpose of administering the Business Licence Application. Questions about the collection, use, and disclosure of this information can be directed to the City’s Privacy Officer at City Hall, 830 Cliffe Avenue Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7. Phone: 250-334-4441 Email: info@courtenay.ca

Hover (or click on mobile) to learn more about Business Licences

A Business Licence is required if you plan to carry out business within the City of Courtenay.

BYLAW NO. 2523 - SECTION 2 - GENERAL REGULATIONS
2.1 No person shall carry on a business within the City without first:
A. Paying the fee for a business licence as described under Schedule A of this bylaw; and
B. Obtaining a City business licence; or
C. Being the holder of a valid Inter Municipal business licence.


Business Licence Types

Business Licences are valid for the calendar year, from January 1 to December 31.
If your business operates in more than one jurisdiction and the business you conduct performs a service in more than one community by moving from client to client rather than having a client come to a fixed place of business you will require an Inter Municipal or Inter Community Licence.

COURTENAY ONLY BUSINESS LICENCE:
This licence includes Courtenay only and the annual fee will range depending on business type.

INTER MUNICIPAL BUSINESS LICENCE:
This licence includes and is subject to approval from both the Town of Comox and the City of Courtenay.

INTER COMMUNITY BUSINESS LICENCE:
This licence includes the following participating municipalities.

  • City of Courtenay
  • Town of Comox
  • Town of Lake Cowichan
  • Village of Cumberland
  • City of Duncan
  • Mun. of North Cowichan
  • Town of Ladysmith
  • City of Nanaimo
  • Town of Qualicum Beach
  • City of Parksville
  • City of Port Alberni
  • City of Campbell River

General Regulations and Application Information
  • Please note that payment is due at the time of issuance (not at the time of application). We will email you an invoice along with our payment guide if your application is approved.
  • If your Business is not mobile (i.e. it has a storefront location or is an office where the public will be frequenting), you are required to submit a Floor Plan and Parking Plan with your application.
  • Allow 2-3 weeks from the time of application to issuance. The Planning Department will need to review permitted uses per the zoning of your business location, and a Building Inspector and Fire Inspector will need to do inspections as part of the referral review process.
  • Businesses operating in the City of Courtenay are regulated by the following bylaws included, but not limited to:
  • The Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 sets the fees and specific regulations for business types permitted to operate in the City of Courtenay.
  • The Zoning Bylaw regulates the permitted uses on properties within the City of Courtenay
  • Commercial tenant alterations/improvements (for building and plumbing) are regulated by the Building Bylaw and British Columbia Building Code regulations.
  • The Sign Bylaw regulates the number, size, type, form, appearance and location of signs permitted.
  • Floor Plans and Parking Plans can be hand drawn but must include measurements (sq. ft.) and must be legible.
  • Island Health approval is required for certain types of businesses (child care, food
    services, etc.). Business licences will not get final approval until Island Health has permitted a business to operate. It is the applicants responsibility to contact Island Health. 

Business Licence Renewal and Changes

Renewal notices are mailed out mid-January of each year to all businesses that possess a current City of Courtenay business licence. If a licence is not obtained by the renewal due date, a late payment fee calculated at 25%, for those licences paid on or after March 1, or 50%, for those licences paid on or after June 1, of the annual licence fee will be charged. If changes to the business licence are required (i.e. change of ownership, business name, mailing address, etc.), a completed business licence application form must be re-submitted. If the business is no longer operating, notification must be received immediately IN WRITING (businesslicence@courtenay.ca). It is the licencee's responsibility to ensure their account is up-to-date and that all contact information on file is correct.


Example Floor Plan

Floor Plans can be hand drawn but must include measurements (sq. ftg.) and must be legible. 
Click to Expand


Example Parking Plan

Floor Plans and Parking Plans can be hand drawn but must include measurements (sq. ftg.) and must be legible.
Click to Expand


The information requested on this application is necessary to fully evaluate your request for a Business Licence. Completion of this application does not guarantee approval of a Business Licence. Business may not commence before a licence is issued.
Licence fees are non-refundable.

Type of Application

(Select all that apply)
For 'Change of Location' Applications:
If changes to a business location are required for an existing business, a fee of $20.00 must be submitted at the time of application.” Please see our Business Licence Payment Guide for instructions on how to make payment.

Please provide the previous Mailing Address for reference:*

Please provide the previous Business Name for reference:*

Please provide the previous Owner(s) for reference:*

Please provide the previous Location for reference:*
Please fill out the remaining information below with your most up-to-date/current details.

Classification

(Select all that apply)

Is this for a Mobile Food Vendor?*
For the 'Home Occupation' Classification:

Will clients/customers be visiting your home?*
If clients will be visiting your home, submit a Floor Plan of the entire home, indicating where the dedicated area for the business is (including sq. ftg.) and a Parking Plan.
If clients will not be visiting your home, submit a Floor Plan of the entire home, indicating where the dedicated area for the business is (including sq. ftg.).
For the 'Shared Occupancy' Classification:
If you are sharing a portion of a building or unit with another business (or multiple businesses), a Shared Occupancy Agreement is required.

Shared Occupancy Bulletin.pdf [PDF -183 KB]
Shared Occupancy Agreement.pdf [PDF - 140 KB]

Upload your Shared Occupancy Agreement*
(PDF format, maximum file size of 1.0MB)
For the 'Standard' Classification:
Submit a Floor Plan of the entire business space (including sq. ftg.) and a Parking Plan.

Area of Coverage Required

Type and Location of Mobile Unit

Mobile Food Vending Unit Type:*

Mobile Food Vending Unit Location:*
  • Licenced mobile units are permitted to operate on private property that is zoned for restaurant use, with written permission from the property owner. Mobile units must be at least 30 metres away from existing restaurants.

Upload your Letter of Permission from the Property Owner*
(PDF format, maximum file size of 1.0MB)

Property Owner Authorization

Are you the owner of the subject property?*

Are there multiple owners?*

Upload Owner Authorization.*
A lease agreement OR letter from the property owner(s) authorizing the tenant(s) to operate their business from the property is required. It must be signed by both the property owner(s) and the tenant(s).
(PDF format, maximum file size of 1.0MB)

Property Owner

First Name:*

Last Name:*

Email*

Telephone:*

Joint Property Owner

First Name:*

Last Name:*

Email*

Telephone:*

Applicant Information

First Name:*

Last Name:*

Address:*

City:*

Province:*

Postal Code:*

Email:*

Telephone:*

Is there another individual applying with you?*

Joint Applicant Information

First Name:*

Last Name:*

Address:*

City:*

Province:*

Postal Code:*

Email:*

Telephone:*

Business Information

Business Name:*

Trade Name (Doing Business As):

Island Health Approval Required?*

Have you received your Health Operating Permit?*
Please contact Island Health.

Upload your Health Operating Permit.*
(PDF format, maximum file size of 1.0MB)

Have you received your Fire Department approval?*
Please contact the City of Courtenay Fire Department.

Upload your Fire Department Inspection Report.*
(PDF format, maximum file size of 1.0MB)

Business Address:*

City:*

Province:*

Postal Code:*

Email:

Telephone:

Select the Primary Mailing Address for Business:*

Proposed Opening Date:*

Number of Employees, Including Owner(s):*
The City of Courtenay has working agreements with the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association (BIA) to support businesses in our community. As part of this program, the City provides both organizations with information on new companies and operations requesting business licenses so they can reach out, connect and support them. The Chamber and/or BIA would only use the information to contact you directly. 
You will be able to review the information and remove any which you do not want to go to these organizations on the next page.

I hereby authorize the City of Courtenay to share my business information (above) with the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association.*

We hereby authorize the City of Courtenay to share our business information (above) with the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association.*

Parking Spaces Available:*

Parking Spaces Required:*

Area Dedicated to Business (sq. ftg.):*

Previous Use of Space:*

Please indicate the number of units in your building:*
Ex. For apartments, hotels, motels, hostels, mobile home parks, etc.

Are Improvements or Alterations Planned?*

Interior - Describe in full:*

Exterior - Describe in full:*

Building Permit Number:
A Building Permit may be required. Please follow up with staff for application information. 

Is Signage Proposed?*

Sign Permit Number:
A Sign Permit may be required. Please follow up with staff for application information. 

Description of Business

Please provide the description of the business (in full) to be conducted:*

File Upload

Upload your Floor Plan.*
(PDF format, maximum file size of 3MB)

Upload your Parking Plan.*
(PDF format, maximum file size of 3MB)

Mobile Food Vending File Upload

The following items are required alongside your application.
 
1. BC Safety Authority Approval:
2. Proof of Motor Vehicle Insurance (Food Trucks and Food Trailers)
 ​​
3. Liability Insurance:
  • Provide a copy with the following minimum requirements:
    • Inclusive limit of $2,000,000 and Public Liability & Property Damage
    • Cross Liability Clause
    • City of Courtenay named as joint insured under the policy
    • Provide that the coverage under the policy cannot be cancelled or any provisions changed or deleted unless thirty days’ prior written notice is given to the City by the insurer
4. Discharge Management Plan:
  • Describe how you will dispose of any fats, oils, or greases created by the business.
5. Photographs:
  • Photos of all sides of the mobile food vending unit must be provided.
6. Site Plan:
  • Indicate the location of the proposed mobile unit. Licenced mobile units (food trucks/trailers/carts) are permitted to operate on private property that is zoned for restaurant use but must be at least 30 metres away from existing restaurants.
Before uploading them, please take a moment to ensure that each file name includes your Business Name and Application ID as described below. 
  • Ensure that your file name includes reference to your Application ID: .
    For example: Photo 1_Business Name_ID12345678
  • Only PDF format is accepted
Please upload them to our separate system and record the names of the files in the space provided below.

CLICK HERE to upload the required items with your mobile food vending business licence application. 

Please provide the file names that you uploaded in the link above. Failure to do so will result in a declined application.*
As a double confirmation, please indicate which files you uploaded:
Information we collect and why we collect it.

The City of Courtenay is collecting personal information in accordance with Section 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The personal information collected in this form (name, contact information, etc.) will be used for the purpose of administering the Business Licence Application. Questions about the collection, use, and disclosure of this information can be directed to the City’s Privacy Officer at City Hall, 830 Cliffe Avenue Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7. Phone: 250-334-4441 Email: info@courtenay.ca



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