Business Licences

New Business Licence Applications

If you are new to the community, you will need to download the Business Licence Application. Once completed email it to inspections@langleycity.ca.

The steps for obtaining a business licence are as follows:

Step 1: Have a location, or a few, in mind where you'd like to establish the business. This will allow staff to confirm whether the location and zoning are appropriate for what you're proposing. Our Zoning Bylaw lays out the permitted land uses in different parts of the city, and our Interactive Map shows where these different zones are located.

If the premise(s) requires alteration or improvement to meet City requirements, a building permit is required, before approval of the Business Licence. If the building permit application cannot be approved, the applicant will be informed. It is a condition that an occupancy permit be issued before the issuance of a business license for any new building.

Step 2: Consult with the Development Services Department to determine if the zoning is appropriate.

Step 3: Download the Business Licence Application. Once completed email it to inspections@langleycity.ca.

Step 4: Once your application is received, it will be referred to other relevant authorities such as the Fire Department, the RCMP, and Fraser Health. Find more information on fire safety inspection requirements for Business Licence applications.

Step 5: Once approvals have been received, the Business Licence will be issued. All Business Licences are valid for the current calendar year and expire at midnight on December 31 each year. Business Licences must be renewed with fees paid each year before their expiration.

Home-based Business Restrictions

A home occupation shall satisfy all the following conditions:

1. Must be conducted by a resident of the residential building in which they are permitted and shall not employ more than one person not resident therein;
2. Shall meet all Provincial and Federal health and safety requirements and produce no public offence or nuisance, by noise, vibration, smoke, odour, dust, heat, glare, electrical interference or by any other means; and
3. Shall not give any external indication of the existence of the occupation, other than a nameplate not exceeding 0.2 m2 [2.15 ft2] by displays, floodlighting, storage of materials, alteration of the appearance of buildings or by any other means.
4. Child Care Centre is not permitted as a home occupation in Single Family Residential lots containing Secondary Suites.

Renewing Your Business Licence

If you are renewing your business license, you may pay online, by mail or in-person at Langley City Hall, Development Services & Economic Development, 2nd Floor, 20399 Douglas Crescent, Langley, BC  V3A 4B3.

All food trucks must be operated by foodservice businesses that have a permanent location and current Business Licence in the City of Langley. Download the Temporary Food Truck Guide and Food Truck Business Licence Amendment Application form for required documentation.

Policy
Food Trucks are regulated by Temporary Food Truck Policy Number CO-77. All food trucks must adhere to all City Bylaws. 

Business Licence Amendment Requirements
• Minimum $5 million in commercial liability insurance, naming City of Langley as joint/additional insured and cross liability clause
• Motor vehicle insurance with minimum $2 million automobile liability
• Drivers license for all drivers
• Fire Department inspection and approval
• Good standing from Worksafe BC
• Fraser Health Authority approval to operate

Waste Management
• Must provide a refuse collection discharge management plan to the City for review and approval
• Each food truck is responsible for refuse, recyclables, food waste and cooking by-product collection and disposal
• Must keep the area within 30m of their location clean and free of refuse during operating hours and for 10 minutes after operations cease for the day

Utensils, Seating, and Signs
• All utensils shall be compostable, preferably wood-based
• Signboards & generators permitted adjacent to trucks, but NOT obstruct pedestrian or vehicles or present tripping hazards
• Not broadcast loud music/media. Live entertainment not permitted
• No covered areas, tables, chairs adjacent to food trucks

Hours of Operation
• Food trucks operating in City Parks must follow Park hours
• Food trucks operating on private properties permitted to operate up to 9:00pm daily

Food Truck Locations in City Parks
MAXIMUM of ONE truck in each parking lot
• City Park-West side parking lot
• Al Anderson Memorial Pool
• Linwood Park
• Brydon Park
• Sendall Gardens
• Portage Park
• Penzer Park – 2-parking lots
• Uplands Dog Off-leash Park

Operating on Private Property
• Permitted only on properties zoned for restaurant/food service use
• Property Owner must provide written approval
• Site Plan showing food truck location
• No covered areas, tables or chairs permitted adjacent to food trucks
• No parking spaces shall be occupied for more than 10 hours a day
• NOT permitted to locate within and around the Historic Downtown, bounded by 204th Street, Glover Road, 56 Avenue, 206 Street, Douglas Crescent and Park Avenue (see attached map)
• Food trucks are not permitted adjacent to Innes Plaza or Douglas Park
• Food trucks cannot locate closer than 200 metres from another food truck
• Food trucks are not permitted to locate within 100 metres of an existing restaurant/food service establishment that serves similar cuisine

Map: Food Trucks Not Permitted in Outlined/Shaded Area

CONTACT INFORMATION

Business Licences
Application process & requirements
604-514-2804
inspections@langleycity.ca

Fire Department
Vehicle inspections
604-519-1000
fireinfo@langleycity.ca

Planning Division
Location & regulations enquiries
604-514-2830
devservices@langleycity.ca

Recreation, Culture and Community Services Department
Information & approval to operate in City parks
604-514-2902
events@langleycity.ca

Engineering Department
Street Occupancy permits
604-514-2997
engineering@langleycity.ca

Fraser Health Authority
604-514-6121
langleyHP@fraserhealth.ca

View printable 2024 Business Licence Fees.pdf

Note a business licence application administration fee of $60.00 is applicable to all applications.

If you are a mobile business such as a trades contractor or other professional (related to the construction industry) that provides a service or product other than from their premises, you are eligible to apply for an Inter-Municipal Business Licence (IMBL).

The cost of an IMBL is an additional $250.00 /year. 

• City of Langley’s online Easy Pay
• By mail or in-person at Langley City Hall
• Langley City Hall
  Development Services & Economic Development
  Second Floor, 20399 Douglas Crescent
  Langley, BC  V3A 4B3

Please note: We do not process credit card payments over the phone. Using our Easy Pay system, you may pay your business license fees by credit card in person at City Hall or online. 

NOTE: All Business Licences are valid for the current calendar year, expiring at midnight on December 31 each year.  A 25% penalty will be added on January 1 to all unpaid business license fees.  If accounts remain unpaid after January 31, a further 25% penalty will be added to the business license fees.

• BC One Stop Business Registry
  Before you apply for a Business License, you will need to register your business with the Province of BC. BC OneStop Business Registry is a service by the Province of British Columbia, which provides information on starting a business, business name approvals, business registration, incorporations, and liquor licences.
   
• Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce (GLCC)
  The Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce. is the City of Langley’s main point of contact for business services and resources, such as business licensing, business registry, and more.

• Zoning Bylaw

• Interactive GIS Map
  Langley City's Zoning Bylaw regulated all the land in the city and the uses that are allowed on it. For example, one zone may allow a child care centre while another may not. Use the Zoning Bylaw to find the zoning which permits the use of land you're considering, then look up what properties have that zoning in our map.

• Business License and Regulation Bylaw
  Read the full Business License and Regulation Bylaw, which includes comprehensive details on the City's Business Licence policies. It also contains additional regulations on specific business types such as daycares, pet stores, pharmacies, and thrift stores.

• Intermunicipal Business Licence (IMBL) Bylaw
  Learn about detailed structure of the IMBL system and the regulations under it.

• Sign Bylaw
  A sign permit is required to display signage as part of your business, with specific information available on our building page. The Sign Bylaw includes detailed information on where different types of signs are permitted, navigating the sign permit process, as well as regulations on sign size and placement. It also refers to the Zoning Bylaw, as some requirements vary by zone.

  Chauffeur Permit and Regulation Bylaw
  Chauffeur Permits were formerly issued to those operating taxi and limousine services. On September 16, 2019, Provincial legislation to enable ride-hailing came in BC and, at the same time, the RCMP stopped issuing Chauffeur Permits. Current Municipal Chauffeur Permits remain valid until their expiry date or September 16, 2021, whichever comes first.

An Intermunicipal Business Licence (IMBL) allows mobile businesses to operate in more than one municipality by purchasing one licence, rather than by obtaining separate licences in each municipality in which they operate.  This provides significant cost savings and streamlines operations for applicants.

Eligibility is limited to mobile businesses, defined as trades contractors or other professionals (related to the construction industry) that perform maintenance and/or repair of land and buildings which have a fixed and permanent location in one of the participating municipalities, are eligible for the Intermunicipal Business License. 

Get your IMBL from your home community.

• Langley City
• Township of Langley
• City of Surrey
• City of Abbotsford
• City of Chilliwack
• City of Maple Ridge
• District of Mission
• District of Hope
• City of Pitt Meadows
• District of Kent Agassiz
• City of Delta
• Resort Municipality of Harrison Hot Springs

The cost of an Intermunicipal Business License for an existing business is $250.00.
For new applications, the fee is $250 plus $286.00 which includes a $60 administration fee.