Business Licence Application

Completing this application is only the first step in acquiring a business licence.

A business cannot be opened or operated until the City of Abbotsford reviews the application and issues a business licence.
SOCAN - If you use live or recorded music in your business, please visit socan.ca for licensing information as it is Federal Copyright Law.
For trades contractors or other professionals (related to the construction industry) that would like the Intermunicipal Business Licence for an additional $250 fee, please apply in person at the Building Permits & Licences Division at City Hall at least one business day after completing the online application. For more information please visit our Intermunicipal Business Licence Page.
See Business Licences for more information.

- Description of Business - The business description should provide details on the nature of the business (i.e. what service/product you provide and how) that will help staff verify that the most appropriate licence type and subtype were selected.
- Number of Employees - The people that should be included are the full and part-time employees, including the owners/applicants. This information is used for statistical purposes and does not affect the cost of the licence.
- Square Footage Utilized - This is the area of any building or land used by the business including any outside area used for the storage of goods, commodities, vehicles, etc. Do not include parking spaces for vehicles.
- Emergency Contact for the business - The emergency contact must be someone other than the owner (over the age of 18) who may be contacted if the owner is unavailable during an emergency, as required by the Abbotsford Police. Also, the emergency contact phone number must be different than the owner's phone number.
Additional Documents
- For some business types, the City may require additional documents (e.g. personal care businesses will need to provide a copy of their Fraser Health approval; plumbers, electricians, gas contractors will need to provide a copy of their Trade Qualification [TQ] certificate). The applicant will be contacted if any additional documentation is required.
- All information provided to the City of Abbotsford online or in person is subject to the confidentiality imposed by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
System Requirements for the online form
- The system uses pop-up windows. Advertising or pop-up window blocking must be disabled
- The City uses PayPal, one of the most popular and secure payment providers on the internet. Payments are made using an SSL secure connection certified by Verisign.
Business licences that cannot be applied for online

Temporary business licences such as the following cannot be applied for online:
- Temporary Licence
- Carnival
- Charitable Activity
- Direct Seller
- Film Production
- Ice Cream Vendor
- Non-Permanent Commercial Sales
- Trade Show

Alternatives During Canada Post Service Delays

Business Licence Application