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Business Licensing
All businesses located in, or providing services within, District boundaries, including home-based businesses, require a Business Licence issued by the District. Business Licences are issued to applicants that are in compliance with District regulations and bylaws, which vary by the type of business being conducted.
Business licences are valid from January 1 to December 31 of the year in which they are purchased. Be aware that you may be required to obtain permits or licences from the Province (e.g., if you are opening a food service, you will be required to have a health permit and if you require a liquor licence you will need a permit from the Liquor Control Branch).
District of Lillooet Business Licence renewal invoices are mailed out in November each year. Payments are due by the following March 1, and may be paid using online banking services, by mail, or in person at Municipal Hall, PO Box 610, 615 Main Street, Lillooet, BC, V0K 1V0.
Licensed businesses in the District of Lillooet are listed in the online business licence directory.
General Business Licence
Information
A business licence is required to carry on any business within the municipality.
Business licences are valid from January 1—December 31 and need to be renewed annually. Businesses have until March 1 to renew a valid licence from the previous year.
The business licence application fee is $35 and the annual licence fee for most businesses is $150.
Business licences must be posted in a conspicuous place.
Business licences are not transferable to another owner or location.
If a business operates more than one store, branch, premises, unit or place of business, a separate licence is needed for each place of business.
A Licence Inspector may enter at all reasonable times on any property to ascertain whether bylaw requirements are being met.
Businesses with unpaid fees, fines, or unsatisfied requirements of DoL bylaw or policy may be refused a licence or have their existing licence suspended or cancelled until payment is received.
Violations of the Business Licence Bylaw may incur penalties of at least $100 up to a max of $10,000.
Home businesses (home occupation or home industry) must provide the total area of the dwelling and percentage of area used for the home business. See section below for more info on Home Businesses.
When to notify the District of changes to your business?
All businesses must notify the District of Lillooet of any:
Change of mailing address or business address
Change in ownership
Change in the activities or classification of the business
Change in the premises in which the business is being carried out
Change in business name
Businesses shall notify the District when a business licence is no longer required.
Inter-Community Business
Licence
Do you hold a Business Licence, but your business is mobile and you work in other parts of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District? Then you may qualify for an Inter-Community Business Licence.
Partnering communities may include:
City of Kamloops
Tk'émlúps te Secwépemc
City of Merritt
District of Logan Lake
Village of Chase
District of Clearwater
District of Lillooet
Other communities have expressed interest in joining the program and include:
Village of Ashcroft
Village of Cache Creek
Village of Clinton
Village of Lytton
For more information about the Business Licences and/or the Thompson-Nicola Inter-Community Business Licence program, please contact the District of Lillooet at 250-256-4289 or info@lillooet.ca
Home Businesses:
Home Occupation & Home Industry
Information
A home occupation is a business clearly incidental to the use of the home as a dwelling unit and to the residential use of the lot.
Must have a valid and current municipal business licence
Must be a permitted use for the applicable zone
Type of Home Business
Home Occupation means an occupation or profession carried out in a dwelling unit, or a building accessory to a dwelling unit, by a permanent resident of the dwelling unit, where such occupation or profession is accessory to the residential use of the dwelling unit and may include home offices, studios, home workshops, or similar uses.
Home Industry means an occupation or use that is accessory to the principal residential use of a parcel and may include manufacturing, processing, fabricating, assembling, distributing, servicing, or repairing of goods or materials including vehicle repair, maintenance, and auto body shops or other similar uses.
Where are they permitted?
Home Occupation is a permitted accessory use in the ALR, AG, RR, SR, R-1, R-2, RM, MHP, MC, C-1, and C-3 zones.
Additionally, where Home Occupation is not a permitted use, but where a dwelling is legally non-conforming, or a dwelling is a permitted accessory use to a commercial or industrial use, a Home Occupation is permitted at the discretion of the District subject to any conditions imposed by the District and the following regulation shall apply: Only persons residing in a dwelling unit described above may carry on a Home Occupation within that dwelling on that parcel.
Home Industry is a permitted accessory use in the RR, SR, and MC zones.
Contact the District of Lillooet or consult the current zoning map to find out what zone your property is in.
Zoning Regulations for Home Industry (Section 6.6 of Zoning Bylaw)
Home Industries are only permitted on lots at least 2000 m2 in size (0.49 acre).
The maximum floor area used for a Home Industry, including the indoor or Outdoor Storage of associated materials or finished products shall not exceed 200 m2 (2152 sq ft).
A Home Industry shall only be conducted within an enclosed building or structure.
Outdoor exterior storage of materials used for the Home Industry shall be to the rear of the Parcel.
No retail sales of products other than the sale of goods produced, grown, or assembled on the parcel shall be permitted.
Only persons residing in the Principal Dwelling may carry on the Home Industry located on the parcel, along with up to two non-resident employees.
One parking space per two non-resident employees of a Home Industry use is required in addition to those required for the principal dwelling.
For full details, check with District staff or section 6.6 in the Zoning Bylaw.
Zoning Regulations for Home Occupations (Section 6.7 of Zoning Bylaw)
The total area used for all Home Occupations on a parcel shall not occupy more than 50% of the floor area of a permitted dwelling unit to a maximum floor area of 100 m2 (1076 sq ft).
No exterior storage of materials, containers, or finished products shall be permitted in connection with a Home Occupation use occurring within a permitted dwelling Unit.
Business must not create excessive traffic or nuisance.
For full details, check with District staff or section 6.7 in the Zoning Bylaw.
Seasonal Artisan Vendor
Information
Artisan seasonal vendors can apply for a business licence that allows them to set-up in Downton Park in the summer months and sell goods descibred in the Artisan Vendor Policy (page 36-37 of the Business Licence Bylaw).
An Artisan Seasonal Vendor means a person(s) who offers for sale materials that are made from hand by local and regional artisans. Materials may include jewelry, handmade crafts, baked goods, paintings, or other artistic presentations as per the Artisan Vendor Policy. Presentation of materials for sale is limited to carts, tables and wagons. Operations are limited to Monday through Saturday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM from May 15 to September 15.
Short-Term Rental
Information
On January 20, 2026, Council adopted a new Zoning Bylaw (No. 2025-026) which made changes to the regulations for Short-Term Rental (STR) operations (see section 6.4)
Please contact the District office to discuss your potential or existing STR operation and how to receive your business licence.
Eligibility and Licensing Requirements
All STRs operating within the District are required to have a business licence (not a new requirement). STRs are also required to be registered with the provincial STR Registry.
Location / Zoning
STRs are permitted as an accessory use in many, but not all zones. Please refer to the zone map in the Zoning Bylaw to determine what zone your property is in, then check the section that contains details of permitted uses in your zone (check table of contents). District staff can also help you determine if your zoning allows for an STR use.
Residency Requirement
If you are in a residential zone, the owner or a designated operator of the STR must have their primary residence within 15 km of the STR.
Specific Use Regulations for STRs
These regulations can be found in section 6.4 of the (new) Zoning Bylaw 2025-026.
No more than 10 guests are allowed per stay.
RVs or camping cannot be used for STRs.
On-site parking for the STR shall be required (on the property, not on the street). One parking space is required for every two bedrooms used for an STR in the principal dwelling, and one parking space for each self-contained suite used as an STR. If you cannot provide on-site parking, you may apply to Council for a parking variance. Discuss with District staff if you need more information about how to apply for a variance.
In the residential zones, STR businesses are permitted only one exterior unlit sign with a max surface area of 0.4m2 for advertizing purposes/wayfinding.
Dwelling units used for STRs must comply with minimum standards for health and safety under the BC Building/Fire Codes. Having a building/fire inspection is a standard part of getting a business licence for areas to be used by the public.
Only one STR licence is permitted per apartment building.
STR Complaints
STR Operator contact information is available at the District office if you have concerns about an STR operating in your neighbourhood (e.g. noise, nuisance). Written complaints can also be filed with the District.