Business Licenses

The easiest way to submit your Business License Application or make changes to your existing Business License is online.

Click here to apply or make changes to your Chilliwack Business License

Click here to apply for an Intermunicipal Business License

A business license is your formal permission to operate a business within the City of Chilliwack.

• The Business License Office is located at 8550 Young Road Chilliwack BC  V2P 8A4.
• Hours of operation are Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm excluding Statutory holidays.
• For information on the requirements for a licence phone 604.793.2909.

Please read our Business License brochure for more information. Business Licenses are based on a calendar year and not from the date of issuance.

Registering Your Business

Business License name searches and registration can be done online with the BC Registry. 

BC Access Center
45467 Yale Road West
Chilliwack BC
Phone: 604.795.8415
  
Step 1 - Selecting A Business Name

• The first step in the registration process is the approval of a business name. Business names must have both a descriptive and distinctive element. The name approval process and registration can be completed online here.  
  
• Name Approval Request forms may be downloaded from the Ministry of Finance website. Forms are also available at the BC Access Centre. The cost of name search is $35.00. 

Step 2 - Registering Your Business Name

• Once your business name is approved, it is reserved for 56 calendar days. Within this 56 day period, you must register your business with the Corporate Registry. You can register your name approval online with a credit card or you can register at the BC Access Center.
• The cost of registering your Sole proprietorship and partnership is $40.00. 
  Please note: Sole proprietorship and partnership names have no statutory name protection. If name protection is important to you, you may wish to incorporate your business (cost for incorporation is $350.00).
• Business owners who decide to establish a business in their own name, without adding any other words (i.e. "and sons/daughters" or "and associates"), do not have to go through the Name Approval Request process, nor does their business have to be registered with the Corporate Registry.

For more information on starting a small business, please see the information booklet provided by the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue.  The information booklet is available in 8 different languages on the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue website.