City of Langley - The Place to Be

Business Licenses

A Guide to Starting a Business in the City of Langley

All businesses, including registered non-profit operations, are required to have a valid business license before beginning operation.

Retail, commercial and industrial operations, as well as the owners of rental residential properties must have a valid business license.

Business licenses are required for any company conducting business in the City of Langley, whether located in our jurisdiction or not.

The application is forwarded for approval from Development Services (Planning & Building) Fire Dept, RCMP and Health Dept.

All licenses are for a 12 month period and expire on their anniversary date.

Processing Applications for Business Licenses

The steps for obtaining a business license are as follows:

The applicant decides on the location of the project before making application for business license.
The applicant consults with the Development Services Department to determine if the zoning is appropriate.
The applicant completes the "Business license Application" obtained at the Development Services Department office and submits a non-refundable fee with any relevant information required.
The license Inspector refers the application to the other City Departments for review.
If the premises requires alteration or improvement to meet City requirements, a building permit will be required, before approval of the Business license.
It the application cannot be approved, the applicant will be informed.
It is a condition that an occupancy permit be issued prior to the issuance of a business license for any new building.

After approval is received from all departments, the license will be issued.

Registering your Business

If you are going to operate under a business name as a sole proprietorship, partnership or limited company, register your business with the provincial Registrar of Companies. This service is available at the Langley Chamber of Commerce.

Home Occupation Restrictions

A home occupation shall satisfy all the following conditions:

It shall be carried on only by a person or persons resident on the subject lot and no more than one person not resident thereon shall be employed in it.
It shall meet all Provincial and Federal health and safety requirements and shall produce no public offence or nuisance, whether by noise, vibration, smoke, odour, dust, heat, glare, electrical interference or by any other means.

Except as provided for in the City Sign Bylaw, no external indication other than a small name plate not exceeding 0.20m2 (2.15 square feet), of the existence of the occupation shall be given, whether by materials, floodlighting, storage of materials, alteration of the appearance of buildings or by any other means.