Applying for a License

Businesses operating from a commercial or industrial location

Application Form

Businesses operating from home

Application Form

Home based businesses that are planning to sell prepared food at farmers markets must also get Fraser Health approval and follow their guidelines.

Businesses from different municipalities doing business within New Westminster

Application Form

The Street Vending Guide provides information about selling goods at specific locations

Application Form

Anyone who wishes to run a care facility in New Westminster

Application Form

For more information on Child Care in New Westminster, visit the Child Care & Child Development webpage

Any property owner offering a residential unit for rent and not living onsite requires a business licence.

Application Form

The City of New Westminster participates in the MetroWest IMBL which allows eligible businesses (including home-based businesses) to work in the following participating cities:

• New Westminster
• Burnaby
• Delta
• Richmond
• Surrey
• Vancouver

To be eligible for an IMBL, your business must have a fixed, permanent location in New Westminster (including home-based businesses) and hold a valid New Westminster business licence. An IMBL allows eligible businesses to operate in participating municipalities in addition to their home municipality. 

Types of businesses:

• construction or trade-related business providing services such as maintenance, repairs or inspections of land and buildings
• health care professional or health care service provider who provide services by visiting clients in their homes

The fee for a Metro West IMBL is $300 and is not pro-rated. This is in addition to your home municipality's business licence fee. 

The IMBL is valid for the same term as the regular business licence issued from your home municipality. The City business licence expires annually on December 31.

If your business is based out of New Westminster and qualifies for an IMBL, please fill out the IMBL Application Form below to apply. 

IMBL Application Form 

To submit your application, please email your completed application to businesslicences@newwestcity.ca or submit in person (511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster). 

Food trucks can be licensed to operate in New Westminster provided they adhere to both the Mobile Food Vending Bylaw 7850, 2016 and the guidelines for catering, events, and pop-up vending. There are two types of licenses: 

• Annual license, good until December 31 of each year and must be renewed through application. An annual license permits a food truck to conduct pop-up vending at specified locations listed in Schedule A of the Bylaw 
• Single event license, that can be used for a single event of up to three consecutive days

To apply for either type of food truck license (annual or a single event), food trucks must provide the following documentation: 

• Application Form - indicate whether you are applying for an annual licence or single-event licence. 
• Approval from a local health authority
• A current fire inspection decal and completed Fire Declaration Form
• Certificate of Insurance (click to access) - proof of $5M in comprehensive general liability insurance, with the City named as additional insured. 

The Food Truck Guidelines provide additional information about how food trucks should operate once licensed. 

To apply, please submit all completed documents to Business Licensing by email at businesslicences@newwestcity.ca or in person at 511 Royal Avenue. 

The City requires that event organizers use licensed food truck for public community events and for private events that take place on public property. Connect with Business Licensing to receive a list of currently licensed food trucks.

Interested in adding a street or sidewalk patio outside your business?

The City's Street and Sidewalk Patios Bylaw allows businesses to provide outdoor seating on public property. Three types of patios are permitted: small patio, seasonal patio, and year-round patio.

An interdepartmental team will review applications and work with businesses to complete the process.

If liquor is being served, you will also need to apply to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.

• Download the Guidelines
• Download the application form

Have questions or need help? Email us at patios@newwestcity.ca or call 604-527-4536

• You must have a business license to operate as a Bed & Breakfast (B&B) should you wish to rent out space in your home for short term accommodation. A B&B is defined as a home based business (i.e. the operator of the B&B must live onsite) providing temporary sleeping accommodations to paying guests for less than 90 days, and including the provision of a daily breakfast.
• The following Zoning Bylaw provisions (section 190.28) must also be met:
  
  1. may not accommodate more than four guests except one additional guest for every 500 square feet (46.5 square metres) of floor space over 2,000 square feet (186 square metres), to a maximum of 10 guests;
  2. may occupy one off-street parking or one on-street parking space per B&B bedroom, provided that not more than two spaces per every three B&B bedrooms are occupied;
  3. if the house contains a secondary suite, the B&B may be operated in either the principal residence or the secondary suite, but not both; and
  4. is not permitted in a detached accessory dwelling unit or any other detached accessory building (e.g. laneway house)
  5. every operator must first receive permission from the landlord or strata corporation in order to operate.
• Business Licence fees
  
  • Application fee (non-refundable): $59.00
  • Annual fee: $214.00 (2026)
• Inspection by Building, Plumbing, Fire and Business Licensing staff is required.
• Business License Application (Home-Based)

Please be sure to also register with the Province on their short-term rental registry. This requires all hosts in the City of New Westminster to register with the Province and pay an annual registration fee.

The Province of British Columbia requires all short-term rental hosts to register with the short-term rental registry. 

The City of New Westminster continues to not permit short-term rentals unless the operator holds a valid Bed & Breakfast business license.

How to register on the Provincial short-term rental registry:

1. Ensure you have a valid business licence in the City of New Westminster. 
2. Register as a host  on the Province’s short-term rental registry

Provincial short-term rental registrations must be renewed annually to remain valid. 

On May 1, 2024, the Provincial government introduced legislation to regulate short-term rentals with the goal of returning more rental properties to the long-term rental market to help with increasing housing supply and affordability.

For more information on registration requirements and legislation, please visit the Province's website. 

The City works to ensure all short-term rental operators comply with rules and regulations. Operators in contravention may face fines of $200-400 per day, per offence, and significantly higher amounts if compliance efforts require escalation. After May 1, illegal operation may result in increased enforcement by the Province.

If you believe a property is being improperly used as a short-term rental, you may submit a complaint to Bylaw Enforcement at 604-527-4657 or bylawenforcement@newwestcity.ca

The retail sale of Cannabis is prohibited unless the required approvals are in place with both the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch and with the City of New Westminster.

The Federal Cannabis Act became law on October 17, 2018, and established a legal framework for controlling the lawful production, distribution, sale and possession of non-medical cannabis across Canada.

Each Province and Territory have the authority to regulate certain aspects including distribution and retail. Municipalities have authority to further regulate certain aspects such as retail (through land use and business licensing regulations) and public use (through smoking regulations).

The City of New Westminster implemented a cannabis regulatory framework in September 2018 in anticipation of the enactment of the Federal Cannabis Act. This page provides information on the cannabis regulatory framework in New Westminster.

Applications for cannabis retail stores were accepted from October 24 to December 5, 2018. The application period has closed. See the section Applications for Retail Cannabis Locations for more information.

Page last updated: May 13, 2021

Retail cannabis locations would be permitted in New Westminster, but are required to complete a site-specific rezoning process, similar to the process for applications for liquor stores and pubs.

All applications will go through a rezoning process which will include opportunities for public consultation.

Council has adopted the Cannabis Retail Rezoning Policy which will guide the City's consideration of these rezoning applications. This policy provides guidelines for where applications could be considered: they should be located in commercial areas, located 150 metres from places where youth gather (such as schools and playgrounds) and located 200 metres from other cannabis retail locations. More information can be found on the Cannabis Retail Use Separation Distance Guidelines Map.

The policy also includes other considerations including business and neighbourhood security, business aesthetics and addressing nuisance activity.

On May 27, 2019, Council directed staff to proceed with an alternate review process for government-operated non-medical cannabis retail stores.

The application period for the initial intake of applications for retail cannabis locations closed on December 5, 2018. Those interested in operating a retail cannabis location within New Westminster are required to receive the necessary City approvals, including rezoning and business licenses. The Guide: Non-Medical Cannabis Retail Store - Initial Application Intake provides an overview of this process and further resources are provided below.

Six retail cannabis location applications were selected to move forward for additional consideration, as directed by Council following reports on March 11, 2019 and May 27, 2019. One application was unable to proceed and was replaced by Council as directed in the report on August 31, 2020. The six application recommended to move forward, and their current status, are summarized in the table below.

After completion of the rezoning, there are still a number of steps that the applicant would need to finalize before being permitted to open which may include: completion of the application the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, renovations to the interior space involving Building and Plumbing Permits, hiring and training staff, ordering stock, and finalizing a business licence.

The following key documents guide the review of retail cannabis store applications:

• Cannabis Retail Rezoning Policy
• Cannabis Retail Use Separation Distance Guidelines
• Cannabis Rezoning Application Evaluation Checklist (Initial Intake)

The following documents may also assist applicants in putting together application packages:

• Checklist for Cannabis Retail Store Application Submission Requirements
• Vulnerable Sector Check - Applicant Instructions
• Vulnerable Sector Check - Local Police Instructions

Personal cultivation (growing cannabis for personal use) is permitted within dwelling units within New Westminster, provided:

• Compliance with all Federal and Provincial regulations including (but not limited to):
  
  • Not more than four plants;
  • Plants must not be visible from public spaces off of the property;
  • Not permitted in homes used as day-cares; and,
  • All required permits are obtained.
• Does not include processing, manufacturing or retail sale of cannabis; and
• For multiple unit buildings, is located within a dwelling unit and not in common areas of the property.

Stratas and landlords have the ability to prohibit the cultivation of cannabis. For further information, refer to the Strata Property Act, the British Columbia Cannabis Webpage, or consult your landlord or strata representative.

Smoking and vaping of cannabis, tobacco and other products are controlled by Smoking Control Bylaw No. 6263, 1995. This bylaw prohibits smoking and vaping in the following locations:

1. On outdoor patios of businesses serving refreshments of food to the public;
2. Within 7.5 metres of any opening into a building including any door, window that opens or any air intake; and
3. Within 15 metres of an outdoor sports field, skate park, playground, lacrosse box, lawn bowling green, stadium, picnic area, water park, wading pool, swimming pool or off-leash dog area within a City park.
    

Strata's and landlords have the ability to prohibit the consumption of cannabis. For further information, refer to the Strata Property Act, the British Columbia Cannabis Webpage, or consult your landlord or strata representative.

Cannabis production facilities are industrial facilities where cannabis is produced by a Federally licensed producer. Cannabis production facilities can be for the production of medical or recreational cannabis. Cannabis production facilities are permitted in Heavy Industrial Districts (M-2) provided they meet the following conditions:

1. all operations related to the production, storage and processing of cannabis occur within a completely enclosed building; and
2. the site on which the cannabis production facility is located is at least 60.9 metres (200 feet) from any site used for a school or for any residential use.

Access the Zoning Bylaw

External Resources

• BC Liquor Distribution Branch Updates
• Province of BC: Non-Medical Cannabis Retail Licenses
• Government of British Columbia - BC's Approach to Cannabis Regulation
• Government of British Columbia - Cannabis Control and Licensing Interim Regulation
• Government of Canada - Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis

City of New Westminster Resources

• Zoning Bylaw Amendment (Cannabis)
• Business License Bylaw Amendment (Cannabis)

Reports to Council

• March 29, 2021: Cannabis Retail Locations: Sapperton Area Application Update - Bylaw for First and Second Readings
• August 31, 2020: Cannabis Retail Locations: Updates and Bylaws for Readings
• August 28, 2019: Cannabis Retail Locations: Public Operator Updates and Rezoning Application - Bylaw for Consideration of Readings
• May 27, 2019: Cannabis: Retail Locations - Summary of Application Review Process
• April 8, 2019 Council Report: Cannabis Retail Sales Locations: Consideration of First and Second Readings for Five Cannabis Retail Locations
• March 11, 2019: Cannabis: New Retail Store Application Evaluation
• August 27, 2018: Recreational Cannabis: Consideration of Bylaws for Implementation of Cannabis Regulatory Framework
• July 9, 2018: Summary of Consultation, Proposed Regulatory Framework, and Next Steps
• June 18, 2018: Council Workshop / Town Hall Meeting: Cannabis Regulations
  
  • Open House Boards
• February 19, 2018: Interim Cannabis Amendment Bylaw Adopted
• January 29, 2018: Cannabis Workshop: Implementation of Cannabis Legislation