BizPaL is an innovative online service that provides you with simplified access to information about business permits, licences and other requirements needed to establish, operate and grow your business.
Benefits of BizPaL?
Finding out which government requirements apply to a certain business type can be time consuming and frustrating. BizPaL was created to help identify what you may need from participating levels of government, quickly and easily. The service is a result of combined efforts by the federal, provincial, territorial and participating municipal governments and is designed with the following benefits in mind:
Getting Started
Starting and growing a business can be a challenging experience. That’s why we have made BizPaL as easy to use as possible using a simple process:
Select a location and enter an industry to start the search. You can filter permits based on business activities.
Based on your selections, the BizPaL service generates a list of permits and licences from participating levels of government, along with basic supporting information. Links to government sites where you can learn more and, in some cases, apply online are also provided. Though every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the content offered on BizPaL, it remains your responsibility to obtain all required permits and licences before starting or expanding a business.
For more information about the national BizPaL program, visit https://www.bizpal.ca
Links
Featured Services
Q: Are all local governments participating in BizPaL? A: Not all local governments are currently participating in the BizPaL program. However, all incorporated municipalities are listed in BizPaL, so even if yours is not yet participating, you can still receive pertinent provincial, territorial and federal information. You will need to contact your municipal office to determine the local requirements for your business.
Q: What should I do if the industry I am searching for is not listed? A: Try entering different search words (instead of 'cafe' use 'restaurant'), or select a similar industry sector from the drop down list provided. If you are still having issues please go to the Contact Us link in the menu under "About Us".
Q: How can my local government join BizPaL? A: Your local government can request to join the BizPaL program by clicking on the Contact Us link in the menu under "About Us".
Q: Will BizPaL provide me with a complete list of permits and licences that I require? A: While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information is current and comprehensive, it remains your responsibility to obtain all required permits and licences before starting or expanding a business.
Q: Can I get my personal or professional certifications on BizPaL? A: No. BizPaL provides you with business related permits and licences from all three levels of government, but does not provide any types of personal or professional certifications.
Q: I can't find my community online, what should I do? A: Only incorporated municipalities are listed in BizPaL. If you live in an unincorporated area please enter the name of your regional district. If you are unsure which regional district your municipality is in please visit www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/statisticsbysubject/geography/referencemaps/RDs.aspx to find the correct regional district. This will provide you with the Federal and Provincial permit and licence information, however you will still need to contact your regional district for any additional regulations.
Q: Can BizPaL issue the permits I need? A: BizPaL provides you with the contacts and resources that will lead you to the offices that issue the permits and licences you need. Our office does not issue permits and licences directly.
Q: Am I responsible for permits or licences that may not be listed on BizPaL? A: Yes. While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information is current and comprehensive, it remains your responsibility to obtain all required permits and licences before beginning or expanding a business. If you are unsure that you have met all the requirements, you will want to contact each government agency to confirm that the list you have generated is accurate.
If you have questions about how to use this site or about the permit and licence information presented on the site, please contact the British Columbia BizPaL office below. BC BizPaL operates out of the small business branch of the provincial government, the branch is responsible for coordinating resources and initiatives to support small business growth and success. To find the services and advice you may need for your business, visit the BC Government Business Services site. Service hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Internet: BC BizPaL Facebook
BizPaL OfficeSmall Business BranchMinistry of Jobs, Economic Development and CompetitivenessGovernment of British Columbia PO Box 9822, Stn Prov Govt Victoria, British ColumbiaV8W 9N2
Phone: (250) 387-4699
Email: bizpal@gov.bc.ca
This Online Business Permits and Licences service is a collaborative effort of the Government of Canada and participating provincial, territorial, regional, and local governments. Federal government Information is offered in both English and French. Information provided by participating jurisdictions is offered in the official language(s) of the originating jurisdiction.
Information for this Online Business Permits and Licences service is a collaborative effort of the Government of Canada and participating provincial, territorial, regional, and local governments. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy, currency and reliability of the content, however, it may not be considered, and is not a substitution for, legal advice regarding the requirements for establishing a business. Making sure that all required permits and licences are obtained remains the responsibility of the business person. The information presented above is based on a typical business scenario and may not be complete for an entrepreneur trying to establish a business that is out of the ordinary.
Thank you for visiting BizPaL! We would very much appreciate getting some feedback about your most recent visit.
Your participation in this survey is voluntary and should take about 5 minutes. All feedback is completely anonymous, and your input will help us improve the BizPaL service and the information you find here.
BizPaL Service Client Experience Survey
If your visit to BizPaL resulted in your contacting one of the outside organizations linked in the content, we would appreciate hearing about that experience as well.
Complete this second survey if you would like to provide your feedback on those interactions. The survey should take about 5 minutes to complete. Your participation is voluntary, and all feedback is completely anonymous.
BizPaL Partner Service Experience Survey
For further information on your privacy and how data is collected and used, please see our privacy information statement on the BizPaL website.
This banner page may be re-opened at any time by clicking on the "Send Feedback" link under the "About Us" menu.
Please enter a location and an industry to find the permits and licences you may require when starting or operating your business.