Determine What Additional Approvals You'll Need
Local government approvals
We will provide your local government (municipality, regional district, or First Nation) with a summary of your application. The local government must then, within 90 days, send us a resolution commenting on your proposed establishment (they may ask for additional time).
This resolution must look at such factors as your establishment's location, proximity to other facilities, the hours you are proposing to stay open, the number of people you plan to accommodate, and the impact on the community if your application is approved. If the local government believes residents may be affected by your establishment, it must also collect views of local businesses and residents on your application. This may involve receiving letters in response to a public notice, conducting a public hearing or holding a referendum. Your local government may request additional information.
The local government's resolution must explicitly support your application, or oppose it. (Local governments may choose to opt out of this process. If your local government has opted out, our staff will go through the same steps.)
In addition, you will need to ask the planning department of your local government what the zoning is for your proposed site, and whether the kind of business you propose is permitted within that zone or if re-zoning is required.
You must also ask the local fire and building authorities - your local government can tell you who exactly you need to talk to - to review your proposed floor plans both for safety and to provide you with an "occupant load" calculation. The occupant load must equal the person capacity you have proposed in your application (the number of people – customers and staff – you plan to accommodate in your establishment). They will give the plans a stamp of approval if they meet safety and building standards, and indicate the occupant load for your establishment on your plans (a separate occupant-load certificate is not sufficient). You will be required to submit your approved floor plans to us later in the application process.
Please note:
Your signs, also, must comply with local bylaws. It is your responsibility to obtain all required approvals. If you later discover you will not be able to operate your establishment, we cannot refund your application or licence fees.
Business Number
You must have a Canada Revenue Agency issued Business Number (BN) in place before we can issue you a liquor licence. This is the first 9-digits of your 15 digit GST/HST registration number.
If you don’t have a GST/HST registration number, you can apply for one through the Canada Revenue Agency. Alternatively, you can obtain one online through the British Columbia OneStop Business Registry.
Serving It Right
If you have not done so already, you and your manager(s) and anyone why may be left in charge will need to complete the Serving It Right course before you receive your licence.
Please include your Serving It Right certificate number with your application. If you are applying as a corporation, you should include the certificate number of any director, officer or employee responsible for controlling the sale of liquor.
Any servers you hire (wait staff and bartenders) must have a Serving It Right certificate.
