Business Licences and Permits

If your new business will be operating out of a commercial space, you'll be required to have building and fire inspections accepted before the business licence can be approved. The process for booking inspections will be explained after the application, floor plan, and payment have been received.

If you own a business in Port Moody and work in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, you can apply for a tri-cities inter-municipal business licence. This licence is only available to mobile businesses.

When filling out a business application form, simply check the box for "Inter-Municipal" under "Application Type." You don't need to buy separate licences for each city. An additional Inter-Municipal Program fee will be added to your base fee for a Port Moody licence. See the Fees Bylaw for the current fees.

Once approved, we'll add the inter-municipal endorsement to your existing Port Moody business licence and mail you your new inter-municipal business licence.

If you own a mobile food truck and wish to operate on private property, you will need a catering business licence. If you wish to operate at the three public mobile food truck locations, you will need a mobile food truck business licence. Follow these five steps to apply:

• complete a business licence application and indicate whether you wish to operate your mobile food truck on private property or public property;
• return your completed application via email with a copy of your health permit to operate;
• call 604-469-4529 to schedule a fire inspection through Port Moody Fire Rescue;
• if you are operating the mobile food truck on public property, sign the Mobile Food Truck Licence Agreement (to be provided upon receipt of a completed business licence application); and
• provide a copy of your liability insurance (2 million dollar minimum coverage displaying the City of Port Moody as an additional insured). 

Proposed cannabis retail stores are considered in Port Moody through a site-specific rezoning process. Our Cannabis Retail Use Corporate Policy (PDF) includes the land use and business licence requirements that must be met, as well as the application process, for a proposed cannabis retail store.

Land use and business licence requirements

Requirements for cannabis retail use include:

• a 75-metre buffer distance between retail cannabis stores and sensitive uses (defined as schools, playgrounds, and community centres);
• the property in question must be zoned for commercial retail use; and
• a number of business licence regulations, related to design and security, in addition to the basic Provincial requirements.

Application process

The following procedures will be followed for any cannabis retail application:

• the applicant must first apply to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) for consideration of a provincial non-medical cannabis retail licence;
• the LCRB will forward a referral to the City of Port Moody for applications that meet the provincial licensing requirements and have paid the provincial application fee;
• during the provincial review time, City staff are available to advise applicants regarding the preparation of a rezoning application;
• the City will only accept rezoning applications for cannabis retail use following the receipt of a referral for a provincial licence received directly from the LCRB;
• City staff will present recommendations to Council in a Planning Report regarding amendments to the Zoning Bylaw for Council consideration of first and second readings;
• a Public Hearing may be scheduled for applications in order for the public to provide input to Council; and
• following a Public Hearing, Council may approve or deny a rezoning application.

Additional information

• 75 metre buffer distance for cannabis retail stores - map (PDF)
• application form for Cannabis Retail Use (PDF)
• cannabis smoking restrictions (PDF)