Business Licences

Any person owning or operating a business within The Town of Golden is required to hold a valid business licence as regulated by the Town of Golden Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990. A business is defined as a commercial or industrial undertaking of any kind or nature, or the provision of professional, personal or other services for the purpose of gain or profit.

The business licence application form is available online and at the Town of Golden’s front office located at 810 9th Ave. South. To begin the process, fill out the form and submit it back to the front office via e-mail, fax, mail, or in person. Once approved there is a business licence fee to be paid. The amount is determined by the type of business.

A business licence is issued for one year and terminates on the 30th day of April. A 50% reduction in the fee amount will be made on account of any person commencing to do business after the first day of November to the 30th day of April of that licence period.

Business licence renewal notices are mailed out approximately one month prior to the expiration date of a business licence. If any of the information on the business licence renewal notice has changed, please submit a business licence information update form to Town Hall.

Please note: there are provincial and federal public use regulations you may wish to familiarize yourself with.

Adults 19+ can generally smoke or vape cannabis in public spaces where tobacco smoking and vaping are allowed. But remember, second-hand smoke can be harmful and irritating to people, especially children, so be mindful when smoking in public spaces. However, smoking and vaping cannabis are not allowed in the following public places:

• playgrounds, sports fields, skate parks, swimming pools and spray pools, or any decks or seating areas associated these places;
• public buildings, workplaces, or common areas of apartments, condos, or dormitories, and within six metres of air intakes, windows, and doorways attached to these places;
• regional and municipal parks, except for designated campsites;
• provincial parks, except for areas identified or designated;
• public patios;
• health board properties, except in designated smoking areas.

Non-medical cannabis consumption (in all forms) is banned on K-12 school properties, as well as any adjacent sidewalks or boulevards.

It’s also illegal for both driver and passenger(s) to consume non-medical cannabis in a car.

For more information on what’s legal, public use, health info, growing at home, etc., please visit the Government of Canada and provincial government websites.

The Town is still working on a no-smoking bylaw.

Associated Fees

• Occupant load calculation for a liquor application - $250
• Liquor licence application - in conjunction with a rezoning - $300
• Liquor licence application - no rezoning required - $1000
• Cannabis retail application - $2000

Business Licence Fee

• Cannabis retail - $300
• Liquor primary - $70

Town of Golden Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1402, 2018 – Cannabis introduced the permitted use of Cannabis Retail to the Mixed-Use Commercial C2 zone (which is the commercial area south of the Kicking Horse River bridge and between 6th St N and 7th St N). The bylaw also introduces the permitted use of Cannabis Production to the Light Industrial M2 zone. 

View the zoning map

From oldest to newest:

• Excerpt from current zoning bylaw regarding Bed & Breakfasts
• 2016 04 08 Letter from the Minister Fassbender re transportation and accommodation
• 2016 07 15 Short Term Rental Discussion Paper from Town of Golden Manager of Development Services / Planner (Report 1)
• 2016 08 05 Letter from Town of Golden Mayor in Response to Minister Fassbender
• 2016 12 21 Letter from Town of Golden Mayor re Provincial tax structure. 
• 201702 20 Memo from the Manager of Development Services / Planner re Short Term Rentals Next Steps and Website Post (Report 2)
• 2017 03 06 LTR Prov Paul Flanagan - Tax on Short Term Accomodation
• 2017 11 07 Report from the Manager of Development Services / Planner re Short Term Rentals Proposal (Report 3)
• BN MDS PCK 2018 02 06 Short Term Rental Public Consultation Summary (Report 4)
• MEMO PKG MDS 2018 02 11 Short Term Rentals (Report 5)
• BN MDS 2019-04-16 Short Term Rental Reconsideration
• BN MDS PKG 2019 11 05 Short Term Rental draft bylaw
• 2019 11 05 ext zoning Bylaw tracked draft STR
• 2020 01 21 STR Commercial - OSO Report and Bylaw
• 2020 07 21 Short Term Rental Report and Bylaws
• 2020 07 21 FAQs
• 2020-07-29 Public Engagement Information Boards
  • 2020-07-29 Information Board: Proposed Amendments to Official Community Plan
  • 2020-07-29 Information Board: Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment
  • 2020-07-29 Information Board: Proposed New STR Business Regulations and Licence Fees
  • 2020-07-29 Information Board: STR Regulations Recap
• 2020-10-20 BC Public Checkin Summary 
• 2020-11-03 SRC PKG MDS - Short Term Rentals Report 12

Under the new regulations, the following is permitted in residential zones:

• A permanent resident may operate a B&B (rental of rooms) within a single detached dwelling.
• A permanent resident may operate a STR (rental of a dwelling unit) within a single detached dwelling with a secondary suite, if they live in the other suite.
• Within a single titled duplex one can either live in one half and operate a B&B or live in one half and operate a STR in the other half.
• All are subject to the permanent resident residing on the property and occupying their residence during the commercial STR/B&B use of up to three bedrooms. 
• After hearing from the hotel association, short term rentals will be expanded to also include the C4 and C6 zones in addition to the C1, C2 and C3 zones.

Under the new regulations, the following is prohibited in residential zones:

• A B&B or STR must not be on a property that contains a Detached Secondary Residential Dwelling (ex. carriage house). A B&B/STR must be within the principal building.
• Rental of an entire single detached dwelling.
• A B&B/STR in a multi-family residential building or in a manufactured home zone.