Mobile Business Licenses to Become Permanent

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release   
November 20, 2015
 

Mobile Business Licenses to Become Permanent

 
In February of 2012 the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce appeared before Council to have the City of Abbotsford adopt the Inter-Municipal Business License to streamline the business license process and reduce barriers to doing business between neighbouring municipalities.
 
The Mobile Business License program allows businesses, such as contractors and other service providers, in one municipality to obtain an additional license that allows them to work in nine municipalities from Surrey to Hope. The Province of BC developed this program through the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation and has discovered that it saves business people time and money, which can be re-invested in their business. In addition, the ease and simplicity of the program means more businesses are complying with licencing requirements.
 
Initially, the Inter-Municipal Business License was approved for the Fraser Valley on a one year pilot project and was restricted to contractors only. Successful results led to a one-year extension of the pilot. The new bylaw will make this license a permanent benefit to business.
 
"The Chamber was pleased to bring this issue to Council's attention back in 2012 and congratulate the City for demonstrating that we are taking firm steps to become a much more business-friendly City", said Chamber President Josh Bach. "Not only have two more jurisdictions, Delta and Kent, come on board", Bach added, "the definitions have been modified to allow a much wider range of mobile businesses to be covered".
 
The Inter-Municipal Business License has now been adopted in several areas of the Province and the Chamber will be working with other members of the BC Chamber to have this program adopted on a province-wide basis.