A long-awaited mobile business licence that will be accepted across six Metro Vancouver municipalities is finally here.
Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Delta, Surrey and Richmond began working on the project in April 2013. The licence will be available for a one-year pilot testing period.
The licence is available to "mobile" businesses, such as contractors who travel to different jobs throughout Metro Vancouver.
The new system will allow businesses to operate throughout the region without having to apply for a separate business licence for each municipality. It will also reduce administration costs for the cities involved.
The municipalities have been working with the Ministry of Jobs, Innovation and Tourism to design the program in a way that won't erode license revenues. The ministry provided revenue analysis and technical support to create a shared database for local governments to use.
Other regions in B.C., including several municipalities in the Fraser Valley, already have a mobile business licence system in place.
