Government fees to open a painting business in Burnaby come to about $503 in the first year: $30 for the name, $40 to register, and $378 for the city licence, plus a $55 application fee. From year two the Burnaby licence drops to $133.
What Burnaby charges a painting business
Burnaby licenses this work as Contractor — Misc. It is the only city of the four with a high first year and a low renewal: $378 the first year, then $133 a year.
| Fee | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| BC Registries — name request | $30 | Up to three names |
| BC Registries — sole proprietorship | $40 | Or $350 to incorporate |
| City of Burnaby — business licence | $378 | First year. $133 a year after. |
| City of Burnaby — application fee | $55 | One time |
| First-year total | $503 | As a sole proprietor |
Read off Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw 14485, Schedule A2, as amended for 1 January 2026 on 22 September 2026: the fee schedule, alongside City of Burnaby: business licences. City fees change every year. We confirm your exact figure before anything is filed and pass it through at cost.
When the Burnaby licence renews
A Burnaby licence runs 1 January to 31 December and is not pro-rated. Apply in November and you pay the full year, then renew about six weeks later. The city mails a reminder 30 days ahead. Late payment adds $53.
Running it from home in Burnaby
Most new painting businesses start from a spare room and a driveway. Burnaby’s rules for that:
- Only people who live at the address may work in the business. No outside staff at all.
- One customer and one customer vehicle at a time.
- No outdoor storage of materials or equipment.
- In the R1 to R8 residential districts: one commercial vehicle up to 4,500 kg, parked in the rear yard.
From City of Burnaby business licences. A licence can be refused over one of these after you have paid, so we read them before we file.
Taking jobs outside Burnaby
A painting business works on buildings, so it fits the Metro West Inter-Municipal Business Licence. It costs $300 for twelve months, is not pro-rated, and covers Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Delta and New Westminster on one licence. You buy it on top of your Burnaby licence, from Burnaby.
It pays for itself the day you take a job in a second city. Without it, each city wants its own licence. How the Metro West licence works.
| City | Licence for a painting business | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | $277–$376 | $77 |
| Burnaby | $378 first year, $133 after | $55 |
| Surrey | $377 | $50 |
| Richmond | $166 | — |
Richmond is the lowest of the four at $166. The full rules for each city are on the city guides: Burnaby · Vancouver · Surrey · Richmond.
What a painting business needs in BC
House painting needs no provincial ticket in BC. Red Seal exists, but it is voluntary for home repaints. You need the business registered, a city licence, and liability insurance. Exterior work at height can bring WorkSafeBC rules, and homes built before 1990 call for lead-safe prep.
The full guide, with gear costs and the seven steps: how to start a painting business in BC.
What painting work goes for in Burnaby
The 2026 market range for painting work in Metro Vancouver is $40–$100 an hour on site. That comes from the engine behind our public calculators. Your prices are yours to set.
See painting prices in BurnabyOpen the pricing calculator
Open in Burnaby in about 10 business days of build work
We build the customer side first: a website people find, online booking, and payments. Then the Burnaby licence and the registration get filed for you. Launch is $497 as a sole proprietor, $997 as a company, and includes your first 3 months of Standing. BC Registries and the City of Burnaby set their own approval times.
+ applicable government registration & licensing fees, billed at cost — we quote your exact figure before filing.
Painting business in Burnaby: questions
How much does it cost to start a painting business in Burnaby?
Government fees come to about $503 in the first year: $30 for the name request, $40 to register a sole proprietorship, and $378 for the City of Burnaby business licence, plus a $55 application fee. Insurance and equipment are on top.
When does a Burnaby business licence renew?
A Burnaby licence runs 1 January to 31 December and is not pro-rated. Apply in November and you pay the full year, then renew about six weeks later. The city mails a reminder 30 days ahead. Late payment adds $53.
Can I work in other cities on a Burnaby licence?
Not on the city licence alone. A painting business can add the Metro West Inter-Municipal Business Licence for $300 a year, which covers Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Delta and New Westminster.
Can I run a painting business from home in Burnaby?
Yes, as a home-based business, within the city's rules. Only people who live at the address may work in the business. No outside staff at all. One customer and one customer vehicle at a time.