According to the City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019, every business conducting activity within the boundaries of the City of Merritt requires a valid business licence.

A “business” is defined as “carrying on a commercial or industrial undertaking of any kind or nature or the providing of professional, personal or other services for the purposes of gain or profit.” This includes transient operators like couriers and food trucks, as well as home-based businesses. The Business Licence Bylaw excludes occasional business activity, such as bake sales or yard sales (less than four per year).

Renewals of business licences are valid from January 1 to December 31 of each year. Registered businesses will receive an annual invoice. Short-term business licences are also
available and are not typically renewed.

A Business Licence Application Form may be used by both New Businesses and Existing Businesses. Existing businesses can use this form to update information, such as new contact information, the addition of a website address, or a change of location. This form is not required for simple renewals. Business Licence Application forms and forms from other levels of government can also be found at bizpal.ca.

What is a Home-Based Business?

A Home-Based Business means any occupation or profession carried out in a dwelling by the family which is permanently resident in the dwelling, where such occupation shall be clearly incidental or secondary to the use of the dwelling for residential purposes.

Restrictions

• Home-based businesses have restrictions based on what type of business the resident wants to carry on, and what the zoning of the parcel is.
• These restrictions generally limit the number of employees, businesses, and the maximum permissible area. For details, see the Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map.
• View Zoning Map

What is a Food Truck Business?

A Mobile Food Truck Business means a food truck or mobile trailer from which food and/or drink is prepared internally and dispensed externally, which is parked at a given private property location for no more than five days in any one week or in parks or on-street locations where permitted by the City.

Merritt Fire Rescue Department Requirements

The following is a list of local requirements for all mobile food vendors who wish to operate within the city of Merritt.

Fire Inspections must be conducted a minimum of 3 hours prior to operation. Vendors are subject to an annual inspection from the Merritt Fire Department.

Upon completion of the annual inspection, an inspection decal will be provided. Vendors who are non-compliant will not be permitted to continue to operate.

Requirements

• The mobile vendor must have a valid City of Merritt Business Licence.
• The mobile vendor must be approved by the BC Safety Authority and ensure that all decals are visible. (If any alterations have been done to the unit a new inspection and decal are required)
• All Tents being in conjunction with the mobile vending must conform to NFPA 705 requirements. The tent must have a visible tag stating that it complies with this requirement. 
• Cooking and/or grilling shall not be conducted under tents. All cooking appliances must be at least 1 meter away from a tent.
• Cooking appliances must be a minimum of 3 meters from any building or other food vendor. 
• A guard/barrier, not less than 1 meter high, must be provided to act as a barrier between the public and cooking appliances. This would not apply if the cooking appliances are located within an enclosed trailer. 
• All appliances must be approved commercial appliances. Residential type appliances such as deep fryers will not be acceptable.
• Minimum of one 2A10BC rated extinguisher shall be provided and shall be mounted in an acceptable location.
• A type K extinguisher must be provided for all deep frying and/or hot oil cooking.
• Fire extinguishers must be up to date. The extinguishers are required to be inspected annually by an approved agency. 
• Enclosed cooking units, creating grease-laden vapors, require a kitchen canopy and suppression system conforming to NFPA 96.
• Enclosed cooking units with a kitchen canopy require a fixed suppression system to be installed within the unit. The fixed suppression system shall be serviced bi-annually by an approved technician.
• Kitchen canopy has been cleaned from the filter to fan in conformance with NFPA 96 requirements.
• All Spare propane bottles must be secured 3 meters from any cooking appliances or open flame. 
• All propane connections must be soap tested to ensure there are no leaks in conformance with the BC Gas Code requirements. 
• Wood burning appliances are prohibited within the City of Merritt.
• All mobile vendors with trailers must provide wheel chocks to prevent trailer movement.
• A current inspection decal from the Merritt Fire Department must be displayed in a visible location.

The City Sign Bylaw regulates the placements and construction of most signs. In order to install a sign, you are required to obtain a valid sign permit. When applying for a sign permit you should include a drawing of the sign that includes its dimensions, lettering and relation to the building or structure to which it is attached.