Commercial Vehicle Licences

The Municipal Commercial Vehicle Licensing Program is established by provincial statute to provide a source of revenue to municipalities to offset the associated costs of roads maintenance, signage, snow removal, parking control, and the like. Any vehicle using municipal roads and operating for commercial purposes must annually purchase and display a commercial vehicle licence decal.

A common misconception is that the decal is a parking pass. The decal does not expressly provide any parking privileges, though some communities may allow the use of loading zones as a courtesy.  Users should always consult local bylaws for specific restrictions regarding the use of commercial loading zones, especially in the City of Vancouver, who operate their own licensing program.

Forms

Program members may download a copy of the ML2 remittance form here:

History

The legislation dates back to the Municipal Clauses Act of 1906, which provided that every municipality had the power to issue licences, and levy and collect amounts from: "18. From any person owning a pack train of six or more animals, freight wagon, stage coach, or omnibus used in transporting goods for profit or hire …"

Originally, a separate licence plate was required for each community in which a vehicle was engaged in inter-municipal business. By the 1960s, a unified plate was developed, and by the late-1980s, the metal plates were replaced by a single, province-wide decal [PDF - 406 KB].

Today - Current Legislation

The current legislation can be found in the Local Government Act and the fees are set by provincial regulation [PDF - 48 KB].

The licence year is defined as the calendar year, and decals may be purchased for $25-$40 depending on vehicle weight from any participating member's municipal offices beginning November 1 of each year, for validity in the following year. You can also see a list of program members [PDF - 25 KB].

See also the CVL Fact Sheet [PDF - 78 KB] for general information on the program.

Contact

Susie Koivu
Financial Services Officer
Tel: (604) 270-8226 ext. 106
Fax: (604) 270-9116
E-mail: skoivu@ubcm.ca