Launch Your Richmond Oil and Gas Support Activities Business
This page offers a practical, step-by-step guide to starting an Oil and Gas Support Activities business in Richmond (NAICS 213112). You’ll get a concise overview of the seven requirements, the permits and licenses you’ll likely need at municipal and provincial levels, the typical startup costs, and a realistic timeline to get your operation up and running.
What you’ll learn: the exact seven requirements you must meet, which permits are required, and how to budget for licensing, insurance, training, and basic equipment. We break down costs and provide a clear timeline from initial filings to opening day, so you know what to expect at each stage.
Why Richmond works: this city’s proximity to Vancouver’s energy ecosystem, access to ports and suppliers, and a growing base of skilled workers create a strong foundation for oil and gas support services. This page helps you move from idea to insured, licensed, and operating smoothly.
Requirements Overview
The most critical requirement for operating a support business for oil and gas in Richmond is the Explosives License and Magazine Storage. This license is a legal prerequisite for handling or storing explosives, and you cannot legally operate without it. It governs how materials are stored, secured, and used, and failing to have it puts you at serious regulatory and safety risk. This requirement is non-negotiable and must be in place before you begin any operations.
Beyond the explosives license, there are mandatory operational requirements to keep you compliant and safe. You’ll need a City of Richmond Business Licence to operate locally, and your magazine storage and handling must meet provincial standards. Health and safety protections matter too, so you should have WorkSafeBC coverage and stay registered. If you’re using a business name rather than your own legal name, you’ll also need BC Business Name Registration for a sole proprietorship or partnership. Making sure these permits and safety measures are in place helps protect your workers and your business.
For Business Registration & Tax, you’ll typically register for a Business Number (BN) with the federal government, and you may need BC Business Name Registration if you’re branding your business under a specific name. Tax registrations include GST/HST, and Payroll Deductions Registration if you have employees. These registrations keep you compliant with Canada Revenue Agency and provincial obligations, and they help you manage taxes and payroll smoothly as you grow.
If you’d like, I can turn this into a simple, actionable checklist with links to the exact forms and authorities for Richmond. Once you confirm your business plan, I’ll tailor a step-by-step timeline to get you licensed, registered, and ready to operate—confident, compliant, and on the right track.
Detailed Requirements
Here are the specific requirements for starting a support activities for oil and gas operations in Richmond:
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Explosives License and Magazine Storage RequiredCompanies using explosives for mining/blasting must obtain federal explosives licenses, magazine storage permits, and comply with handling, transport, and security requirements. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) regulates explosives. License/permit for manufacture, storage, sale, possession. Magazine storage requirements. Blaster certification. Security screening. Annual inspections. Fireworks: separate categories. Contact NRCan Explosives: 1-855-283-8889.
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Business Licence RequiredGeneral business licence required to operate a business in City of Richmond. Apply to City of Richmond for Business Licence: 1. Determine business category 2. Complete business licence application 3. Submit required documents (ID, lease, zoning confirmation) 4. Pay application and annual fees 5. Await approval and receive licence Contact City of Richmond Business Licensing for specific requirements. Home-based businesses may have different requirements. Annual renewal required.
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Business Number (BN) Registration RequiredA 9-digit Business Number is required for most businesses operating in Canada. It is used to interact with the Canada Revenue Agency and other federal programs. Required for GST/HST, payroll, corporation income tax, and import/export accounts. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) at canada.ca. Takes 15-30 minutes. As of November 3, 2025, online registration is MANDATORY for new BNs - phone registration no longer available. You'll need: business name, address, owner SIN, business type, and start date. BN (9-digit number) issued INSTANTLY online. Available 21 hours/day, 7 days/week (closed 3-6am ET for maintenance).
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BC Business Name Registration (Sole Proprietorship/Partnership) RequiredRegistration of sole proprietorship or partnership business names with BC Registries Register sole proprietorship or partnership at bcregistry.gov.bc.ca. Name reservation: $30 (standard) or $100 (priority 1-2 days). Registration fee: $40. Total: ~$70. Name reserved for 56 days after approval. Registration is continuous (no renewal required). No name protection for sole proprietorships. Personal names operating under own name do not require registration. Contact BC Registries: 1-877-526-1526.
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GST/HST Registration ConditionalRequired if annual taxable revenue exceeds $30,000 (small supplier threshold). Taxi/ride-share drivers must register regardless of revenue. Businesses with gross revenues over $30,000 in any single quarter or over four consecutive quarters must register for, collect, and remit GST/HST. Small suppliers (under $30,000) may register voluntarily. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) when your revenue exceeds $30,000 in any 4 consecutive quarters (small supplier threshold). Takes 15-30 minutes. You MUST register within 29 days of exceeding threshold and start charging GST/HST immediately on the sale that made you exceed it. Need your BN (or get one simultaneously). As of Nov 3, 2025, online registration is mandatory. Voluntary registration available anytime for input tax credits.
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Payroll Deductions Registration ConditionalRequired if you pay salaries, wages, or other remuneration to employees. Must register before first pay period. Required if you have employees. You must withhold Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Employment Insurance (EI), and income tax from employee wages and remit to CRA. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) when you hire your first employee. Takes 15-20 minutes. You'll need your Business Number (BN) or can get one simultaneously. Payroll account (RP) added to your BN instantly. Register BEFORE your first pay date. Required to deduct CPP, EI, and income tax from employee wages. For 2025: CPP rate 5.95%, EI employee rate $1.66/$100 insurable earnings.
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WorkSafeBC Coverage and Registration ConditionalRequired if you have workers in BC. Workers compensation insurance coverage through WorkSafeBC for employers in British Columbia WorkSafeBC coverage required for most BC employers. Average base premium rate: 1.55% of assessable payroll ($1.55 per $100). Register online at worksafebc.com. Apply 30 days before starting business or hiring workers. Processing: ~10 business days. Premium rates vary by industry classification (514 classification units). COR certified employers eligible for 10% rebate. Contact: 604-276-3100 or 1-888-967-5377.
Funding & Grants
Available funding programs that may apply to your support activities for oil and gas operations:
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The Ignite Program provides up to $300,000 to BC-based industry-academic teams for R&D projects in natural resources, applied science, and/or engineering. Projects must be at TRL 3 or above, have commercialization potential within 3 years, and secure 2:1 matching funds from industry or government sources. Funded by the Natural Resources …
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Under the CIIP, eligible industrial facilities reporting under the Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act (GGIRCA) and emitting more than 10,000 tCO2e per year could receive a payment equal to all carbon tax paid above $30 per tCO2e, provided their emissions intensity met the world-leading benchmark for their sector. …
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The Alberta Carbon Capture Incentive Program (ACCIP) provides non-repayable grants equal to 12% of eligible capital costs for new CCUS projects, including equipment to capture, compress, transport, store or utilize carbon dioxide. The program is retroactive to January 1, 2022, meaning eligible capital costs incurred since that date qualify. Grants …
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Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) launched six prize-based challenges under the Impact Canada Initiative's Clean Technology Stream, backed by $75 million in federal funding announced in Budget 2017. The challenges—including Crush It!, Power Forward, Sky's the Limit, Charging the Future, Women in Cleantech, and the Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative—used prize-challenge methodology to …
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A $50 million federal program (Budget 2017) that funded demonstration and testing of clean technologies in oil sands extraction, LNG production, emissions detection and monitoring, heat/water recovery, and alternative low-carbon power technologies for oil and gas facilities. All funding has been allocated and the program is fully closed.
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