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Business Licence - FAQs
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The City of Calgary requires certain types of businesses and/or occupations to obtain a business licence. This site answers the most commonly asked questions regarding licensing.
Before you commit to a location for your business, check with The City of Calgary Development & Building Approvals to determine if your type of business activity is permitted in that location. Phone 403-268-5311.
Table of Contents
- Do I need a business licence?
- Why should my business get a licence?
- How do I apply for a business licence?
- What bylaws apply to licensing?
- What must I do in order to obtain a licence?
- Who inspects the business premises and how often is the premises inspected?
- How do I arrange for these inspections?
- Do I need a licence if I don't operate from a commercial premises?
- Do home occupations require a licence?
- What happens if a business changes location?
- What happens if I sell the business?
- Do employees need a business licence?
- Do I have to pay business taxes or property taxes?
- Do businesses based outside of Calgary need a licence?
- Can I operate my business before I actually receive my licence?
- How long does it take to get my licence?
- What happens if my application for a licence is turned down?
- How and when do I renew my licence?
- Should I register my trade name?
- Am I required to incorporate?
- Do I need a business licence to undertake a charitable fundraising activity?
- Do I need a permit for a sign?
- Do I need to register for a G.S.T. number in order to get a licence?
- What categories of business require business licences?
- How is the licence fee established?
- How are licence fees calculated?
- Can a licence fee be refunded?
- Do I need a business licence?
Most businesses do need a licence to operate. In order to determine whether you require a business licence, please contact the Licence Division at 403-268-5521, and provide a complete description of your intended business activity. If it is determined that you require a business licence, you will be advised of the licensing category or categories within which your business falls, as well as steps you will have to take in order to obtain the licence.
A list of the types of businesses requiring licensing is contained in this brochure, along with a fee schedule and examples of how to calculate the licence fee for a multi- category licence.
- Why should my business get a licence?
A business licence signifies to the public and other businesses that you have met The City of Calgary's licensing requirements and are permitted to operate your particular business within Calgary.
Please note: Without a valid business licence, contractors are NOT able to obtain construction permits!
- How do I apply for a business licence?
- A non-refundable licence fee is required before your application can be processed.
- Come in person to the customer service counter located in the Calgary Municipal Building, third floor, 800 Macleod Trail S.E. Be prepared to pay your licence fee.
- Phone our licence information line at 403-268-5521.
- We can fax or email you an application. Once completed, it can be returned by fax. NOTE: You will be contacted for payment.
- Application information for a licence is available by clicking on the link on the left - How to Apply for a Licence.
- Even though you have made an application for a licence by phone, fax, or through our Web site, you may be required to come to our customer service counter. Some categories of licence require you to provide two pieces of identification so that a consultation with the Calgary Police Service may be undertaken.
- What bylaws apply to licensing?
There are eight bylaws regarding the licensing of businesses in Calgary:
- Alarm Services Bylaw
- Bicycle Courier Licensing Bylaw
- Business Licence Bylaw
- Concert Bylaw
- Dating and Escort Service Bylaw
- Downtown Pushcart Vendor Licence Bylaw
- Exotic Entertainers Bylaw
- Massage Licence Bylaw
- Extended Dance Event Bylaw
- Boxing & Wrestling Bylaw
- What must I do in order to obtain a licence?
Every type of licence requires certain inspections and/or approvals to be completed. All businesses occupying a premises require Use approval from Development & Building Approvals under the Land Use Bylaw; inspections by the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Fire Department; and possibly inspections by Alberta Health Services.
Home-based businesses are not subject to a fire inspection, but need approval from Development & Building Approvals. Many types of licences require the owners of the business (and in some cases, the directors of a corporation), to submit to a Calgary Police Services background check, while others may need provincial approval from such agencies as the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, and the Alberta Government Services - Consumer Services Division. The Licence Division will advise you of the specific approvals required for your businesses.
A business licence will NOT be issued until all required approvals have been completed.
- Who inspects the business premises and how often is the premises inspected?
Before a licence can be issued, the commercial business location will be inspected by the Fire Prevention Bureau staff. An inspection by an Alberta Health Services field inspector may be required and a licence inspector or police officer may inspect the premises as part of the licensing process. Subsequent inspections may be conducted by any one of the regulatory bodies on an annual basis.
- How do I arrange for these inspections?
To obtain inspections and/or approvals call:
The City of Calgary
Licence Division Phone: 403-268-5521 or Fax: 403-268-2291
Development & Building Approvals Phone: 403-268-5311
Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau Phone: 3-1-1
Provincial Government
Alberta Government Services - Consumer Services Division Phone: 403-297-5743
Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission Phone: 403-292-7300
Alberta Health Services
Phone: 403-943-2288
- Do I need a licence if I don't operate from a commercial premises?
Certain types of businesses that do not operate from a commercial location will still require a business licence. Businesses such as contractors, pushcart vendors, exotic entertainers, escorts, massage practitioners, and alarm agents, fall under this category.
- Do home occupations require a licence?
Businesses operating from a residence may require a licence. Contact our Licence Division with details of your intended business activities. Staff will assist you in determining if a business licence is required and what approvals may be needed. Even if you do not require a business licence for your home occupation, you must still contact Development & Building Approvals at 403-268-5311 to determine whether you need a home occupation permit.
- What happens if a business changes location?
Most businesses are licensed to operate at a specific location. Before committing to a new location for your business, you should contact The City of Calgary Development & Building Approvals to confirm your type of business activity is permitted in that location. Phone 403-268-5311.
If you relocate to another premise, Use approval must be obtained for the new location and a new licence application must be completed. After you have received all required approvals for the new location, a new business licence can be issued.
- What happens if I sell the business?
If you sell your business, the new owners must apply for a business licence and new approvals may have to be obtained. If you close or sell your business, please notify the Licence Division promptly so your licence file can be closed.
- Do employees need a business licence?
For certain occupations (exotic entertainer, massage practitioner, escort, and alarm agent) employees, as well as the business owner, are required to get a licence. And, if you are licensed, and employed by an exotic entertainment agency, escort agency or alarm agency, you must notify the Licence Division of any change in employer.
- Do I have to pay business taxes or property taxes?
All businesses that occupy commercial premises are assessed and levied a business tax. If the business owns real property, property taxes will be levied against the property. Information regarding business or property taxes can be obtained by contacting our Customer Service Centre at 3-1-1.
- Do businesses based outside of Calgary need a licence?
Any business operating in Calgary that falls within the licence categories requires a licence, whether resident or not. Non-resident companies pay the same fees as resident firms, plus a $525 surcharge to approximate the Calgary business tax levy they don't pay. The test of residency is whether the licensed business is on either The City's property or business tax roll.
- Can I operate my business before I actually receive my licence?
If your business is identified as requiring a business licence, you should take steps to ensure the licence is in place before operating your business. If you are found operating your business before the licence is issued, you could be subject to charges.
- How long does it take to get my licence?
This can vary from one day to a number of weeks, depending on the approvals required and how long it takes for you to obtain the necessary approvals.
- What happens if my application for a licence is turned down?
A licence hearing may be called to determine if there is a basis on which to refuse to issue the requested licence. You would be requested to attend the hearing (with legal counsel, if you wish). If the licence hearing decision was to refuse to issue the licence, you could then appeal this decision to The City of Calgary, Licence and Community Standards Appeal Board. For more information on the appeal process, contact The City Appeal Boards at 403-268-5312.
- How and when do I renew my licence?
Licenses are issued for a period of one year, from the date the licence fee is paid. Forty-five days before the licence expires, a notice is sent out advising the licensee of the date on which the licence expires, and the fee which must be paid in order to renew the licence for another year.
- Should I register my trade name?
You are not required to register your trade name to obtain a business licence. For information on trade name registration contact a private registry office or consult a lawyer.
- Am I required to incorporate?
You are not required to incorporate to obtain a business licence. For more information about incorporation procedures, contact a private registry office or consult a lawyer.
- Do I need a business licence to undertake charitable fundraising activity?
A City of Calgary business licence is not required by a charitable organization to undertake fundraising activities in Calgary. There are provincial government regulations covering charitable fundraising. For more information contact the Alberta Government Services - Consumer Services Division at 403-297-5700, or a private registry office.
- Do I need a permit for a sign?
Yes, permits for signs are issued by Development & Building Approvals. Information can be obtained by phoning 403-268-5311.
- Do I need to register for a G.S.T. number in order to get a licence?
No, Goods and Services Tax registration is not a requirement of licensing. However, the Federal Government may require that you register for a G.S.T. number; contact Revenue Canada at 1-800-959-5525.
- What categories of business require a business licence?
Using the link at the top left of this page, see the Licence Categories and Fees.
- How is the licence fee established?
Licence fees are not taxes, and are not related to the size of a business or its revenues. The fee is based on the actual cost of performing the necessary inspections and issuing the licence.
Note: Planning approval fees, Fire Prevention Bureau inspection fees, and Calgary Police Service review fees are independent from Business Licence fees. However, these fees are collected when you apply for your Business Licence and are non-refundable.
- How are licence fees calculated?
The licence fee for a new business that has licence activities that all fall under the Business Licence Bylaw, is $140 plus applicable planning, fire inspection and police fees. For example, for a restaurant that sells alcohol, tobacco products, and retail merchandise, the highest fees from each column are added together to get the total licence fee.
|
Licence Category |
Licence Fee |
Fire Inspection Fee |
Police Review Fee |
Planning Approval Fee |
| Food Service - Premises |
$140 |
$ 80 |
N/A |
$ 31 |
| Alcohol Beverage Sales |
$140 |
$ 80 |
$ 40 |
$ 31 |
| Retail Dealer - Premises |
$140 |
$ 80 |
N/A |
$ 31 |
| Tobacco Retailer |
$140 |
$ 40 |
N/A |
$ 31 |
$140 + $80 + $40 + $31 = $291
Business licences are issued for a period of one year from the date payment is received, and the licence must be renewed each year. To renew a business licence (using the same example noted above), the renewal fee would be calculated using the highest renewal fee from each column.
|
Licence Category |
Licence Renewal Fee |
Fire Inspection Renewal Fee |
Police Review Fee |
Planning Approval Fee |
| Food Service - Premises |
$107 |
$ 80 |
N/A |
N/A |
| Alcohol Beverage Sales |
$107 |
$ 80 |
N/A |
N/A |
| Retail Dealer - Premises |
$107 |
$ 40 |
N/A |
N/A |
| Tobacco Retailer |
$107 |
$ 20 |
N/A |
N/A |
$107 + $80 = $187
- Can a licence fee be refunded?
No, since the fees are based on the costs of reviewing a licence application and issuing a licence, once the costs have been incurred there is no basis on which to provide a refund.
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