Business licences are location-specific and you usually need a separate licence for each location from which you operate. Some exemptions to this rule are people who sell their product in a public market, exhibition hall, or are travelling or temporary sales people (i.e. door-to-door).

For businesses that hire subcontractors, the subcontractors must have their own business licences.

Renewal

Licences must be renewed annually. A renewal notice/bill will be sent to the address on your licence one month before your licence expires.

The renewal fee must be paid by the date listed on the notice otherwise your licence will expire and you will have to stop your business operations until you get a new licence.

Moving or Selling the Business

If you change your operations or move your business to a new location, you will need to have your account reviewed to determine if a new development permit or business licence category is required.

Licences are non-transferable. If you sell or close down your business, please contact our office.

If you need a licence, here are the steps to get one:

Step 1 – Apply for a development permit

Before we can process your business licence, you need to apply for a development permit. Your proposed business will be reviewed by a development planner to determine whether it is allowed under your location’s zoning, which is set by the Zoning Bylaw.

If you will be operating out of a home, please submit the Home Based Business Application.

Commercial Development Permit

If you are operating out of a commercial or industrial location, please submit the Commercial Development Permit Application.

If the commercial development permit is for a new building that will be larger than 47 sq. metres (506 sq. ft.), or an addition to or an alteration of an existing building that will result in the building being larger than 47 sq. metres (506 sq. ft.), the Abandoned Wells Confirmation Form must be submitted with a printout of the map(s) that was used to confirm the absence/presence of abandoned well(s) with the permit application form.

This application form must be submitted with the following documentation:

• The appropriate checklist:

• Commercial Industrial Checklist - This checklist is required for construction projects for new buildings and additions
• Multi-Unit Residential Checklist - This checklist is required for construction projects consisting of 3 or more dwellings for new apartment/condominium buildings/row housing, stacked row housing, etc.
• Change of Use Checklist - This checklist is required when changing the use within an existing building or site (for example: changing a General Retail Store to a Restaurant)

Step 2 – Apply for a business licence

If you are operating out of a commercial or industrial location, you should submit this Business Licence Application at the same time as your development permit application. You can also use our online application.

If you are applying for a Home Based business licence you only need to submit the application you filled out for your development permit.

Non-resident business licences
A person or business that does not have a permanent base of operations in either a home or commercial location within Edmonton but are working in the city must pay a Non-Resident Licence Fee.

They must also complete and send in the Non-Resident Business Application form, and submit other relevant licence fees based on their business category.

Other information
Please also remember to submit a Corporate Registry Search from the provincial government if your business is a corporation, and your site and floor plans. You should also check your business licence category to see if you have to submit other documents as well.

Step 3 – Fees and approval

Once you have submitted your application and other required documents, you will need to pay your fees before we can process it.

Once fees are paid, we will process your application. Applications for certain categories of businesses have to be sent to other agencies (like the Edmonton Police Service, Alberta Health Services,  Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission or Edmonton Fire Rescue) for a recommendation before we can issue a licence. Some applications are forwarded to other agencies simply to notify them of your new business.

Business licence applications are usually processed in 1-3 weeks, however categories that require recommendations can take longer. Once your application is processed, we will either send your licence in the mail or notify you that your application has been denied.

Step 4 – Renewal

Your licence will have an expiry date on it and you must renew before that date – whether you receive a reminder from the City or not – or your licence will expire and you will have to go through all the above steps again.

To renew your licence, simply visit us in person (10250 - 101 Street NW), renew online or call 311.

This chart shows which fees you will have to pay as part of your business licence application.

The first set of fees apply to all business licence applications and are charged in addition to the fee for your particular business licence category.

The consultations required are a list of all the other agencies that we are required to notify about or ask for a recommendation on your business licence application. This allows these other agencies to ensure that your business complies with the laws and regulations that they enforce.

The 2016 fees are effective February 1, 2016

	2016 Fees	Consultations Required
Fees That Apply to All Applications:
Consultation Fee (per consultation required)	$72	N/A
Fire Rescue Services Inspection Fee (if your business requires an inspection)		N/A
Non-Profit Organization (reduced rate for all business licence categories)	$41	N/A
Non-Resident Fee (if you are not an Edmonton resident)	$518	N/A
Service Fee (applied to all applications)	$46	N/A
Fees For Each Business Category:
Adult Theatre	$2,236	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue
After Hours Dance Club	$595	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services
After Hours Dance Event	$373	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services
Alcohol Sales [Consumption Off-Premises]	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
Alcohol Sales [Consumption On-Premises/Minors Allowed]	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
Alcohol Sales [Consumption On-Premises/Minors Prohibited]	$595	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
Amusement Establishment	$225	Fire Rescue Services
Auction Establishment	$225	Fire Rescue Services
Bed And Breakfast	$225	Alberta Health Services
Bingo Establishment	$459	Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
Body Rub Centre	$761	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services
Body Rub Practitioner	$225	Edmonton Police Service
Carnival	a) if 25 or more shows, games or rides: $1,781/day to a maximum of $17,808/year b) if less than 25 shows, games or rides:$748	Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services
Casino Establishment	$2,983	Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
Commercial Leasing	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Commercial Schools	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Construction Vehicle and Equipment Sales/Rentals	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Delivery/Transportation	$72/vehicle	None
Escort	$225	Edmonton Police Service, Alberta Health Services
Escort Agency	$5,967	Edmonton Police Service, Alberta Health Services
Escort Agency (Independent)	$1,061	Edmonton Police Service, Alberta Health Services
Exhibition Hall	$225	Fire Rescue Services
Exotic Entertainer	$225	Alberta Health Services
Exotic Entertainment Agency	$5, 967	Edmonton Police Service
Exotic Entertainment Venue	$544	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services
Farmers' Market	$225	Fire Rescue Services
Festival	$225	None
Firearm and Ammunition Dealer	$225	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue
Flea Market	$459	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue
Flea Market Vendor	$51	None
Food Processing	$225	Alberta Health Services
Funeral, Cremation, and Cemetery Services	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue
General Business	$225	None
General Contractor	$225	None
General Industrial	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Health Enhancement Centre	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services
Health Enhancement Centre (Independent)	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services
Health Enhancement Practitioner	$87	None
Home-Based Business	$50	None
Livestock Operation	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Major Retail Store	$459	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Minor Retail Store	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Participant Recreation Services	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Pawn Shop	$459	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue
Personal Service Shop	$225	None
Rental Accommodation	$225	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue
Restaurant or Food Service	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue, Alberta Health Services
Second Hand Store	$459	Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue
Small Animal Breeding and Boarding Establishment	$459	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Spectator Entertainment Establishment	$459	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Tobacco Sales	$459	Health Canada
Travelling or Temporary Sales	$225	None
Travelling or Temporary Sales (1-3 day licence)	$51	None
Travelling or Temporary Food Sales	$225	Alberta Health Services
Travelling or Temporary Food Sales (1-3 day licence)	$51	Alberta Health Services
Vehicle Fuelling Station	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Vehicle Repair	$225	Edmonton Fire Rescue
Vehicle Sales and Rentals	$225	None

For More Information

Permits and Licensing Service Centre

Sustainable Development
5th floor, 10250 - 101 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 3P4

Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday
8am to 4:30pm

Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Fax	780-496-6054