Business Licence Bylaw Renewal
Why a Review is Needed
The current Business Licence Bylaw 13138 establishes the rules and regulations for granting licences to businesses that meet the basic criteria for doing business in Edmonton.
The current bylaw was introduced in 2002. While there have been several housekeeping amendments to the bylaw since 2002, the regulatory framework and needs of businesses have changed significantly over the past two decades and a complete review and update of the bylaw is needed.
What the Review Will Achieve
A robust and modern Business Licence Bylaw will support the City’s vision by helping to ensure all businesses are an integral part of livable, safe, and sustainable communities. It will provide businesses and industry with clear, consistent, and reasonable regulations, and allow City administration to improve the value of business licensing services for businesses.
The Business Licence Bylaw Renewal project has 3 main objectives:
- To remove unnecessary barriers for businesses and enhance service efficiency
- To enable administration to respond quickly and decisively when new business types emerge
- To improve alignment with regulatory partners and facilitate a more timely and effective response to compliance-related issues
The Business Licence Bylaw renewal is one of many initiatives underway to improve permit and licensing services in Edmonton.
Public Engagement
Thank you to those of you who took the time to review and provide feedback on the clarity and organization of the new draft Business Licence Bylaw through our online survey, which was available from February 16-March 5, 2021.
The engagement findings will be used to refine the new bylaw to ensure it is as easy as possible to use and understand before it advances to the Urban Planning Committee and City Council.
Next Steps
The proposed new Business Licence Bylaw is targeted to go to the Urban Planning Committee (UPC) on June 29, 2021 and then to City Council for a decision.
Edmontonians can share their views directly with members of Council by registering to speak when the bylaw advances to the UPC.
If adopted by Council, the new Business Licence Bylaw will come into effect on September 1, and the existing bylaw will be repealed. In the meantime, City administration is taking steps to prepare for its implementation.