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Have a question about starting or operating a small business in Edmonton? These FAQ include details on permits, licensing, contracts and construction. If you do not see the answer to your question here, please reach out to the small business team at smallbusiness@edmonton.ca.
For more information on permits, visit our permits page.
You are able to submit your permit application in person at the Edmonton Service Centre or online. Visit our permits page for application information.
The easiest way to check the status of your permit application is to call the 311 Contact Centre. Alternatively, if you applied for your permit online, you can look up its status by checking your dashboard on the Self Service website. You can also contact the City’s One-on-One Small Business Support team by email.
The first step in opening your business will be to make sure you are located in the appropriate zone. All businesses require zoning approval.
If you are starting a new business, moving your business or changing business activities in an existing business, you will need to obtain zoning approval to ensure that your business meets the zoning rules in your location.
Business owners are strongly encouraged to obtain zoning approval before signing a lease.
Alternatively, you can sign a conditional lease where the lease is not binding until zoning approval is obtained. If you have questions about signing conditional leases, please contact Business Link for assistance with understanding commercial leases.
Visit Zoning for Approval for more information on how to identify which zone you are in and how to obtain zoning approval.
A development or safety codes officer may contact you if modifications need to be made to either your permit application, or the improvements/changes outlined in your permit application.
If the requested modifications are unclear to you, the best course of action is to ask the officer who contacted you for clarity. You may also want to speak with your project’s designer, contractor, or professional consultant (like an architect or engineer) at this time.
Finally, if you have been working with the City’s One-on-One Small Business Support team, you can also reach out to them for additional support.
You may depending on the renovations you wish to perform. Permits are not required for cosmetic changes such as painting, flooring removal/installation, and cabinetry work. Most construction, equipment, and activity changes, however, do require a permit. To see examples of renovations that require a permit, visit the Changes to Existing Buildings page.
Visit our Signs page to learn more about guidelines, regulations and permitting processes surrounding signage.
There are two types of outdoor seating options:
For more information, visit our Sidewalk Cafes page.
Rules around temporary patios, sidewalk cafes and outdoor retail expansions are relaxed so you can create more space for your customers in alignment with Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines. Until the end of 2020, you have the option to expand your patio or retail space by following a set of guidelines and signing a declaration form. Read the guidelines and proceed with signing the declaration form.
April 30, 2020
The City is continuing to issue permits for food truck operators with added requirements to ensure public health and safety. For details, read the news release.
Generally, every person or company that conducts business in Edmonton is required to have a business licence. There are a few exemptions, specifically for professions which are regulated by other legislation. Examples of these professions include Lawyers, Chartered Professional Accountants, and Physicians.
Businesses located outside the City who operate in Edmonton are also required to obtain a licence. Most often, they would only need to apply for a Non-Resident Business Licence. This includes trades and contractors as well as mobile vendors such as food trucks. For any business licensing questions, visit the City’s business licensing section.
Yes. A business that operates out of a residential location is known as a Home-Based Business. In order to operate a business out of a residential location, you will require a Home-Based Business License.
If you have questions about opening a cannabis retail business, refer to Cannabis Legalization or contact cannabislegalization@edmonton.ca for more information.
Any individual or company can do business with the City, as long as they can provide the needed products and services in the right place, at the right time, and at the right price. To do business with the City, visit our Selling to the City page.
For a listing of available properties to sell or lease, visit our Doing Business with the City page.
The City sells its surplus vehicles, equipment, tools, furniture and sundries by public auction. For more information, visit the Surplus Vehicle & Equipment Sales page.
Road construction is a necessary part of building and maintaining our roads and transit systems, and updating our utilities. However, we know it can be a frustrating experience for some business owners. During road construction, business owners could use this period as an opportunity for renovations. The City has several grant programs that can assist business owners with performing renovations during times of construction. Please see the links below to determine if your property/business is eligible to receive grant funding:
There are also a variety of business-focused grant programs offered by the provincial and federal governments. The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta both maintain a comprehensive list online.
For more information on any specific construction project, you can visit the Building Edmonton page. This page is best viewed on a desktop computer.
The City does not collect municipal business tax from businesses.