The City of Grande Prairie requires certain businesses to obtain a municipal business licence.
Below is the list of steps of the process required to receive a business licence when based on a commercial location within City limits.
May 1, 2021 - Business Licensing Process Improvements
With the recently passed Business Licence Bylaw C-1393, effective May 1, 2021, all businesses in the City will be required to obtain a business licence.
This will apply to:
This new change will primarily affect those businesses that did not previously require a municipal business licence. These businesses were typically those that are in the retail, restaurant, accommodation, fitness and recreational industries.
We suggest waiting until after May 1, 2021 to apply for the business licence as commercial locations in the city will obtain the business licence at no cost. If you would like to obtain the business licence prior to May 1, the business licence fee is $105.00
In addition to the these improvements, certain contractors and direct sellers (door-to-door sales) will see new improvements to their business industry.
In addition to the business licence application from, the following types of contractors are required to submit the corresponding pre-requisite for every new and renewal of their business licence:
- Building General Contractor (PDF, 175 KB)
- Electrical Contractor (PDF, 181 KB)
- Gas Contractor (PDF, 182 KB)
- Gas, HVAC and/or Plumbing Contractor (PDF, 216 KB)
- HVAC Contractor (PDF, 183 KB)
- Plumbing Contractor (PDF, 178 KB)
- Private Sewage Disposal Contractor (PDF, 318 KB)
If you have any questions regarding the pre-requisite forms, please contact our Inspections Services department at 780-538-0421.
A direct seller is a person who walks from the door of one house to the door of another to speak directly with residents. Direct sellers sell anything from magazines to home improvements. If a contract is signed in person, negotiated or concluded away from the seller’s usual place of business, it is considered a direct sale.
Generally, door-to-door activities are methods for:
- Direct sales of products and/or services (i.e. security systems, lawn aeration services);
- Fundraising for non-profits (i.e. health foundations, school groups);
- Marketing or promotion (i.e. churches, political candidates); or
- Gathering information (i.e. census).
What to expect:
Once the business applies for their business licence, the business will be contacted to discuss their representatives. Upon approval of the application, each representative will be required to attend a set time and location to pick-up their City issued ID card. In order for each representative to receive their City ID, they must bring their company issued ID card as well as a piece of personal government issued ID.
What is required:
To engage in door to door sales, the business is required to maintain a valid City of Grande Prairie business licence during the soliciting and negotiating of sale contracts by their representatives. Plus, each representative is required to obtain a direct seller’s permit.
In addition to the requirements above, the following requirements must be submitted with your application:
- A new criminal record check is required for every new or renewal application for a direct seller’s licence. Criminal record checks older than 90 days will not be accepted.
- A recent headshot photo of each representative.
- A copy of the business' direct seller's provincial licence number with the Province of Alberta.
Businesses that would like to send their representatives door-to-door require a direct seller’s licence from the Government of Alberta. As most representatives are working under the direction of a company, it is the company's responsibility to obtain the Government of Alberta direct seller’s licence; it is not the responsibility of each individual representative.
Business Licence Fee:
- The company: $0.00
- The Direct Seller's individual permit: $75.00
The permit is only valid for six months from when the permit is issued.
When engaging in door-to-door sales a direct seller must:
- Display both their company issued ID card and their City issued ID permit when first addressing a resident;
- Only engage residents between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.;
- Pass a residence if a “no soliciting sign” is visibly displayed; and
- Always be respectful. Pushy sales tactics can leave a sour impression and it will not only affect you as the representative but the company. If the customer declines the goods or services, please respect their response and carry on.
Failure to comply will result the business to immediately stop their business activities in the city and the business may receive fines.
Renewal notices will be sent out one month prior to the business licence expiring. businesses that have not renewed their business licence by month end of its anniversary month will receive a final notice and be deemed delinquent. Delinquent businesses will be subject to the renewal fee and late fee in accordance with the Fees, Rates and Charges Bylaw C-1395, Schedule “A”. Businesses that fail to renew will receive a late fee for each month that they remain delinquent.
Late Fee: $50.00/month
Step 1: Apply for the Business Licence
Business Licence fees (PDF, 295 KB) vary depending on the type of business and your business may be required to submit additional regulatory requirements (PDF, 235 KB) as part of the business licence application.
Step 2: Application Review
When you apply for a municipal business licence, certain criteria are checked before the business licence certificate is issued.
We review the application details and follow-up with any questions we may have or submittal requirements that are missing from the application.
Step 3: Land Use Approval
We confirm if the desired location is appropriately zoned for the business activity. If necessary, you may be contacted by our Development Officers to guide your through the Land Use Approval process.
Step 4: Occupancy Classification
We assign the Occupancy Classification of the business location to your business licence. In some cases, the business activity might not align with the Occupancy Classification assigned to the building at the proposed business location. If necessary, you may be contacted by our Safety Codes or Fire Prevention Officers to guide your through the safety code requirements.
Step 5: Issuance of the Business Licence
The Business Licence Certificate is issued once the Land Use Approval has been obtained and the Occupancy Classification is correctly assigned. The business licence will be mailed to the mailing address on file.
In some cases, we will issue the business licence if the required permits have been applied for and are in process.
Business Licence Expiry:
The business licence expires at midnight, at month end, one calendar year from the initial date the licence is issued, unless otherwise specified.
Business Licence Renewals:
A renewal notice will be emailed to the email address on the licence file on the 1st day of the month when the business licence expires. Please note to check your junk mail folder as some email address domains have been known to redirect our renewal notices.
There are a few situations that we will refund the business licence fee:
- If an applicant is unable to obtain Land Use Approval for their proposed business location, the business licence fee will be refunded;
- If an application for a business licence is withdrawn prior to processing, the business licence fee will be refunded;
We will not refund the licence fee:
- If the applicant does not fulfil the requirements for the obtaining Land Use Approval or permits required by either Safety Code or Fire Prevention Officers within three months of the business licence application date, the business licence fee will not be refunded and the application will be closed; or
- If your business closes, the business licence fee is non-refundable.
If you plan to change your business location, and you already have a business licence, you must notify business licensing before the move occurs as there may be additional approvals required at your new business location.
If you close or sell your business, notify business licensing so your licence file can be closed. If you sell your business, the new owner(s) must apply for a new business licence, and potentially, other approvals will also be required. If your business closes, the business licence fee is non-refundable.
In addition to the business licence application, some business activities have further provisions and requirements to follow when applying for a City of Grande Prairie business licence.
In addition to the business licence application, the following provisions apply when operating a cannabis retail store in Grande Prairie:
- A cannabis retail store may set its hours of operation between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. at the maximum allowable hours, Monday through Sunday. A store may operate reduced hours;
- A cannabis retail store must be closed on Christmas Day (December 25); and
- At all times other than the hours endorsed for cannabis sales on the licence.
A mobile cooking operation (MCO) is a vehicle, trailer or cart that may be parked or sited on a temporary basis and when stationary, is used to produce, cook, sell or distribute food. This could be a van, truck or trailer converted to contain a mobile commercial grade kitchen.
In addition to the business licence application, for a MCO to legally operate inside the City limits, all units are required to have an inspection from the Fire Department, Alberta Health Services and City Inspection Services.
What to expect:
Once the business applies for their business licence, the business will be contacted to bring their MCO to a set time and location to have their unit inspected.
Upon successful inspections, the unit will be awarded a sticker, from each authority for the current year. If one (or more) of the inspection is not successful, the operator will be provided with items that need to be corrected before receiving their sticker.
Once all inspections are deemed successful and the MCO receives their stickers from each authority, the business licence will be issued. All MCOs are required to be inspected on an annual basis. This inspection occurs at the initial business licence application and for every business licence renewal.
Where to park:
MCOs can park on non-residential (commercial parking lots) private property with permission of the property owner.
MCOs that would like to utilize public/city-owned property, which includes Muskoseepi Park, Centre 2000, downtown, CKC turf field/grandstands, and the Montrose Cultural Centre, must obtain approval first.
The application form to utilize at these locations can be found here.
Additional Requirements:
When operating a MCO in Grande Prairie, the MCO is to provide recycling and waste receptacles to customers when their unit is open for business, unless the unit is participating in an event where receptacles are provided by the event organizer.
Event Organizers are required to obtain a business licence for their event.
A person that rents a stall, table or space as a vendor at a tradeshow, farmer’s market, or community event do not require a Business Licence and are limited to operating only during the scheduled hours of the event and only at that location. A Business operating outside of these specific event hours or location will require a business licence.
If your event is to be held outdoors, you will be required to apply for an outdoor event permit.
