Manufacturing and Production - business licensing
Before you apply
Do you need to register your business?
We encourage all businesses operating in Calgary to register their business with The City of Calgary.
All businesses operating from a location in Calgary are required to obtain location approval for their business, even if a licence is not required. Location approval helps ensure that the space you are operating has been approved for your business and is safe for all occupants.
If your business requires a business licence, registration will occur at the same time as applying for your licence. If you wish to register your business with the City of Calgary, please apply online.
Do you need a business licence?
Businesses that create a tangible product are required to obtain a City of Calgary licence as a manufacturer. No separate licence is required to sell the product that is being manufactured if it is sold on the licensed premises.
MyID business account
If you have a myID business account, you can get a digital copy of your business licence through email.
To learn more and to sign-up, visit myID business account.
Businesses that do require a municipal licence:
Do
- Artists
- Countertop fabricators
- Factories
- Machine shops
- Metal shops
- Industrial design and testing
- Laboratories (non-medical)
- Manufacturing
- Pet food manufacturing
- Chemical manufacturing
- Foundries
- Floral arrangers
- Jewelers
- Machine shops
- Seamstresses and tailors
Businesses that do not require municipal licensing are:
Don't
- Denturists
- Web designers
To speed up the business licence approvals process, customers with a myID business account can receive a digital copy of their business licence via email. Customers applying for a new business licence or renewing an existing licence can use this service. To learn more about the benefits of a myID business account, please visit myID business account (calgary.ca).
Rules and regulations
Wastewater management
Businesses that produce or process stone, granite, rock and/or tile products must install a pre-treatment system to remove solids from wastewater. Businesses producing metal products must install a recovery or filtering system to remove shavings, grindings, and other harmful contaminants from wastewater.
All devices and systems must be cleaned regularly to prevent:
- clogged pipes
- sewer backups
- water treatment plant issues, and
- harmful particles from entering the sanitary system and environment.
For more information, review the Drainage Bylaw and the Wastewater Bylaw.
Manufacturing guns/ammunition
If your business is manufacturing guns and ammunition, contact the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) at 1-800-731-4000. The chief fire arms officer of Alberta requires proof that a municipal licence has been issued before providing a federal gun dealer's licence.
Gift baskets
A business that makes gift baskets requires a manufacturer licence. If alcohol is to be included in a gift basket, the business must be licensed by AGLC. If the liquor is only being delivered with the gift basket and not sold separately at the place of business, no city licence for alcohol beverage sales or liquor store is required.
Tailor/seamstress
If a business is manufacturing clothing and supplying the material, then a manufacturer licence is required. If a customer is supplying the material, and a business only does alterations, no licence is required. A retail dealer licence is required if a business is also selling retail goods along with services.
Welding
A welding business from a home or garage needs consultation with a safety codes officer prior to applying for a home occupation permit or business licence. If there is installation services, a contractor licence type is required.
Fees
For business licence fees, see the Business Licence Fee Schedule. The business licence fee schedule is broken down by licence type. If your business requires multiple licence types, the highest category fee will be charged.
These fees do not include:
- the costs related to required permits to meet land use approval
- any third-party approvals/inspections that may be required to obtain your licence.
Apply
Prepare your application
Once you know how and where your business will operate, you’re ready to apply.
For a smooth application, make sure you know the following information:
- Business Activities
- Location of Business
- Fee payment at the time of application*
- Ownership
- Name of Business
- Contact information for the business and owner
- If you are applying online, a myID account
- Two pieces of government issued identification
- If you have a police check from Police Information Checks
Tips for a smooth application process
Before you apply
Before you apply
- Put together a cost and timeline estimate.
- Confirm the requirements needed to operate from your selected location:
- Is your type of business allowed to operate from your chosen location (is the Use listed in your Land Use District)
- What type of Permits do you need as part of your Location Approval? See location approval.
- Do you need to apply for a development permit or tenancy change as part of your Location Approval?
- Does the space require any upgrades to comply with Building and Fire Codes?
- Are you doing construction yourself or hiring a contractor?
- Do you need to apply for a building permit as part of your Land Use Approval?
- Do you need approval from the property owner before making changes to the space?
- Hire the appropriate contractors for the project.
- Are your contractors licensed
- Can your contractors pull the right trade permits to work on your business?
After you apply
Need help? A business experience representative can help you determine what approvals you will need. Contact The Planning Services Centre.
Apply for your licence and required permits
To apply online, you need a myID account. Create a myID account.
Apply in person
Once you have gathered all required documents, you can apply for your permit in person by visiting the Planning Services Centre.
After you apply
What approvals do you need?
After you submit your application online, you will get a confirmation email summarizing your application. It will include your Business Identification number (BID) and your next steps. If you do not get this email, check your junk email folder and then contact the Planning Services Center if you still did not receive it.
Once you apply for your business licence, you must complete your outstanding approvals before the business licence is issued.
The approvals you will need for your licence are:
You will be contacted by a file manager to review your application and provide you with next steps.
Required
| Licence type | Land use | Police | Fire | AHS / Health | Provincial | AMVIC | ID card |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | |||||||
| Food service - premises | |||||||
| Contractor | |||||||
| Wholesaler | |||||||
| Furniture refinishing | |||||||
| Secondhand dealer |
If your business requires multiple licence types, approval processes are only generated once per licence. For example, only one fire inspection is required even if multiple licence types require that inspection.
After you have obtained all your approvals, your Business Licence can be issued to you.
Check the status of your application
After you submit your application online, you will get a confirmation email with a Job Access Code (JAC).
To track your application and check its status, enter your Job Access Code in Vista.
If you need help or have questions, contact our Planning Services Centre.
Get a copy of your licence
As part of The City’s efforts to accelerate the business license approvals process, customers with a myID business account can receive a digital copy of their business licence via email. This is available to customers applying for a new business licence or renewing an existing licence. To learn more about the benefits of a myID business account and to sign-up today, please visit myID business account.
When does your licence expire?
Business licenses expire one year from the issuance date. You’ll get a notice in the mail 45 days before your licence expires to notify you of the expiry date. To renew your licence, see licence renewals.
Renewing your business licence
Your business licence needs to be renewed every year to remain active. We will mail you an invoice 45 days prior to payment being due. How you choose to pay for your renewal will affect when we receive the fee, so please allow sufficient processing time.
Payment options
Online renewal
To renew your licence online, sign into your myID business account and manage your business at apply.calgary.ca.
If you do not have a myID business account, you will have to create one first.
Make changes to your business
Business licences are specific to the owner when the business was applied and are non-transferable from one person or entity to another.
You can make some changes to your business, including:
- Moving your Business
- Change your mailing address
- Changing your Trade Name
- Updating your Ownership (sole proprietor or partnership to corporation) * conditions apply
See manage your business for more information.