Non-Resident Business Licence

The City of Grande Prairie requires all non-resident businesses to obtain a municipal business licence.

A non-resident business is a business that operates within the City’s municipal limits, in whole or in part, but does not have a permanent Grande Prairie business location.

As non-resident businesses do not pay City taxes, the fee for a City business licence is higher than for those businesses that maintain a base business location within the city.

Step 1: Apply for the Business Licence

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Licence Fee: $525.00

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: Issuance of the Business Licence

The business licence certificate is issued once all required submittal requirements are approved and there are no concerns. The business licence will be mailed to the mailing address on file.

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:

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 an additional 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

A non-resident business that intends to conduct business for a period of three consecutive months or less can obtain a 3-month temporary licence.
Licence Fee: $175.00
Only one 3-Month Temporary Licence can be issued per 12 consecutive months and a non-resident business which exceeds the term of this licence for its operations will be required to apply for a full non-resident business licence.
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If you plan to change your business location, and you already have a business licence, please notify business licensing as soon as possible so we can keep your business licence file up-to-date.
If you close or sell your business, notify business licensing so your business licence file can be closed. If you sell your business, the new owner(s) must apply for a new business licence if they intend to operate in the City of Grande Prairie. If your business closes, the business licence fee is non-refundable.
If the business is no longer operating within city limits and does not require the business licence, please notify Business Licensing so your business licence file can be closed. The business licence fee is non-refundable.

In addition to the business licence application, some business activities have further provisions to follow when applying for a City of Grande Prairie business licence.

In addition to the business licence application, 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: $525.00
- The direct seller's individual permit: $75.00
The direct seller's permit is only valid for 6 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.
To apply - please send an email to blicensing@cityofgp.com.
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 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.
A mobile vending unit is a business who has a temporary sales location in the City selling or attempting to sell goods or services.
Where to park:
Mobile vending units can park on non-residential (commercial parking lots) private property with permission of the property owner.
Mobile vending Units 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.
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 includes mobile cooking operations (Food Trucks) - it is highly recommended that you utilize approved and licensed food trucks with the City of Grande Prairie. If you wish to include a food truck that has not been inspected by the City, that food truck will be required to be inspected prior to participating in your event. This can be costly and time consuming to the food truck owner and the event organizer.
If your event is to be held outdoors, you will be required to apply for an Outdoor Event Permit.

Non-Resident Business Licence

Non-Resident Business Licence

Step 1: Apply for the Business Licence

Step 2: Application Review

Step 3: Issuance of the Business Licence

Licence Fee: $75.00

Licence Fee: $175.00

What to expect:

What is required:

Business Licence Fee:

When engaging in door-to-door sales a direct seller must:

What to expect:

Where to park:

Additional Requirements:

Where to park:

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