Changes to the business licence bylaw come into effect on May 1, with the most prominent change requiring all businesses operating in the City of Grande Prairie to hold a business licence.
The bylaw was adopted by City Council in November 2020. Another important change made is to eliminate the fees for Commercial Business Licences, which as of May 1 are available at no cost.
With recognition of the impact of COVID-19 on local businesses, a six-month grace period is in effect until December 1, 2021, to allow businesses time to adjust to the new requirements, application processes, and guidelines. During the grace period, new businesses required to hold a licence will not be penalized for not being licensed.
The new bylaw also improves the information collected from businesses, allowing a deeper, more complex, and holistic understanding of the business landscape now and into the future. This is valuable as it better positions the City of Grande Prairie to develop services and programs crafted for our local economy. In addition, with the added information the City can rapidly provide more meaningful support for businesses in emergency situations.
Trade-based industries will have additional requirements for licensing. For example, some trades must provide prerequisite documents as part of the business license application process. This ensures that trades operating in Grande Prairie have accurate and up-to-date certifications.
Certain professions are exempt from business licensing due to provincial legislation. The City encourages exempt professions to register for a business licence at no cost, to aid the City in developing a well-rounded understanding of the industries active within the City.
Online Application
The City of Grande Prairie is making it easier for local businesses to apply for and renew business licences by launching an online portal.
The new online portal opens to businesses on May 1, 2021. At that time, businesses can apply for a business licence by visiting cityofgp.com/businesslicensing and following these steps:
- Click the button for the business type that closely matches your operations (Commercial Based Business, Home-Based Business, or Non-Resident Business).
- Click “Apply Now.”
- Follow the steps provided in the application process.
Choosing the correct business type for your operations is essential, as each business type has slightly different application requirements.
Public Consultation
The new bylaw was adopted by City Council in Fall 2020 after a robust consultation period consisting of stakeholder meetings, consultation sessions with businesses, and a stakeholder survey. During the consultation, businesses were able to learn about the proposed changes and raise any concerns.
One of the amendments based on the public consultation was to the fee structure for commercial businesses, which now have no cost to register or renew their business licence.
Renewal Period
Businesses required to hold a licence have an annual renewal period assigned by application date. Businesses will be automatically notified on the first of the month when a renewal is upcoming, they are provided the entire month to complete the renewal. If the renewal is not received by the last day of the month, a $50 late penalty will apply to each month that the licence is not renewed. The six-month grace period does not apply to the renewal period.
For more detailed information about the changes to the business license bylaw, fees, and business categories or to apply for your business license starting May 1, visit cityofgp.com/businesslicensing.