Photo: Curtis Galbraith

By Shaun Penner

Business Licenses

County looking at creating new Business Licensing Program

Jun 26, 2019 | 3:25 PM

The County of Grande Prairie is looking to implement a new Business Licensing Program.

The topic was brought up at Monday’s Council meeting, where Administration presented a number of options for Council to consider as they look to clarify the regulations that surround operating a business within the County for both residents and businesses.

CAO Bill Rogan says this is partly being done to help validate certain operations and protect residents.

“We do hear from individuals that are wondering about door-to-door sales types. They want to be sure that they’re legitimate so-to-speak,” said Rogan. “A business license would legitimize some of that sort of activity.”

Currently, the County does not issue business licenses specifically. If the land use states that a business can operate on the land, and the landowner follows the bylaws, such as acquiring a Home Occupation business permit, then they are okay to operate. For businesses that need to be licensed through the provincial government, the County can issue a letter to the government stating the business is fine to operate.

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That can lead to a bit of confusion for those who are interested in starting a business, especially when they hear “no business license needed”. The County notes this is particularly present when it comes to home-based businesses, as they may start out as a smaller operation, but they then grow to become bigger than the land use allows.

An example of that could be a home that also has a detached shop, with trucks that are parked on the lot. As those businesses begin to grow, it causes issues for neighbors, roads, and infrastructure as more traffic, noise, and pollution is created. The new Business Licensing Program would aim to provide more enforcement of bylaws to protect residents from such disturbances, while also offering more education on what businesses are permitted to do.

Council has requested Administration take a deeper look at an option that would see a new service unit operate within the Planning department that would take care of such matters.

“It is the higher cost one (option) to implement, with respect to additional staff,” said Rogan “Council is aware and they want to minimize those costs as well, so they are asking us to come back and look at ways of massaging that to bring it in at a lesser cost.”

Administration’s findings will be brought forward at a future County Council meeting.