Who needs one
The City of Calgary requires a business licence for general contractors and for specialty trade contractors. Its own examples are carpenters, electricians, gasfitters, plumbers, framers and welders, along with builders, handyman services, landscapers who build structures, and excavation and heavy-equipment operators.
It does not require one for lawn care, snow removal, house movers or architects and designers who are not acting as a general contractor. Master Electricians in a member association can be exempt under conditions the City sets out.
Separately from the licence, every business operating from a location in Calgary needs location approval for that space, even where no licence is needed.
What it costs in 2026
From the City's 2026 Business Licence Fee Schedule, for the Contractor licence type:
| New | Renewal | |
|---|---|---|
| Base fee | $172 | $131 |
| Fire fee | $117 | $117 |
| Planning fee | $41 | none |
| Total | $330 | $248 |
Fees depend on the licence type and on whether the business is home-based or runs from a commercial location, and the City notes they are non-refundable and can change each calendar year. If a business needs more than one licence type, the highest category fee applies.
Based outside Calgary?
A business based outside city limits that works inside them is non-resident, and pays a $785 non-resident surcharge on top of the licence fee. The City says the surcharge may be waived if you own commercial or residential property in Calgary; the Planning Services Centre decides.
That matters for crews from Airdrie, Chestermere, Okotoks or Cochrane taking work in the city.
Renewal: the trap
A Calgary business licence has to be renewed every year. The City mails an invoice 45 days before the payment is due.
If you miss it, the licence expires, and an expired licence cannot be reinstated. You pay full new-licence fees to apply again, not the renewal fee. On a contractor licence that is the difference between $248 and $330, plus whatever work you could not pull permits for in between.
Renew online through your myID business account at apply.calgary.ca, or by phone at (403) 268-5311 (credit card only by phone).
If you pull permits
The licence is the first step, not the last. To pull electrical, plumbing, gas or HVAC permits in Calgary, the City requires a trade contractor to:
- hold a valid trade certification,
- have a City of Calgary contractor's business licence, or be added to another business's licence, and
- register as a City Qualified Trade (CQT), and have a VISTA account for permits.
The City says to apply for the business licence before you apply for CQT. Electrical contractors also need an Alberta Master Electrician Certificate.
How to apply
Apply online at apply.calgary.ca with a myID business account; the portal calculates the licence and land-use fees. Some licence types need a police security clearance, which since January 1, 2025 you obtain yourself through the Calgary Police Service, or your local police if you live outside Calgary. A clearance from the last 60 days is accepted.
How long it takes depends on what the business needs. A home-based application with nothing else attached can be quick; a commercial location that needs a development permit takes weeks to months. The City's open a contractor business page lists the current timelines.
Why a GC asks for it
A licence number is one of the things a GC checks before letting a new trade on site, along with WCB, insurance and certificates. The full list is in what a GC checks before hiring a subcontractor.
Working commercial jobs around Calgary? Join Syndex as a subcontractor. It is free.