July 3, 2025
New amendments to the City’s Business Licence Bylaw will make it easier for businesses to open their doors sooner. On July 2, City Council approved amendments to the bylaw that removed the requirement for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) to visit a business location and conduct an inspection prior to licence issuance. Fire Prevention Officers will continue to perform their inspections as usual, but instead of waiting for that inspection to be completed, a business licence will be issued immediately - allowing businesses to operate an average of 12 days faster.
“Each year, over 1,500 new businesses will now receive their licences faster, resulting in substantial cost savings, increasing our economic competitiveness while maintaining community and building safety,” said Travis Pawlyk, Branch Manager of Development Services, Urban Planning and Economy. “This is in addition to our new streamlined end-to-end permit and business licence process for applicants, which reduces processing times for both administration and applicants by up to two weeks.”
Since 2024, additional red tape reductions and service improvements have been made to support Edmonton’s business community:
- The new Zoning Bylaw allows for more non-residential uses, reducing overall timelines for opening businesses in Edmonton. The number of variances required dropped from nearly 60 per cent of all permits in 2023 to just 30 per cent in 2024.
- Edmonton’s Zoning Bylaw also removed barriers for childcare facilities specifically, resulting in a boom in child care development. Over 11,000 child care spaces were approved for development in 2024.
- New, more simplified permit and licence application questions, making the application process easier to understand.
- A new commercial business resource handbook for business owners and commercial contractors.
- Guaranteed Industrial Timelines Program which guarantees a decision on both the development permit and partial release of the building permit within 40 days for projects meeting program criteria.
“Business owners have told us that they want the City to feel like a partner in their business, not just a hurdle to jump,” said Pawlyk. “We know the regulatory environment can be confusing for new businesses to navigate, from the Business Licence Bylaw to the Zoning Bylaw, as well as the Building Code. That’s where the City's Business Friendly Edmonton (BFE) can provide one-on-one consultations, workshops, support and resources to help businesses manage any required permits and licenses. They can be an invaluable resource for a new business starting out.”
Since 2019, red tape reductions and service improvements have saved planning and development customers an estimated 167,000 days and $9.2 million annually.
