Open a contractor business
Contractor businesses that do require a licence:
- Builders
- General contractors
- Handyman services
- Landscapers (i.e. building retaining walls, decks, gazebos, berms, raised beds, installing sprinkler systems, constructing paths, patios or sidewalks or planting/removing trees)
- Specialty trade contractors, such as carpenters, electricians, gasfitters, plumbers, framers and welders
- Excavation services and heavy-duty equipment operators
Contractor businesses that do not require a licence:
- Lawn care and gardeners (i.e. cutting grass, raking leaves, trimming or grinding trees and hedges)
- Snow removal
- House movers
- Christmas light installers
- Architects, designers and developers (when not acting as a General contractor)
- Master Electricians - (Certain conditions apply, review the Master Electricians with Member Association section, to determine your eligibility)
| Example | Licence types |
|---|---|
| If your business will accept deposits or progress payments from homeowners before all work is complete. |
You may need a Provincial Licence |
| If you are a homebuilder, or planning on building new homes |
You will need a Provincial Licence |
| If any products be manufactured at your home |
You may need a Manufacturing licence |
| If your business sells any retail products |
You may need a Retail licence |
| If your business cleans commercial buildings or private residences |
You may need a Cleaning Service licence |
-
Becoming a Licensed Contractor
January 18, 2023Watch our recorded Q&A on everything you need to know about becoming a licensed contractor in The City of Calgary.
Hear from the Development, Business and Building Services team as they discuss the business licence process.
| Business licence | Fee schedule | New licence | Police check | Fire inspection | Planning | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor | $172 |
$65 + $55 for each additional |
$107 | $41 |
$385 |
| Business licence | Fee schedule | New licence | Police check | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor | $172 | $65 + $55 for each additional | $237 |
| Business licence | Fee schedule | New licence | Police check | Non Resident Surcharge | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor | $172 | $65 + $55 for each additional | $785 | $1022 |
What is a City Qualified Trade (CQT)?
To pull trade permits, a business is required to register as a City Qualified Trade (CQT) and get a Contractor business licence. You need to apply for a business licence before you apply for a CQT, learn more at Trade Permit Contractor information.
Trade qualification
Electrical
| Allowable Permit Types | City Trade Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| Allowable Permit Types: Electrical Permit | City Trade Qualification Required: Master Electrician |
| Allowable Permit Types: Electrical Permit (Fire Alarm) | City Trade Qualification Required: Master Electrician |
| Allowable Permit Types: Annual Electrical Permit | City Trade Qualification Required: Journeyman Electrician |
Master Electricians with Member Association
The provincial Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act legislates that master electricians are exempt from municipal licensing, provided they:
- hold current trade qualifications as a Master Electrician
- are the sole proprietors of their business (corporations and partnerships do not qualify)
- are members in good standing with the ECAA (Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta) as a Professional Electrical Contractor (PEC)
- do not employ or sub-contract other individuals
- do not act as a general contractor at any time
All of these conditions must apply to the electrician in order to be exempt from municipal licensing. If all the conditions are met, email the Business Licence & Registration (BLR) team at businessregistry@calgary.ca to start your application.
Plumbing
| Allowable Permit Types | City Trade Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| Allowable Permit Types: Plumbing Permit | City Trade Qualification Required: Journeyman Plumber |
| Allowable Permit Types: Plumbing Permit (Hydronic) | City Trade Qualification Required: Journeyman Plumber |
| Allowable Permit Types: Plumbing Permit (CCCD Permit) | City Trade Qualification Required: Journeyman Plumber or CCCD Installer |
| Allowable Permit Types: Private Sewage Disposal System Permit | City Trade Qualification Required: Private Sewage Technician |
Gas
| Allowable Permit Types | City Trade Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| Allowable Permit Types: Gas Permit | City Trade Qualification Required: Journeyman Gasfitter |
| Allowable Permit Types: Gas Permit (Meter relocation) | City Trade Qualification Required: Journeyman Gasfitter |
| Allowable Permit Types: Furnace Replacement Permit | City Trade Qualification Required: Journeyman Gasfitter or Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker |
| Allowable Permit Types: Allowable Permit Types: Gas Fireplace Installation Permit | City Trade Qualification Required: Journeyman Gasfitter, Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker or Gas Fireplace Installer |
Mechanical
| Allowable Permit Types | City Trade Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| Allowable Permit Types: HVAC Permit | City Trade Qualification Required: Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker |
| Allowable Permit Types: AFE Permit | City Trade Qualification Required: AFE Installer |
| Allowable Permit Types: Geoexchange Permit | City Trade Qualification Required: Geoexchange Installer |
Location approval
Commercial based location
Your business will be run from a commercial or industrial location in Calgary.
Development Permit
Tenancy Change
Building Permit
Checklists
Trade Permits
- Business Activities
- Location of Business
- Fee payment at the time of application*
- Ownership
- Name of Business
- Contact information for the business and owner
- If you are applying online, a myID account
- Two pieces of government issued identification
| Licence Type | Description | Location | Fire | Police check | Show ID | Provincial licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Contractor |
The business of offering to perform or arrange to perform work involving an improvement. |
Required |
Required |
Required |
Required |
May be required |
| Licence Type | Description | Location | Police check | Show ID | Provincial licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Contractor |
The business of offering to perform or arrange to perform work involving an improvement. |
Required |
Required |
Required |
May be required |
| Licence Type | Description | Police check | Show ID | Provincial licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Contractor |
The business of offering to perform or arrange to perform work involving an improvement. |
Required |
Required |
May be required |
Location approval
Show ID
Police Check
Fire
Provincial Licensing Approval
Provincial Licensing will be required if the business is:
Taking deposits/progress payments - before all work is done
Pre-paid contractor
- A business that solicits, negotiates or concludes prepaid contracts in person at any place other than the sellers’ place of business, and
- Accepts money (i.e. progress payments and deposits) before all the work is done and/or the services are provided
Door to door sales
Direct seller
- A business that solicits, negotiates, or concludes sales contracts in person, at any place other than the seller’s place of business
New home builder
Provincial builder’s licence
- Required for all residential home builders. This applies to any contractor who is constructing new single-family homes, multi-family buildings (i.e. townhouse, condominium, etc.), as well as renovations to residential construction projects that require new home warranty coverage.
Business License Fees Are Back
- Business license fees will be charged for renewing any licenses that expire on or after March 16th, 2023
- You can renew your license at apply.calgary.ca
If you have any questions, please use our Live Chat on the bottom right.