Home-Based Food Business
Before you apply
Do you need to register your business?
All businesses operating in Calgary are encouraged to register their business with The City of Calgary.
All businesses operating from a location in Calgary are required to obtain location approval for their business, even if a licence is not required. Location approval helps ensure that the space you are operating has been approved for your business and is safe for all occupants.
If your business requires a business licence, registration will occur at the same time as applying for your licence. If you wish to register your business with the City of Calgary, please apply online.
Do you need a licence?
Yes. All home based food related businesses that prepare or sell food require a business licence and must receive location approval for there business.
Examples of home based food businesses include:
- baking
- catering
- cooking service
- fresh fruit and vegetable sales
- chocolate and candy making
- prepared or portioned meals
- pre packaged/portioned meals
If you don’t know if your business requires a business licence, contact the Planning Services Centre for assistance.
What are your business activities?
Your business activities will determine what's required to open your business:
- if you need a business licence
- what licence types you need
- what permits you may need
| Example | Licence types |
|---|---|
|
You will be preparing food at your home |
Food Service - Premises |
|
You will be baking baked goods at your home |
Food Service - Premises |
|
You will be cooking food at home to cater to events |
Food Service - Premises |
|
You will be using a portion of your home as a home office, but you will be cooking at a licenced commercial kitchen |
Food Service - Premises |
These licence types will be generated as part of your application when you apply. You do not need to apply for them separately.
If your business fits into more than one licence type, you do not need to get multiple approvals. For example, you only need one Fire inspection even if it is required by all of your different licence types.
How much does a business licence cost?
When setting up a new licence, applicable fees apply. Fees are based on the type of licence you need and whether your business is home-based or commercial-based. Business licence fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Fees are subject to change the next calendar year.
| Business Licence | Fee schedule | New licence | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Food Service - Premises |
$172 |
$131 |
How do you pay for your licence?
You need to pay for your licence when you submit your application. If you are applying online, you can pay using apply.calgary.ca
What permits do you need?
Understanding what approvals will be required will help ensure you will be able to open your business with ease and on time. Your business may require Planning Approval, Building Safety Approval, or both in order to be approved to operate from your selected location.
These approvals are based on:
- the location of the business,
- the proposed business activities
- how the space was used before your business.
To learn more about what permits you may need, see the location approval section.
Upcoming webinar
-
Licencing essentials for your home-based food business
April 24 12:00pm - 12:45pmThe City of Calgary shares information on what you need to know about licencing your home-based food business.
Join us for a live webinar and Q&A tailored to aspiring home-based food businesses in Calgary. Our panel of experts will share insights on what you need to apply for a business licence. Learn about the different business licence types, permit information, how to apply and submit a complete application, approvals, and more.
Business details 101
What is the name of your business?
A business name, or trade name, is used to represent your business to the public. You may wish to register your trade name with the province. Read more in Opening a business in Calgary: Register your Trade Name.
Who will own the business?
- Sole proprietor – one person owns the business
- Partnership – agreement between two or more people or companies
- Corporation – a legal entity that is separate from its owners, the shareholders
Additional requirements
Low-risk home-prepared food
Alberta’s Food Regulation allows Albertans to make low-risk foods in their home kitchen for sale to the public. It sets the rules for safe food handling.
Low-risk home-prepared foods can be sold from home, special events, and farmers’ markets, where they were sold previously.
More information about Low-risk home-prepared food can be found on the Government of Alberta website.
Prepared meals or pre-portioned meals
Businesses that provide prepared meals, weekly meal kits or and delivery will require a Food Service – Premises business licence if they are preparing the food at home. Something about delivery and pickup as well.
Caterer
Commercial caterers cannot operate their business from a community association hall. However, they can use the hall’s kitchen in two specific scenarios:
- Prepare food for a function within the hall
- Prepare food for delivery at a different location if:
- It is an hourly rental of the hall’s kitchen
- The caterer has a business licence
- No storage of food occurs at the hall
Catering businesses that provide alcohol with the meals served can do so only in conjunction with catered events for private social functions (such as weddings).
Personal chef
Chef-for-hire, personal chef or cook-for-hire do not require a business licence provided all the food manufacturing, preparation and storage is done at the client's residence. If you will be preparing, manufacturing, or storing food at your home, you will need a Business licence for Food Service – Premises.
Location approval
Where is your business located?
All businesses need to provide a location that is approved for their specific business activities.
If you’re running your business from more than one location, you need a separate business licence for each location. Each location may require a different combination of permits to satisfy your location approval requirement.
| Example | Type of use |
|---|---|
|
You will be doing paperwork in your home office, and cooking from a licenced commercial kitchen |
Home Occupation – Class 1 |
|
You will be preparing food from your home and the food you are preparing meets the Government of Alberta’s criteria for Low-Risk Home-Prepared food |
Home Occupation – Class 1 |
|
You will be preparing food from your home from a second commercial grade kitchen within your home |
Home Occupation – Class 2 |
|
You will be preparing food from your home and the food you are preparing meets the Government of Alberta’s criteria for Low-Risk Home-Prepared food, but you don’t meet the rules for a Home Occupation – Class 1 |
Home Occupation – Class 2 |
|
You will be having more than 3 visits weekly to your house to pick up food prepared at your home. |
Home Occupation – Class 2 |
When is a building permit needed?
Any business that is developing a second kitchen in their home for the purpose of running a food preparation business will require a commercial building permit, and may require a mechanical permit, depending on the scope and scale of the business.
Additionally, all home based baking business will require both a commercial building permit as well as a mechanical permit.
We recommend contacting our Business Experience Representatives to understand the requirements in advanced of applying for your business licence.
Apply
Prepare your application
Once you know how and where your business will operate, you’re ready to apply.
For a smooth application, make sure you know the following information:
- 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
Apply for your licence and required permits
To apply online, you need a myID account. Create a myID account.
Once you have gathered all required documents, you can apply for your permit in person by visiting the Planning Services Centre.
| Licence Type | Description | Location approval (Required) | Health (Required) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Service – Premises | Required to sell food products, including pre-packaged food |
Required |
Required |
|
Retail Dealer –
Premises |
Required to sell retail goods from a fixed location |
Required |