Open a waste & recycling business
Waste & recycling businesses that do require a licence:
- Container depots
- Recycle depots for paper, plastic, glass or rubber
- Scrap metal and salvage yards
- Junkyards
- Resale of used goods
- Salvage collectors
- Used auto part sales
- Catalytic converter sales
- Construction material recyling
Waste & recycling businesses that do not require a licence:
- Waste/recycling hauling businesses not involved in storing, sorting, dismantling, processing or selling material
- Drop-off points for recycling if no transactions take place
- Landfills
-
Find out more about what the City is doing to deter theft and better regulate businesses and individuals in possession of unattached catalytic convertors.
| Example | Licence types |
|---|---|
| Your business will buy or sell used auto parts |
You will need a Salvage Collector licence
|
| Your business will buy or sell catalytic converters |
You will need a Salvage Collector licence |
| Your business operates as a beverage container depot |
You may need a Container depot licence |
| Your business sells used vehicles |
You will need a Motor Vehicle Dealer (Premises or No Premises) licence |
|
Your business receives, processes, stores or dismantles:
|
You will need a Salvage Yard licence
|
|
Your business acquires:
|
You will need a Salvage Collector licence. |
Operating rules
Container depots
If a business operates as a beverage container depot within 300 metres of a residential area must not:
- have any outside storage,
- conduct business operations on the premise between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- compact materials occurring outside of the building
Any material outside of a building must be fully screened. The business must also demonstrate how impacts such as debris, grocery carts, litter or recyclable material will be managed.
Home-based salvage collection
A salvage collector may be permitted to operate as a home-based business, provided they do not store any of the salvage collected on the residential premises.
Electronic recyclers
- Businesses that operate an electronic drop-off point for used electronic products, including computer equipment, televisions, and laptops, where there are no business transactions are not required to obtain a business licence.
- Businesses that process or dismantle electronics require a salvage yard licence type.
- Businesses that sell or purchase electronic devices, a secondhand dealer licence type is required.
Catalytic convertors and auto parts
Businesses that sell catalytic convertors or auto parts will be required to obtain a Salvage Collector licence.
Do
Businesses must keep a record of:
- the vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model and year of the vehicle that the catalytic convertor originated
- The seller’s first, middle and surnames, current address, telephone number, height, weight, hair colour and eye colour and two pieces of ID
- The full name of the employee who accepted the property
- The date and time of day the property was acquired
Don't
Businesses must not:
- accept damaged catalytic convertors
- remove or deface markings or etchings on catalytic convertors
- accept a catalytic converter where the required information is not provided
In addition:
- Salvage collectors are only allowed to store material on land that has been licensed for a Salvage Yard/Auto Wrecker or Container Depot.
- Failure to comply will result in fines outlined in schedule C of the Business Licence Bylaw.
| Business licence | New licence | Police check | Fire | Planning | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Container depot | $172 |
- |
$107 | $41 |
$320 |
| Salvage collector | $172 |
$65 + $55 for each additional |
- |
- |
$278 |
| Salvage yard/Auto wrecker | $172 |
$65 + $55 for each additional |
$107 | $41 |
$385 |
| Business licence | New licence | Police check | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salvage collector | $172 |
$65 + $55 for each additional |
$344 |
| Business licence | New licence | Police check | Non-resident surcharge | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salvage collector | $172 |
$65 + $55 for each additional |
$785 |
$1022 |
| Example | Type of use |
|---|---|
| Your business operates as a beverage container depot |
Your business is a Recyclable Material Drop-Off Depot |
| Your business sells used vehicles |
Your business is either Vehicle Sales – Major (more than 5 vehicles) or Vehicle Sales – Minor (5 vehicles or less) |
|
Your business receives, processes, stores or dismantles:
|
Your business is a Salvage Yard |
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
Home Based Location
Your business will be run from your home in Calgary. You may have a desk/telephone operation, complete your paperwork at home, or you may have customers coming to your home to be considered a home based business.
If you want to run your business from your home, you will need to decide how your business will operate out of your home.
If you meet the rules of a home occupation class 1, this approval will be automatically granted when you apply for your business licence. It is valid until your business is no longer operating from your home.
If your business does not meet all the home occupation class 1 rules, you will need to apply for a home occupation class 2 development permit. This can be done before, at the same time, or after your business licence application. *
The table below will help you determine if you qualify for a home occupation class 1 or if you will need to make an application for a home occupation class 2. A home occupation class 2 development permit does not guarantee an approval.
-
Opening a Home-Based Business
March 16, 2023Hear from the Development, Business & Building Services team about land use approval, permits, fees, and timelines to get your business approved and open sooner.
| Home occupation class 1 | Home occupation class 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| You live in the home associated with the business: | Yes | Yes |
| The number of business related visits to your home per week: | 0 - 3 max. | 4 - 15 |
| The garage or related structure is used for the business: Note, a small storage area that is not impacting parking may be allowed for either. | No | Yes |
| A large vehicle (over 4,536 kg gross vehicle weight) is parked/stored at or near the home: | No | Yes |
| Employee or business partner working at your home (that does not also live there): | 0 | 1 |
| Your business is food-related, and you are using a kitchen in your home: | No | Yes |
*This table is for convenience only and does not include everything listed in our Land Use Bylaw. Please review the full list of rules located in the Land Use Bylaw section 207 “Home Occupation – Class 1” and section 208 “Home Occupation – Class 2.”
Fees, Timelines & Expiry
| Location approval | Fee schedule | Permit fee | Advertising fee | Total | Timeline | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home occupation class 1 | - | - | $0 | 5 business days | No expiry | |
| Home occupation class 2 | $449 | $32 | $481 | Approximately 10-12 weeks | Varies, refer to your permit's conditions of approval for the expiration |
Building permit (if applicable)
While many Motor Vehicle Repair and Service businesses are suitable to take place in residential garages, there are certain types of businesses that involve significant quantities of vehicle exhaust, as well as flammable or combustible liquids and gases. In some cases, special ventilation systems, and other significant upgrades to the garage’s exterior wall construction may be required to comply with the National Building Code (Alberta Edition).
The below table summarizes the most common types of these businesses and what Safety Codes permits are required:
| Business Type | Permit Requirements (if the work is taking place inside the garage) | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Window tinting, vehicle detailing, vehicle wraps, wheel balancing/tire swaps, vehicle inspections | Mechanical Permit | Vehicle exhaust needs to be exhausted for health reasons. |
| Oil change, Full service engine repair/swaps, Dent repair, Vehicle painting and body repair | Building Permit and Mechanical Permit |
Vehicle exhaust needs to be exhausted for health reasons. These services could involve storage or use of flammable/combustible liquids and gases; therefore these operations are commercial in scope. A typical residential garage (attached or detached), will likely require noncombustible wall framing and fire resistance rated walls, and fire separations (in the case of an attached garage), which are difficult and expensive alterations to make. |
Note: Electrical, plumbing or gas permits may also be required if the work involves installation of or alterations to electrical, plumbing or gas systems.
Building permit details and drawings can be submitted online or in person at the Planning Services Centre.
- 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
required
*AMVIC - Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council
| Licence categories | Description | Location Approval | Fire | Show ID | Police Check | AMVIC | Provincial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Container depot |
Your business collects and stores:
|
- | - | - | |||
| Salvage collector |
Your business acquires:
|
- | - | - | |||
| Salvage Yard/Auto Wrecker |
Your business receives, processes, stores or dismantles:
|
| Licence Categories | Description | Show ID | Police check | AMVIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Salvage Collector |
Your business acquires:
|
| Licence Categories | Description | Show ID | Police Check | AMVIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Salvage Collector |
Your business acquires:
|
|
|
|
Location approval
Show ID
Police Check
Fire
AMVIC
The Alberta government requires a license for certain motor vehicle business activities. You must contact the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC) for details about obtaining a provincial licence. Visit Home - Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (amvic.org)
AMVIC requires confirmation of City planning approvals before they will issue a provincial AMVIC licence. Once AMVIC issues your provincial licence, you must provide it to The City of Calgary, which will then release your municipal business licence.
Applicants can present the AMVIC license:
- In person:
Planning Services Centre:
3rd floor, 800 Macleod Trail S.E.
Calgary, AB
- By email: licencedivisionteam@calgary.ca
Provincial Licensing
Contact Service Alberta at 1-780-427-4088 (or toll free in Alberta only at 1-877-427-4088) and provide details of the licence types you are currently applying for with The City of Calgary. Service Alberta will direct you to the appropriate provincial contact which will provide further direction in regard to fulfilling the provincial licensing requirements necessary for obtaining your municipal business licence.
Only certain business activities require provincial licensing in addition to your municipal business license. Review the Provincial Licence section to find out if you need this approval.
Provincial licenses must be submitted to The City’s licence division to obtain the municipal license.
You can present your provincial licence by emailing your business licence file manager.
| Business Licence approval type | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Provincial licensing |
Contact Service Alberta for timelines for provincial licensing. |