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Business Licenses

Business Applications

All businesses working inside the corporate boundaries of Thorsby are required to hold a valid business license, regardless of where their head office may be located. If you hire someone to do work in your home or business, ask them if they have a local Thorsby license (not a provincial license or license in the community that their office is situated). You can check our licensed businesses on our website through the Business Directory.

If you'd like to register your business or renew remotely, please email info@thorsby.ca with your filled out application. Payment can be accepted by cheque, over the phone (except with American Express or Debit Credit), or in-person during regular business hours. Licenses will not be issued until payment has been received. All license holders are responsible for keeping their information up to date with the town, either through returning their yearly renewal paperwork, or sending in a notice of information change.

All businesses expire on December 31st of any given year and are required to be renewed by January 31st of the following year, or you may inform the Town that your business is no longer being conducted or has relocated. License holders will be subjected to a fine per the Business License Bylaw if business is dealt within the Town without a license.

Types of Licenses

There are several different types of licenses, and they are all distinguished differently.

  • Residential Business: This means a business that is physically located primarily within the boundaries of Town of Thorsby.
  • Non-Residential Business: This means a business that is physically located primarily outside of the boundaries of the Town of Thorsby.
  • Principal Contractors & Listed Subtrades: This is a designation for large construction projects that wish to carry out business licenses for multiple subtrades underneath one umbrella. This license fee does not apply to all contractors in general.
  • Seasonal Business: This is a business that primarily works and only requires a license within either the two main categories of seasons, fall/winter (October 1st - March 31st), and spring/summer (April 1st - September 30th). 
  • Hawker/Peddler: This is a person not being a corporate body who goes from house to house offering for sale any merchandise, sells merchandise excluding food products in the streets, etc.
  • Market: A market means a regular gathering of people for the purchase and sale of provisions, livestock, and other commodities, including farmers markets. All markets are different sizes, and therefore cannot be treated similarly to each other. All market licenses are considered on a case-by-case basis by the Chief Administrative Officer.
  • Youth Business: To encourage more youth business owners to begin their start-ups, all youth business licenses held and operated by youths under 18 years of age are free of charge. If you turn 18 halfway through the year, there is no additional fee, but fees will begin the following year that you turn 18.
  • 39/20 Alliance License Addition: All residential businesses located within the boundaries of Thorsby are offered the ability to pay an extra fee to be licensed within the 39/20 Alliance communities, which include Calmar, Warburg, and Breton AB. This option is not available to non-residential businesses.

Fees

  • Residential Businesses (Including Home-Based)
    • 1 Year - $125.00
  • Non-Residential Businesses
    • 1 Year - $250.00
  • Principal Contractor + Listed Subtrades
    • 1 Year - $2,000.00
  • License Amendment Fee for Principal Contractors + Listed Sub-Trades
    • One Time Per Amendment - $150.00
  • Residential Seasonal Businesses
    • April 1st to September 30th - $75.00
    • October 1st to March 30th - $75.00
  • Non-Residential Seasonal Businesses
    • April 1st to September 30th - $200.00
    • October 1st to March 30th - $200.00
  • Hawker/Peddler
    • 1 Day - $20.00
    • 1 Year - $200.00
  • Market
    • CAO Authorized Duration and Cost
  • Youth Business (Under 18)
    • 1 Year - No Charge
  • 39/20 Alliance License Addition
    • 1 Year - $50.00