Other permits for businesses

Outdoor patios add to the vibrancy of Calgary communities and are encouraged throughout the city, especially in our Main Streets areas. Rules for establishing and operating an outdoor patio are regulated by the Land Use Bylaw 1P2007, which defines an outdoor cafe as “a use where food or beverages are served or offered for sale for consumption on a portion of the premises which are not contained within a fully enclosed building.” 

For more information about outdoor patios, visit calgary.ca/patios

Generally, vendors wanting to set up in parks and public property outside of downtown are only permitted to operate as part of a major festival or event.

If your business wishes to participate in a City-approved festival or event on public roadways, pathways or parks, contact the festival organizers directly for permission.

Vendors at City-approved special events and festivals

If you are a vendor only participating in City-approved special events and festivals, you may not require a business licence. For operating requirements, visit Calgary Parks or email eventservices@calgary.ca for vendor pre-qualification details.

Booking park event space for your business

Businesses can book park space for special events or to allow for consistent access for organized activities (such as fitness classes) by obtaining a green space permit. These permits do not provide permission to sell services or allow vending within the park, nor do they provide exclusive use of the park space.

For more details or to book a park space, picnic site, meeting room or event facility, contact 311 or book through Parks.

Busking

Buskers provide street performances for public entertainment.

Visit Busking in Calgary for more information, including how to apply.

The City has requirements for signage based on the type of sign and its location. Below is an overview of sign types in Calgary.

Signs on private property

Signs cannot advertise the address or be placed in front of a home-based businesses.

Signs on private property are detailed and categorized by a classification list in the Land Use Bylaw.

Review the sign classes and rules before applying for a sign permit.

Signs on public property

Signs on public property, such as temporary signs, elections signs, garage sale signs, signs in parks and signs advertising a service must follow the Temporary Signs Bylaw​ rules.

Temporary signs

Location

A temporary sign cannot be:

• Closer than 30 metres to an intersection, City bus shelter, transit bench, bus zone, LRT station or LRT platform.
• Within 10 m of a crosswalk that is not at an intersection.
• Closer than 2 m from a curb or edge of road.
• On any traffic island or centre median.
• Obstructing a traffic control device.
• On any Prohibited or restricted roadway.
• Hazardous to traffic or pedestrians.

Attachment

A temporary sign cannot be:

• Attached to a standard street light pole, traffic signal pole or a City sign pole (except for posters).
• Attached on or within a plus 15 bridge, pedestrian walkway or overpass.
• Attached to a sound wall.
• Permanently affixed.
• Supported by string, rope, metal stakes or wire.
• Damaging to municipal property.

In addition, a temporary sign is illegal if it:

• Is placed on a decorative lamp post.
• Could be a hazard to either the person erecting the sign or a member of the public.
• Has a sign face larger than 0.6 square metres (3 m² for election signage).
• Is lit, electrified or inflatable.
• Becomes unsightly.
• Is placed on a fire hydrant.
• Is displayed for more than 14 days before or more than 24 hours following the date of the advertised event, whichever is less.

Election signs have certain exemptions from the Temporary Signs Bylaw.

Banner signs over roadways

Banners attached to a pedestrian overpass are applied through the Roads’ epermit system. A temporary banner over a roadway will be considered if it:

• Is promoting a non-profit, charitable cause or public event.
• Is requested a minimum of four months prior to the desired install date.
• The applicant provides:
  • An insurance certificate.
  • A Government of Alberta corporation non-profit search document.
  • A scaled detail drawing of the banner that follows the design requirements.

For more information, visit banner over roadway permit.

Garage sale signs

Garage sales can have up to three signs posted. These signs can only be up on the day before the day of the sale. Garage sale signs must include the owners name, address, phone number and date the sign was posted.

Signs in parks

Signs for businesses or services are not allowed in parks.​​

A street use permit is required to use any City road right-of-way and is issued to reserve street space for construction, moving or filming. The street use permit allows the use of a street, sidewalk, alley, walkway, back lane, boulevard or traffic control set-up.

To apply for a street use permit, contact 311 or use the Roads’ online permit system (for registered users).​

Pop-up and Interim land uses that are not food and/or alcohol-related can operate without a development permit or business licence if the land use is:

• listed in the district
• located on the ground floor of an existing building, and
• meets the maximum time frame
• does not have food and/or alcohol related activities

If health and safety are impacted, a building permit and/or fire inspection may be required.

Pop-up and Interim land uses that are food and/or alcohol-related, will always require a building permit and business licence. Businesses that involve in alcohol-related activities require an Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission (AGLC) licence. We recommend that you contact AGLC (1-800-272-887) in order to determine their requirements and timelines in advance.

To confirm if your business activity meets one of the permitted uses, review the land use definition in Part 4 of the Land Use Bylaw, or contact the Planning Service Centre if you require assistance.

To start your pop up or interim use application, submit a Tenancy Change application. For more information, please review the Tenancy change requirements list.

To find your land use designation, visit calgary.ca/myproperty and search on your address. 

Pop-up vs. Interim uses

To confirm if your business activity meets one of the permitted uses, review the land use definition in Part 4 of the Land Use Bylaw, or contact the Planning Service Centre to set up a free pre-application meeting with a member of The City’s planning and development team. Meetings are typically scheduled within three days of request.