Medical Professionals - business guide

Health businesses offer a wide variety of services, so the approval processes vary accordingly. Section 101 of The Health Professions Act states that no municipality has the power to require a medical professional to obtain a licence from the municipality to practice a regulated profession.

All healthcare businesses are required to book an Alberta Health Services inspection by calling 1-833-476-4743.

Examples of businesses that do require a municipal licence:

• Pharmacy

Examples of businesses that do not require a municipal licence:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractics
• Dentistry and denture labs
• Medical clinics
• Naturopathy
• Optometry
• Osteopathy
• Psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors
• Occupational therapy and physiotherapy
• Medical laboratories

Note: All businesses operating in Calgary are required to register their business, obtain a business identification number (BID) or Business ID, and obtain land use approval for the business location even if it does not require a licence. Certain businesses that do not need a municipal licence may still require licensing, permits or inspections from other regulatory bodies.

All businesses in Calgary require land use approval. Each space in a building has its own specified, approved use that cannot be changed without an approval, permit or both. Visit home-based business or commercial-based businesses for more information, or contact our Planning Services Centre to investigate land use approval for your business.

Businesses which do not require a licence do not have an associated fee to register for a Business ID.

Fees may be required for permits that are needed to meet land use approval.

A business licence or business ID is not transferable from one person to another or from one person's business premises to another.

A business operating from more than one location requires a separate business licence for each premises.

All charitable organizations must be associated with another licenced business activity. Approval must be granted by the province before applying for a municipal licence.

Businesses not eligible for a charity status:

• Alcohol beverage sales
• Tobacco retailer

All fundraising activity is governed by the charitable fundraising act. Charitable organizations that are only fundraising should contact Alberta Municipal Affairs, Housing and Consumer Affairs Division at 1-780-427-8044 or 1-877-427-4088.

All applicants for this licence type should first consult with the province about eligibility for this designation and register their business, prior to applying for a municipal business licence. Contact Service Alberta at 1-780-427-4088 (or toll free in Alberta only at 1-877-427-4088) for more information.