Business Licences

Every business operating within the City of Prince Albert is required to have a valid City business licence. See the Business Licence Bylaw for additional information.

Steps for applying for your business licence

Download and save the fillable pdf for your specific business licence.
Fill in the application and email to solutions@citypa.com
An ISC or PST number is required to apply for a business licence.
Application processing times vary depending on the type of application.
Once the application is received, it will be reviewed to ensure all required information has been included. Any missing information or documentation will delay processing the application. Your application may also be reviewed by other City departments to ensure that any other requirements are met.
A cheque can be mailed with the application, or other payment options are available and can be discussed with you once your application is submitted.
Once the payment has cleared through our Financial Services Department, you will receive your business licence.

Types of business licences & applications

Each application type is based on the location and/or the type of business:

Commercial Business Licence

The Commercial Business Licence Application is for businesses in commercial or industrial areas in the City of Prince Albert.

Once your application is received, it will need to be reviewed by the Planning Division and Building Division to determine if any other requirements must be met before the licence is issued.

Examples: a retail store, a professional office, a production facility, etc.

If you are a property owner in the city's downtown business district, you may be eligible for the Downtown Business Incentive Program.

Home Based Business Licence

The Home Based Business Licence Application is for operating a business out of your home in the City of Prince Albert.

Examples: contractor, consulting, marketing, cleaning service, handmade craft seller, bookkeeping, photographer, YouTuber, virtual assistant, or direct selling (Amway, Tupperware, Mary Kay, Young Living, etc.)

Cannabis Business Licence

This Cannabis Business Licence Application is for a:

Cannabis Retail Store;
Cannabis Production Facility; or
Cannabis Wholesale.

See the Cannabis Business Licence Bylaw for more information.

Daycare Business Licence

The Daycare Business Licence Application is for:

A day care home offering care for less than four children in a home setting and is not a home-based business; and
A day care centre which offers child care services but does not include a day care home.

Direct Seller Business Licence

You'll need a Direct Seller Business Licence Application if you:

Go home-to-home selling or offering goods or services for sale;
Go home-to-home getting orders for the future delivery of good or services;
By telephone sells or takes orders for the future delivery of goods or services; and
Does not have a home-based or commercial business location in city limits.

Examples are door-to-door alarm sales, and home party sales of make-up, health products, etc.

Please note: If there is any contractor work involved (installation, set-up, etc.), the company will also require a Transient Trader Business Licence to cover the contractors operating in Prince Albert.

Transient Trader Business Licence (non-resident)

The Transient Trader Business Licence Application is for:

Businesses located outside the city limits and would like to work within the City of Prince Albert; and
Businesses that do not fit under the commercial or home-based business such as fruit stands.
Transient Trader Businesses must submit a new application each calendar year.
To efficiently apply for a Transient Trader Business licence, we recommend completing the online form and mailing it along with a cheque. This method is the quickest and most convenient way to initiate the application process.

Categories include:

Blanket transient traders

Shopping malls, hotels or event centres that want to cover transient trader businesses operating at their location.

Circus and/or carnival or rodeo promoters

Travelling circus, carnival, rodeo or other similar traveling show or exhibition, which may need City Council approval.

Contractors and direct sales contractors

Those who:

Construct, alter, maintain, repair or remove buildings or structures;
Install heating plants, plumbing or other fixtures;
Landscaping; or
Perform other similar work.

Farmer's market

This category is for a group of vendors selling goods together as a part of the farmer's market.

Trade shows

This category is for events where goods are for sale on a short-term such as hobby shows, home improvement shows, craft shows, etc. The event may include a showcase of products or services.

Other transient traders

This category is for all businesses that do not fit under a home-based or commercial licence and do not fit the transient trader categories. Examples are consultants, realtors, caterers, retail, etc.

Mobile Food Vendor Business Licence

The Mobile Food Vendor Business Licence Application is for selling confectionery, food and/or beverage items from a Mobile Food Bicycle, Cart, Trailer or Truck to the public. For more information see our Mobile Food Vendor Policy.

Inter-Municipal Business Licence (IMBL) Short Form

The Inter-Municipal Business Licence (IMBL) Short Form Application allows home-based, commercial, and some transient trader businesses to operate in the Town of Shellbrook, the Town of Rosthern and the Town of Duck Lake, as well as Prince Albert. You can also select the IMBL on the home-based, commercial and transient trader applications.

All home-based or commercial businesses with a City business licence can apply for an IMBL.

Transient trader businesses

Transient trader businesses can apply for an IMBL if they have an annual business licence in one of the four communities and they are one of the following types of businesses:

Appraisers
Beauty/ aesthetics
Caterers
Consultants
Contractors
Direct sellers
DJs
Drafting and design
Event planners/promoters
Graphic designers
Massage therapists
Moving and storage
Pest control
Photographers
Real estate agents
Surveyors
Tow truck operators

Reasons you would not require a business licence

Any business operating on the exhibition grounds during the Prince Albert Exhibition;
A community club is hosting a flea market;
Any activity carried on by the City or at a location operated by an employee of the City;
When you have approval from City Council;
If you are a charity as defined in the Business Licence Bylaw; and
If a statute of Canada or the Province of Saskatchewan says that you do not need a licence.

Please contact the Community Development Department if you are not sure if you require a business licence.

Paying for a business licence

Pay your business licence renewal online

pay your renewal online with credit card or debit card (recommended payment option).
Pay at City Hall cashier counter with cash, cheque, or debit. Please make any cheques payable to the City of Prince Albert.

Business licence renewals

Invoices for the coming year will be emailed or mailed to commercial and home-based businesses in late November to early December. Once payment has been confirmed, your Business Licence will be emailed to you in 7-10 business days.

Fines and penalties for renewals will not be enforced until after February 15th of the renewal year.

Transient Trader business license holders will be emailed a reminder to reapply for their business license at the end of the year.

Other resources

If you need assistance with creating a business plan, or determining what permits or licenses are required to start your business, you may want to visit the SK Startup, Community Futures or BizPaL website.