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Bylaw 1010-22
Page 1
BYLAW #1010-22
THE CITY OF BEAUMONT
BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW
Section 7(a) of the Municipal Government Act, RSA 2000, c M-26, provides that a council may pass
bylaws for municipal purposes respecting the safety, health and welfare of people and the protection of
people and property;
Section 7(e) of the Act provides that a council may pass bylaws for municipal purposes respecting
businesses, business activities and Persons engaged in business;
Section 7(i) of the Act provides that a council may pass bylaws for municipal purposes respecting, the
enforcement of bylaws made under the Act or any other enactment, including any and all of the matters
listed therein; and
Section 8 of the Act provides that a council may, through this bylaw:
a) regulate or prohibit;
b) deal with any development, activity, industry, business or thing in different ways, divide each of
them into classes and deal with each class in different ways; and
c) provide for a system of licenses, permits or approvals, including any or all of the following
matters listed therein.
Therefore Council enacts:
PART I - DEFINITIONS, AND INTERPRETATION
Definitions
1. In this bylaw:
(a) "Act" means the Municipal Government Act, RSA 2000, c M-26;
(b) "Business" means:
(i) a commercial, merchandising, institutional or industrial activity or
undertaking,
(ii) a profession, trade, occupation, calling or employment, or
(iii) an activity providing goods or services,
and whether or not for profit and however organized or formed,
including a co-operative or association of Persons;
(c) "Business Classification" means the type of Business being engaged in
or operated and includes:
(i) all of the following as defined in the City's current Land Use Bylaw:
A) Business Use: Arts & Crafts, Home-Based Business - Major or
Minor and Office;
B) Commercial Use: Adult Entertainment, Drive Through Facility,
Entertainment Establishment, Gas Station, Golf Course,
Kennel, Restaurant /Café, Restricted Substance Retail, Retail
& Service - General, and Retail & Service - Large;
C) Industrial Use: Industrial - Medium, Industrial - Light,
Recreational Vehicle Storage and Wash Station;
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D) Institutional Use: After Life Care, Cemetery, Culture,
Education, Government, Hospital, Human Services,
Recreation - Active, Recreation - Passive, Parking Lot with
no associated use and Special Events;
E) Lodging Use: Bed & Breakfast, Campground and Hotel and
Motel;
(ii) Door to Door Sales: meaning any Person soliciting, advertising or
selling products or services in a manner that involves going door
to door of residential or business properties;
(iii) Hawker or Peddler: meaning any Person who:
A) offers or showcases for sale to any Person by means of
samples, patterns, cuts or blueprints, merchandise or a
service, or both, to be afterwards delivered in, and shipped
into the City to the customer;
B) sells merchandise or a service, or both, on the streets or
roads or elsewhere other than at a permanent location; or
C) does not have a Business Premises in the City;
(iv) Incubator: meaning a shared space where multiple businesses
operate out of to allow cost savings and convenience through the
use of common infrastructures, such as equipment, utilities,
professional services, receptionist custodial services
(v) Prime/Principal General Contractor: meaning any Person who
accepts contracts for a service, construction, alteration or repair to
buildings or structures of any kind (above or below ground) and is
responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the construction site,
management of vendors and trades, and communication of
information to involved parties throughout the course of
contracted work;
(vi) Trade: meaning any Person who is not a Prime/Principal General
Contractor, and who accepts contracts for a service; construction,
alteration or repair to buildings or structures of any kind (above or
below ground);
(vii) General Business: meaning any Business not otherwise specified
by another Business Classification set out in this bylaw; and
(viii) Temporary Business: meaning a Business where the duration of
the Business activity is a maximum of seven days.
(d) "Business Licence" means a valid and subsisting licence issued
pursuant to this bylaw;
(e) "Business Premises" means any store, dwelling unit, office, facility,
warehouse, building, enclosure, or any other indoor or outdoor place
occupied for the purpose of carrying on Business;
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(f) "Charitable" or "Non-Profit Organization" means a person acting for a
charity or in the promotion of general social welfare and includes:
(i) a religious society or organization, or a Church;
(ii) a service club;
(iii) a community, veteran or youth organization; or
(iv) a social, sport or fraternal organization/club.
(g) "City" means the City of Beaumont;
(h) "City Manager" means the chief administrative officer of the City or
delegate;
(i) "Licensee" means a Person to whom a Business Licence has been
issued;
(j) "Mobile Business Unit" means any mobile motor vehicle, trailer or
similar structure that is designed for offering the sale of goods, food
or services;
(k) "Municipal Tag" means a City form alleging an offence of a City bylaw
and allowing for voluntary payment of the prescribed fine without
prosecution;
(l) "Non-Resident" refers to a Person who is not a resident of, or whose
business is not located in the City;
(m) "Person" means a Person as defined in the Interpretation Act, RSA
2000, c I-8, as amended;
(n) "Violation Ticket" means a violation ticket as defined in the Provincial
Offences Procedure Act, RSA 2000, c P-34, as amended.
Interpretation
2. The following rules apply to interpretation of this bylaw:
(a) headings, titles, and margin notes in this bylaw are for ease of
reference only;
(b) gender-specific words, phrases, and references are intended to be
gender-neutral, and the singular includes the plural as the context
requires;
(c) every provision of this bylaw is independent of all other provisions and
if any provision of this bylaw is declared invalid by a Court, all other
provisions of this bylaw remain valid and enforceable; and
(d) references to bylaws and enactments in this bylaw include
amendments and replacement bylaws and enactments, and
regulations and orders thereunder.
PART II - LICENSING
Business Licence
Required
3. No Person shall engage in or operate a Business in the City without a
Business Licence authorizing that Person to engage in or operate that
Business.
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4. No Person shall engage in or operate a Business in the City unless the
Person holds a Business Licence with the appropriate Business
Classification(s) for the type of Business the Person is engaged in or
operating.
Licence Exemption
5. A Charitable or Non-Profit Organization carrying on business for
fundraising shall be exempt from licensing requirements.
Valid Locations
6. A Business Licence is only valid for:
(a) the specific Business Premises; or
(b) a Mobile Business Unit.
7. A Person shall not engage in or operate a Business at more than one
Business Premises in the City unless the Person holds a separate Business
Licence for each Business Premises.
Display of Business
Licence
8. A Licensee shall display the Business Licence in a prominent location at
the Business Premises or Mobile Business Unit, visible to members of the
public and to anyone conducting an inspection pursuant to this bylaw.
9. A Licensee shall forthwith provide the Business Licence upon demand to
anyone conducting an inspection pursuant to this bylaw.
Business Licence
Application
10. Before the issue or renewal of a Business Licence, a Person must submit
to the City Manager:
(a) an application for issue or renewal in a form prescribed by the City
Manager;
(b) all applicable fees as set out in the City's current Fees and Charges
Bylaw; and
(c) any other information required by this bylaw or requested by the City
Manager.
Land Use Bylaw
Compliance
11. Where a Person intends to carry on a Business at a specific Business
Premises within the City, the Person must ensure that all necessary
approvals required under the City's Land Use Bylaw have been obtained
and that confirmation of such approvals is provided to the City Manager
prior to a Business Licence being issued or renewed.
Third Party
Consultations
12. Prior to issuing or renewing a Business Licence, the City Manager may
consult with any relevant authorities and agencies including but not limited
to, the Province of Alberta, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the
Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor
Commission, the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council, a Regional Health
Authority, as well as any City department to determine whether they are
in possession of information which, in the opinion of the City Manager,
renders it contrary to the public interest for a Business Licence to be
issued or renewed.
Issue or Renewal of
Business Licence
13. The City Manager may issue or renew a Business Licence when all
requirements of this bylaw have been met.
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14. Where a Business Licence is issued or renewed in error or without all the
necessary requirements of this bylaw having been met, the Business
Licence may be immediately suspended or revoked by the City Manager.
A suspension or revocation under this section may not be appealed.
Fees
15. Any Business listed in the City's Fees and Charges Bylaw as being exempt
from payment shall not be charged a fee.
16. The onus of proving that a Business is exempt from paying a Business
Licence fee is on the Person requesting the exemption on a balance of
probabilities.
17. Any Business qualifying for a fee exemption must still apply for and obtain
a Business Licence unless specifically exempted from doing so under the
provisions of any other applicable legislation.
18. A Non-Resident must pay the applicable Non-Resident fee in addition to
any fees required for the issue or renewal of a Business Licence where
applicable.
19. The City Manager may provide a refund of all, or a portion of any fees
paid if a Business Licence is not issued or renewed. Once a Business
Licence has been issued or renewed any fees paid are not refundable.
20. A Business that ceases to operate in the City or has its Business Licence
suspended or revoked is not entitled to a refund of any fees paid.
Term of Business
Licence
21. A Business Licence is valid from the date on which it is issued until
December 31st of that year unless it is otherwise suspended or revoked.
22. A Business Licence is automatically revoked if the Business ceases
operation.
Renewal of Business
Licence
23. A Business Licence may be renewed up to 45 days before the date on
which it expires and within 30 days after the date on which it expires.
24. If a Business Licence is not renewed within 30 days after the date on
which it expires then an application must be made for the issue of a new
Business Licence.
Change of Information
25. A Licensee shall forthwith notify the City Manager in writing of any
material change in the type, scope or operation of the Business or
Business Classification(s) and shall provide a completed application to
amend the Business Licence as well as the applicable fee.
Transfer of Business
Licence
26. A Business Licence may be transferred upon application to and approval
by the City Manager in the following circumstances:
(a) a transfer of the Business Licence from one Person to a different
Person but with the same Business in the same Business Premises; or
(b) a transfer of the Business Premises from one address to another
address but with the same Business.
27. Any transfer of a Business Licence is subject to all other requirements of
this bylaw and to any applicable fee.
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Refusal, Suspension or
Revocation of Business
Licence
28. The City Manager may refuse to issue or renew a Business Licence, may
suspend, or revoke a Business Licence, or may impose any conditions on a
Business Licence for any of the following reasons:
(a) the applicant or Licensee does not or no longer meets the
requirements of this bylaw with respect to the Business Licence
applied for or held;
(b) the Licensee has breached a condition of the Business Licence;
(c) the applicant or Licensee:
(i) furnishes false information or misrepresents any fact or
circumstance to the City Manager;
(ii) has, in the opinion of the City Manager based on reasonable
grounds, contravened this bylaw, whether or not the
contravention has been prosecuted;
(iii) fails to pay a fine imposed by a court for a contravention of this
bylaw; or
(iv) fails to pay any fee required by this or any applicable bylaw;
or
(d) in the opinion of the City Manager based on reasonable grounds it is
in the public interest to do so.
29. Any decision of the City Manager to refuse the issue or renewal of a
Business Licence, to suspend or revoke a Business Licence, or to impose
conditions on a Business Licence pursuant to this bylaw is final and
binding and no appeal lies from any such decision.
PART III - ENFORCEMENT
Offence
30. A Person who contravenes this bylaw is guilty of an offence.
Continuing Offence
31. In the case of an offence that is of a continuing nature, a contravention
constitutes a separate offence in respect of each day, or part of a day, on
which it continues and a Person guilty of such an offence is liable to a fine
for each such day.
Fines and Penalties
32. A Person who is guilty of an offence under this bylaw is liable to a fine in
an amount not less than that established in this section, and not
exceeding $10,000.00.
33. Without restricting the generality of the preceding section, the following
fine amounts are established for use on Municipal Tags and Violation
Tickets if a voluntary payment option is offered:
(a) $250.00 for any offence not otherwise specified in this section; and
(b) $2,000 for any Person carrying on the Business of a Prime/Principal
Contractor or a Trade without a valid Business Licence.
Municipal Tag
34. A Municipal Tag may be issued for any offence under this bylaw.
35. If a Municipal Tag is issued for an offence, the Municipal Tag must specify
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the fine amount established by this bylaw for the offence.
Payment in Lieu of
Prosecution
36. A Person who commits an offence may, if a Municipal Tag is issued for the
offence, pay the fine amount established by this bylaw for the offence and
if the full amount is paid on or before the required date, the Person will
not be prosecuted for the offence.
Violation Ticket
37. If a Violation Ticket is issued for an offence under this bylaw, the Violation
Ticket may:
(a) specify the fine amount established by this bylaw for the offence; or
(b) require a Person to appear in court without the alternative of making a
voluntary payment.
38. A Person who commits an offence may, if a Violation Ticket is issued
specifying the fine amount established by this bylaw for the offence, make
a voluntary payment equal to the specified fine amount.
Proof of Business
Licence
39. The onus of proving that a Business has a Business Licence is on the
Person alleging the existence of the Business Licence on a balance of
probabilities.
Proof of Exemption
40. The onus of proving that a Person is exempt from any requirement of this
bylaw is on the Person alleging the exemption on a balance of
probabilities.
Engaging in or
Operating a Business
41. In a prosecution for a contravention of this bylaw for engaging in or
operating a Business without a Business Licence, proof of one transaction
in the Business or that the Business has been advertised is sufficient to
establish that a Person is engaged in or conducting Business.
Certified Copy of
Record
42. A copy of any City record certified by the City Manager as a true copy of
the original may be admitted in evidence as prima facie proof of the facts
stated in the record without proof of the appointment or signature of the
Person signing it.
Obstruction
43. A Person shall not obstruct or hinder any Person in the exercise or
performance of their powers under this bylaw.
Powers of the City
Manager
44. Without restricting any other power, duty or function granted by this
bylaw, the City Manager may:
(a) establish forms or other documents for the purposes of this bylaw;
(b) require a Person applying for or holding a Business Licence to provide
any information required to make a decision regarding that Business
Licence;
(c) carry out whatever inspections are reasonably required to determine
compliance with this bylaw;
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