Foothills County Council will begin the process of reviewing the current business licence bylaw, implemented in 1988, at tomorrow's regular meeting.
"The overarching purpose of business licensing by a municipality is to ensure the health and well-being of residents, support quality of life and to protect consumers and business operators," according to the council agenda package. "Requiring businesses to obtain a licence ensures that businesses are compliant with the Land Use Bylaw and are located on lands which are zoned appropriately."
Administration has recommended a comprehensive review of Business License Bylaw No. 1018, explaining that the bylaw is "outdated" and "the fee structure is complicated."
The project to create a new structure will be completed in three phases: investigation, recommendation and development, and approvals and implementation. Steps will include identifying gaps and challenges in the current bylaw, engagement with internal departments and existing businesses, research and comparisons of other municipalities and more.
A draft business licence bylaw will also undergo a 30 to 45-day public review period, where business owners will be consulted. Feedback will also be encouraged through a social media campaign, potential newspaper advertisements and an online survey.
The goal is to have the new bylaw in place and ready for implementation in early 2023.
"Administration recommends a comprehensive review of the Business Licence Bylaw to reflect current land uses, bring it into alignment with new licensing procedures, to make it more clear, easier to understand and enforceable and to simplify the fee structure and move it from the Business Licence Bylaw to the County’s Fee Bylaw.
For more information about the proposed project, visit the County's website and review the Feb. 23 agenda package.
