Grand Forks seeks feedback on proposed business licence bylaw

GRAND FORKS — The City of Grand Forks is accepting written feedback on a proposed update to its business licence bylaw until Aug. 5.

Council gave first and second readings to Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126 at its July 13 regular meeting. Council directed staff to accept written feedback between July 15 and Aug. 5 and present the submissions at the Aug. 17 regular council meeting.

The proposed bylaw would repeal and replace City of Grand Forks Business Licence Bylaw No. 1384, 1993, as amended. The draft has received first and second readings but has not yet received third reading or final adoption.

Under the proposal, no person, including a registered society, could carry on a business in the city without a valid business licence. A separate licence would be required for each premises from which a business operates. A person operating more than one business at the same premises would also need a separate licence for each business.

Garage and yard sales would not require a business licence when they meet the draft bylaw’s definition. The sale would have to take place at the individual’s usual residence, last no more than two consecutive days and occur no more than twice a year.

The standard annual business licence fee would be $75 unless another fee applies. A business carried on by a registered society would pay $25. A business with more than 20 employees, other than an itinerant business, would pay $200, while an itinerant business would pay $250.

The draft defines an itinerant business as one engaged in door-to-door selling or solicitation within the city, including the sale of goods or contracts for repairs and renovations.

Business licence applicants could be required to provide information about the applicant, business owner, nature of the business and business premises. Depending on the operation, the licence inspector could also request proof of ownership or permission to use the premises, insurance, required permits, certifications, fire-safety compliance and provincial liquor, cannabis or food-premises approvals.

Licences would be valid from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 unless cancelled. Anyone applying to renew a licence would be required to pay the applicable annual fee and provide requested information or updates by Jan. 31.

The proposed bylaw would permit the licence inspector or a bylaw enforcement officer to enter business premises at a reasonable time to determine whether the business is meeting the bylaw and licence requirements, subject to the Community Charter.

The licence inspector could impose conditions involving the duration of a licence, business hours, maximum occupancy or compliance with applicable bylaws and other enactments. The inspector could refuse, suspend or cancel a licence for non-compliance, failure to follow licence conditions or other reasonable cause under the Community Charter.

An applicant or licence holder could ask council to reconsider a refusal, suspension or cancellation. The request would have to be submitted in writing to the city’s corporate officer within 10 business days of the decision.

Other provisions address nuisance activity, patron loitering, refuse, commercial garbage bins, annual fire-safety inspections and business activity in public places and private outdoor areas.

Under the draft, a business operating from a private outdoor area would also have to be licensed to operate from adjacent indoor premises. A person marketing goods or services or carrying on business in a public place would need a business licence and any other applicable city permit or approval.

Operating without a valid licence, failing to display a licence, failing to provide required documentation, continuing to operate after a licence has been suspended or cancelled, or violating the bylaw or licence conditions would constitute an offence. Each day that a violation continued would count as a separate offence.

If proceedings were brought under the Offence Act, a person found guilty could face a fine of between $3,000 and $50,000, in addition to any other authorized penalties, compensation and costs.

Comments may be emailed to info@grandforks.ca between July 15 and Aug. 5 for presentation to council at its Aug. 17 meeting.

The draft bylaw can be reviewed in the agenda package for council’s July 13 regular meeting. The full presentation and council discussion from the meeting are also posted online.