Town of Banff

Business in Banff

Businesses in the Town of Banff face unique challenges and opportunities. Because Banff is located in a national park and within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, commercial activities must be appropriate to our local context and be consistent with the purposes of the town as set out in the Banff Community Plan:

• to maintain the townsite as part of a World Heritage Site;
• to serve, as its primary function, as a centre for visitors to Banff National Park and to provide such visitors with accommodation and other goods and services;
• to provide the widest possible range of interpretive and orientation services to Banff National Park visitors;
• to maintain a community character which is consistent with and reflects the surrounding environment; and
• to provide a comfortable living community for those persons who need to reside in the townsite in order to achieve its primary function.
  

All commercial activities must be licensed.  Any business providing goods or services within the Banff townsite must have a Town of Banff business license.  Anyone filming a video or taking photographs that will be used for commercial purposes must have a film permit.

Businesses operating partly in the town and partly elsewhere in Banff National Park must have two licenses - one issued by Parks Canada and one from the Town of Banff. The license from Parks Canada must be obtained first.

A new business or an existing business that is expanding, increasing intensity of use or doing exterior renovations will usually require a development permit.  Businesses that expand or increase intensity of use must provide additional parking and housing as a condition of development approval.

Owing to Banff's unique commercial growth management strategy, any business that is proposing to add new floor area requires a commercial use development allotment.
 
A building permit is typically required for any interior or exterior renovations to your business.

You will need a sign permit to install, alter or relocate any exterior signs associated with your business.

A development permit and a business licence is required to operate a home occupation ( PDF - 635 kb) or provide bed and breakfast ( PDF - 942 kb) accommodation in your home.