It is a big step to set up a new  Business, but the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay can assist you to get it started. The following steps are required to open and operate a Home-Based Business/Commercial Business:

Depending upon your business type, Home Based Business & Commercial.

Home Based Business:

1. The Discretionary Land Use Application Form and the Business Registration Application Form, featured below, need to be filled out and returned to the Town along with the $275 Discretionary Land Use application fee.

2. The Town will advertise your application for 7 days for public comments, after which it will be discussed at the next scheduled Council meeting. They will then vote on the recommendation that the committee makes to the Council.

3. Once the Council has approved, you can move forward to the business registration process by completing the Town’s Business application ($100) and ServiceNL’s Short Form and Building Accessibility Form.

4. A Fire Life Safety Inspection will have to be completed (contact the Town’s Fire Protection Office at 709-896-7128). This can be initiated once permission is granted by ServiceNL.

5. Once the previous steps have been completed, a Permission to Operate letter will be issued, which authorizes the business operation.

6. Once your home-based business has been approved by Council, all applicable business registration fees have been paid, home inspection has been approved. The business is subject to a home-based business tax amount of 1/10 of 1% of gross revenue or a minimum amount of $350.00. This will be billed once all steps above have been completed and is applicable for the fiscal year Jan-Dec.

We are available at any time during the process to help with any steps of the application. For further information, please contact our Engineering Technician at: (709) 896-3593 or by e-mail at: muntech@townhvgb.com

Commercial Business:

1. Town’s Business application ($100) and ServiceNL’s Short Form & Building Accessibility Form need to be filled out.

2. Once ServiceNL approval has been provided, a Fire Life Safety Inspection will have to be completed (contact the Town’s Fire Protection Office at 709-896-7128).

3. A permission to operate letter will be issued, which authorizes the business operation.

4. Once your business has been approved by ServiceNL, all applicable business registration fees have been paid, site inspection has been approved. The business is subject to a business tax amount depending on which business class it falls under from Policy F0001. Business tax is calculated using the mil rate applicable to the business class and the assessment value provided to the Town by the Municipal Assessment Agency.

We are available at any time during the process to help with any steps of the application. For further information, please contact our Engineering Technician at: (709) 896-3593 or by e-mail at: muntech@townhvgb.com

“You are required to provide government-issued identification to verify ownership of the property. If you are a tenant or representative, an authorization letter or an email from the property owner will be required.”