Opening a business in St. John’s
For this post, we'll use the example of starting and opening a new restaurant, but most of these items generally apply to any type of business in town.
Confirm Zoning Before Signing a Lease or Purchasing Property
Before signing a lease or buying a property, check with the City of St. John’s (or your real estate agent) to ensure the space is properly zoned for the type of business you plan to operate. If it’s not zoned for your intended use, it’s not necessarily a deal-breaker—you may apply to the city council for a non-conforming use approval, but this adds extra steps to the process.
Submit a Change of Occupancy Permit
File a Change of Occupancy Permit with the city. The application will also ask if you plan to make any renovations, such as adding or removing walls, or updating electrical or plumbing systems. This is a critical step because when we go to apply for your sign permit, the first thing the City is going to check for is your Occupancy Permit. Basically, your approval to occupy the space you're in. It's not a great way to start the process when the city learns of your existence through the sign permit application.
Provide Floor Plans for Renovations
If you’re planning renovations, you’ll need to submit both current (existing) and proposed floor plans. This helps city officials understand the scope of your project. In our restaurant example you would need to show the number of tables, how many chairs for guests, etc.
Obtain Separate Permits for Electrical and Plumbing Work
Any electrical or plumbing updates require separate permits. Only a licensed and city-registered electrician may pull electrical permits and perform the work.
Restaurant Example: Initial Walkthrough
When opening a restaurant, for example, a city inspector will contact you after you submit your paperwork to schedule an initial walkthrough. Based on their observations and your submitted drawings, you’ll receive a list of required tasks before the city issues an Occupancy Permit. Before opening to the public you need to have this permit in-hand.
Inspections During Renovations
If you’re completing major renovations, you may need multiple inspections at various stages, such as rough electrical, rough plumbing, framing (before drywall), and final electrical. Approvals for rough electrical and plumbing must typically occur before the framing inspection can occur. In the restaurant example, one thing they'll want is approval documentation showing that your exhaust system is running properly and sized correctly for your range and that the fire suppression system has been inspected.
Accessibility Requirements (ServiceNL)
In the restaurant example, you’ll likely need approval from ServiceNL to confirm the building’s accessibility. This process involves submitting existing and proposed floor plans and arranging an inspection. The inspector will check elements like counter heights, bathroom grab bars, hallway widths, and exits. They may also request documentation on parking spaces, including accessible spots and their proximity to your business. The ServiceNL requirement would be listed as one of the requirements on your City of St. John's permit list. Once everything with ServiceNL is satisfied you would submit that to the City.
Fire Blocking and Other Safety Measures
One common City requirement is fire blocking between units. For instance, in a strip mall setting, any shared wall penetrations (e.g., a sink drain) must be properly fire-blocked and drywalled. This includes any penetration in the wall from the floor up to the roof deck.
Electrical Permits for Signage
Remember that an exterior lit sign requires a separate electrical permit, in addition to the permit for internal electrical work. Even if your entire restaurant is wired under one permit, you still need another permit to connect the exterior sign.
Exterior Sign Permit
Your sign company will need to submit proposed drawings and a permit application to the city for any exterior signage. Sign permit applications require the property owner’s signature to ensure they’re aware of, and approve, any changes to the building’s façade.
Notify the St. John’s Regional Fire Department
I learned recently that the St. John’s Regional Fire Department would like you to provide your business name and new location details for their records. While I'm not aware of it being a requirement, it could help them in the event of a fire or emergency.
Final Thoughts
This list is not exhaustive but serves as a starting point for those looking to open a business in St. John’s. Specific requirements and approvals will vary by industry and project scope. Always consult the most recent city guidelines, and consider working with professionals (e.g., architects, licensed contractors, and legal advisors) to ensure your business launch goes smoothly. It might seem like a daunting list but work through the items one by one and always ask your contractors, trades, and inspectors questions if you don't understand something. Good luck!
If you have any questions about this process, give me a shout and I’ll do my best to help: greg@leamansigns.ca