Licensing your Business

Depending on the type of tourism business you operate or the service you offer, you may be required to have specific licenses and permits.

Embarking on a journey into the vibrant world of tourism is an exciting venture, and navigating the regulatory landscape is crucial for long-term success. Acquiring the right permits and licences is not just a legal obligation, it’s a strategic investment that safeguards your tourism business, builds trust with your client base, and ensures compliance with industry standards. This article aims to underscore the importance of obtaining the correct permits and licences to set your business on a path to thrive in the dynamic tourism industry.

Where to Start?

All businesses must comply with regulations within their area of operations and for their specific type of business. Be sure to do your due diligence with your local municipality or city office to find out if specific business permits or licenses are required to operate in your community.

We highly recommend using BizPal which is an online service that simplifies the business permit and licence process for entrepreneurs, governments and third party business service providers by providing one-stop access to permit and licence information for all levels of government.


Resource Tourism Operators

The Resource Tourism Operators Act ensures that tourism development of Manitoba’s natural areas and resources is done in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner. Manitoba businesses wishing to offer hunting, angling and ecotourism activities on crown land must obtain a Resource Tourism Operators Licence. Furthermore, Resource Tourism Operators can also apply to offer Commercial Overnight Accommodations on Ice.

Who requires a licence or permit to operate?

Operators of businesses directly involved with consumption of wildlife or fishery resources are required to obtain a Resource Tourism Operators Licence to provide the outfitting service. Also, they are required to obtain a Resource Tourism Operators Permit for each accommodation facility or related facility associated with the business.

Ecotourism outfitting businesses which depend upon utilization of natural resources (such as rafting and canoeing, wildlife viewing, boat tours, hiking or horseback riding) are also required to obtain a Resource Tourism Operators Licence to provide the outfitting service, as is any other business which would involve direct or indirect use of a natural resource in serving tourists.

Operators of accommodation facilities such as motels, bed-and-breakfasts, and farm vacations do not normally require a Resource Tourism Operator Licence or Permit from the Government of Manitoba. However, if you are promoting and/or offering resource-based activities as a component of your business (such as angling packages, wildlife viewing tours, or horseback trail rides) you may be required to be licensed under this process.

Looking to offer Commercial Overnight Accommodations on Ice experience?

Commercial use and rental of overnight accommodation on ice-covered waters must be associated with an outfitting service and must be authorized under a Resource Tourism Operators Licence and Portable Camp Permit approved and issued annually by the Administrator of Resource Tourism pursuant to The Resource Tourism Operators Act.

Looking for support?

For all inquiries regarding licensing requirements or the RTO program and its regulations, please contact Brendan Smyth, Resource Tourism Program Coordinator, at 204-945-1008 or brendan.smyth@gov.mb.ca.


National Building Codes

Effective January 1, 2024, Manitoba will be adopting and enforcing the 2020 editions of the national model building, plumbing, energy and fire codes published by the National Research Council (NRC). Permitting and inspections authorities responsible for adopting and enforcing the Manitoba Building Code, Manitoba Plumbing Code and Manitoba Energy Code for Buildings will be required to approve building and plumbing permits based on the 2020 national model codes starting January 1, 2024. Inspections based on permits approved before January 1, 2024 must ensure compliance with approved plans based on the previous codes.

Manitoba’s construction codes are adopted with Manitoba specific amendments by regulation and are available on the Manitoba Laws website:

Looking for support?



Manitoba Provincial Parks

Interested in operating a tourism business within Manitoba’s provincial parks?

If you are interested in proposing a business idea within one of Manitoba's provincial parks, submit a Business Proposal Intake Form via email to Manitoba Park’s Commercial Section at Parkscommercial@gov.mb.ca.

Once submitted, you will receive an acknowledgement email. Parks staff will record and table your proposal for the next scheduled review. Manitoba Parks typically conducts reviews on a quarterly basis. Once a review is complete, you will receive a response.


National Parks and National Historic Sites

Interested in operating a business within a National Park?

The National Parks of Canada Business Licence Regulations defines a “business” as “any trade, industry, employment, occupation, activity or special event carried on in a park for profit, gain, fundraising or commercial promotion and includes an undertaking carried on in a park by a charitable organization or by an organization or individual on a non-profit basis”.

Guiding and outfitting

A separate business licence process is required for guiding and outfitting services. For guiding and outfitting licences, please contact your local national park directly.

Apply for a Business Licence

If you are a business operator wishing to conduct business within a national park, you require a business licence. An application form for a business licence can be obtained by contacting your local national park office.

Service standard: business licences in national parks

Successful applicants will receive their business licence or a reason for its refusal within 15 working days of receipt of the application and all documents required.

Parks Canada Contacts:

Wapusk National Park
General inquiries:
1-204-675-8863
manitoba@pc.gc.ca

Riding Mountain National Park
General inquiries:
204-848-7275
rmnp.info@pc.gc.ca

National Historic Sites in Manitoba
General inquiries:
204-785-6050
manitoba@pc.gc.ca

Disclaimer:

While care has been taken while creating these resources, the information included comes from sources external to Travel Manitoba. Travel Manitoba’s Resource Hub is provided as a public service, and individuals should confirm any information with the primary source prior to making decisions. Travel Manitoba, its directors and employees:

  • are not liable for damages, injury, losses or costs of any kind arising from the use of or reliance on any information in this publication.
  • make no representation, warranty or assurance, expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy or currency of the information in this publication, and
  • do not provide a formal recommendation for any businesses, services or associations mentioned throughout Travel Manitoba’s Resource Hub.

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