Sell to businesses the week they open, and again the month their license expires
Alex Wilkinson
CEO of Houski
2026-07-15
A new business license is the loudest buying signal that exists in business-to-business sales, and almost nobody is listening to it.
Think about what a freshly licensed business does in its first ninety days. It buys insurance. It signs up for payment processing, internet, phones, waste pickup, and cleaning. It orders signage, furniture, a security system, a coffee machine. Every one of those purchases goes to whichever vendor happened to be in front of the owner during the most decision-dense window the business will ever have. Two years later, all of those services are locked in and switching any of them is a fight.
Houski carries business licenses for Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Vancouver, attached to the property record. So far this year: 4,127 Vancouver addresses with license activity, 1,343 in Toronto, 1,089 in Edmonton, 950 in Calgary. That is a live feed of businesses entering their spending window, with an address on every one.
Pulling this month's new licenses
Business licenses ride on the same permit expansion as building permits. Filter by type and date:
API request
TypeScript code
const houski_data = async (): Promise<PropertiesResponse> => {
// You must copy the PropertiesResponse type declarations from the
// Houski API documentation to strongly type the response
const url = new URL('https://api.houski.ca/properties');
url.searchParams.set('api_key', 'YOUR_API_KEY');
url.searchParams.set('city', 'vancouver');
url.searchParams.set('country_abbreviation', 'ca');
url.searchParams.set('expand', 'permits');
url.searchParams.set('expand_permit_application_date_gte', '2026-06-01');
url.searchParams.set('expand_permit_type_eq', 'Business%20license');
url.searchParams.set('filter_expand_match', 'all');
url.searchParams.set('province_abbreviation', 'bc');
url.searchParams.set('results_per_page', '25');
url.searchParams.set('select', 'address,community,property_type');
const response = await fetch(url);
const data = await response.json();
return data;
}
(async () => {
let data: PropertiesResponse = await houski_data();
// Log the response
console.log(data);
})();
API response
JSON
{
"cache_hit": false,
"cost_cents": 1.3899998664855957,
"data": [
{
"address": "1758 W 4 Avenue",
"community": "Fairview",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-22",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5000705|License revision number: 0|Business name: 1597359 B.C. LTD.|Business trade name: J'adore Nails & Spa|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Beauty Services|Business sub type: Beauty and Wellness Centre|Number of employees: 5.0|Fee paid: 201.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-256204",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "102f7ad80ecb69a5"
}
],
"property_id": "102f7ad80ecb69a5",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "3665 Kingsway",
"community": "Renfrew-Collingwood",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-22",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5000234|License revision number: 0|Business name: (Joanna Neill)|Business trade name: Jo Neill Counselling|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 139.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-255746",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "103b6a7aeb00d7cf"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-15",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4843196|License revision number: 0|Business name: ARDENT SOFTSOL INC.|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Information Communication Technology|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 5.0|Fee paid: 634.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:42-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-120613",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "103b6a7aeb00d7cf"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-10",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5001183|License revision number: 0|Business name: OCEANUS LAW CORPORATION|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Legal Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 2.0|Fee paid: 216.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-256661",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "103b6a7aeb00d7cf"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-21",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5004852|License revision number: 0|Business name: CANADA EOR SOLUTIONS INC.|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Business Support Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 216.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-260225",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "103b6a7aeb00d7cf"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-17",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4993740|License revision number: 0|Business name: TMVC TRAVEL MEDICINE & VACCINATION CENTRE INC.|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Facility|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 2.0|Fee paid: 239.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-249455",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "103b6a7aeb00d7cf"
}
],
"property_id": "103b6a7aeb00d7cf",
"property_type": "Commercial"
},
{
"address": "5618 Victoria Drive",
"community": "Kensington-Cedar Cottage",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-08-05",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5010854|License revision number: 0|Business name: (Miranda Man Ying Chan)|Business trade name: JJ Fashion|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Retail Dealer|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 192.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-266112",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "108fecfd8cfaec0a"
}
],
"property_id": "108fecfd8cfaec0a",
"property_type": "House"
},
{
"address": "658 Homer Street",
"community": "Downtown",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-21",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4991173|License revision number: 0|Business name: 1405497 B.C. LTD.|Business trade name: Hula Poke|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Limited Service Food Establishment|Business sub type: Without Liquor|Number of employees: 12.0|Fee paid: 439.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-246937",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "10d671ed1a79f8eb"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-16",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4993704|License revision number: 0|Business name: CHECKPOINT BODY ANALYSIS LIMITED|Business trade name: Checkpoint Body Analysis|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Beauty Services|Business sub type: Beauty and Wellness Centre|Number of employees: 4.0|Fee paid: 188.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-249420",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "10d671ed1a79f8eb"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-03",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4985446|License revision number: 0|Business name: (Owen Kwok)|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 239.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-241335",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "10d671ed1a79f8eb"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-29",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4996870|License revision number: 0|Business name: The Vancouver Aesthetician Inc.|Business trade name: The Vancouver Aesthetician|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Beauty Services|Business sub type: Beauty and Wellness Centre|Number of employees: 4.0|Fee paid: 265.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-252447",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "10d671ed1a79f8eb"
}
],
"property_id": "10d671ed1a79f8eb",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "5511 West Boulevard",
"community": "Arbutus Ridge",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-10",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5001404|License revision number: 0|Business name: BROADVIEW EDUCATION LTD.|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Arts and Creative Instruction|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 3.0|Fee paid: 47.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-256880",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "10f624b44968a421"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-30",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5008416|License revision number: 1|Business name: (Shreeya Chaturvedi)|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 33.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-226599",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "10f624b44968a421"
}
],
"property_id": "10f624b44968a421",
"property_type": "Commercial"
},
{
"address": "1118 Homer Street",
"community": "Downtown",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-04",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4988709|License revision number: 0|Business name: (Maisa Weissmann Gaiarsa)|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 239.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-244558",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "1132194769726b09"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-03",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4998999|License revision number: 0|Business name: (Cindy Hallate)|Business trade name: Inhale Exhale|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 216.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-254537",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "1132194769726b09"
}
],
"property_id": "1132194769726b09",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "3419 Kingsway",
"community": "Renfrew-Collingwood",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-08",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4839457|License revision number: 0|Business name: Daisy Pun Physiotherapist Corporation|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 8.0|Fee paid: 324.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:42-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-116874",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "1161709e75e49c0c"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-08-01",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5002388|License revision number: 0|Business name: (Seonghoon Yu)|Business trade name: Seonghoon Yu RMT|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 192.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-257840",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "1161709e75e49c0c"
}
],
"property_id": "1161709e75e49c0c",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "1690 Matthews Avenue",
"community": "Shaughnessy",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-05",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4972361|License revision number: 0|Business name: Canuck Place Children's Hospice|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Inactive|Expired date: 2026-06-20|Business type: Special Events|Business sub type: Show/Contest/Boxing or Other|Number of employees: 0.0|Fee paid: 55.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-228519",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "11785006fba03d27"
}
],
"property_id": "11785006fba03d27",
"property_type": "Commercial"
},
{
"address": "5334 Victoria Drive",
"community": "Kensington-Cedar Cottage",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-25",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4995332|License revision number: 0|Business name: (Tommy Lu)|Business trade name: Tommy Lu RMT|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 239.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-251015",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "121737f066898efb"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-23",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5005642|License revision number: 0|Business name: (Joelle Dawn Dumas)|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 4.0|Fee paid: 192.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-261005",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "121737f066898efb"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-26",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4996481|License revision number: 0|Business name: (Rachel Rubin-Sarganis)|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 4.0|Fee paid: 239.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-252076",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "121737f066898efb"
}
],
"property_id": "121737f066898efb",
"property_type": "House"
},
{
"address": "890 W Pender Street",
"community": "Downtown",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-18",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4992886|License revision number: 0|Business name: JAPAN SYSTEMS INC.|Business trade name: Haku Clean Works Co.|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Building Repair and Maintenance|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 20.0|Fee paid: 239.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-248612",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "1283ac8ce5cbb1df"
}
],
"property_id": "1283ac8ce5cbb1df",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "837 Beatty Street",
"community": "Downtown",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-02",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4998759|License revision number: 1|Business name: THE GREEN ROOM CABARET LTD.|Business trade name: Shamrock Storehouse C3|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Restaurant|Business sub type: Class 1 with liquor service|Number of employees: 10.0|Fee paid: N/A|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-194396",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "12b025321fb09d0d"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-24",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4936943|License revision number: 0|Business name: THE GREEN ROOM CABARET LTD.|Business trade name: Shamrock Storehouse C3|Status: Inactive|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Restaurant|Business sub type: Class 1 no liquor service|Number of employees: 10.0|Fee paid: 1031.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-194396",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "12b025321fb09d0d"
}
],
"property_id": "12b025321fb09d0d",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "52 Powell Street",
"community": "Downtown",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-11",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4970140|License revision number: 0|Business name: FORTY FIVE VENTURES MANAGEMENT CORP.|Business trade name: Takenaka|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Temp Liquor Licence Amendment|Business sub type: Area Extension|Number of employees: 24.0|Fee paid: 774.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-226342",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "1321a8a5aa532d29"
}
],
"property_id": "1321a8a5aa532d29",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "117 W 6 Avenue",
"community": "Mount Pleasant",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-22",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4987992|License revision number: 1|Business name: Averra Developments Inc|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: General Contractor|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 15.0|Fee paid: 33.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-158378",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "133abe00a7414530"
}
],
"property_id": "133abe00a7414530",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "88 W Pender Street",
"community": "Downtown",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-26",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4942944|License revision number: 0|Business name: FNS2 ENTERTAINMENT INC.|Business trade name: Find and Seek Puzzle Adventure Escape Rooms|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Entertainment Facility|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 6.0|Fee paid: 296.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-200161",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "13b1b6e4290bd6dd"
}
],
"property_id": "13b1b6e4290bd6dd",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "1541 W Broadway",
"community": "Fairview",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-29",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4996778|License revision number: 0|Business name: DR. NAJAM MIAN INC.|Business trade name: CPRI Medical & Rehab|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Health Care Professionals and Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 239.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-252360",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "13bce8fd0b52b35f"
}
],
"property_id": "13bce8fd0b52b35f",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "1025 Chilco Street",
"community": "West End",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-08-05",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5009281|License revision number: 0|Business name: RAND REID VENTURES INC.|Business trade name: ERWILL APARTMENTS|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Long-term Rental|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 1547.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-264558",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "140d5d468da7d570"
}
],
"property_id": "140d5d468da7d570",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "1038 Canada Place",
"community": "Downtown",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-08",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5000665|License revision number: 1|Business name: 299 Burrard Management Ltd|Business trade name: Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel - Botanist|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-09-06|Business type: Temp Liquor Licence Amendment|Business sub type: Area Extension|Number of employees: 43.0|Fee paid: N/A|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-249050",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "1441e4617e46bfe4"
},
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-17",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4993332|License revision number: 0|Business name: 299 Burrard Management Ltd|Business trade name: Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel - Botanist|Status: Inactive|Expired date: 2026-07-19|Business type: Temp Liquor Licence Amendment|Business sub type: Area Extension|Number of employees: 43.0|Fee paid: 645.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-249050",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "1441e4617e46bfe4"
}
],
"property_id": "1441e4617e46bfe4",
"property_type": "Commercial"
},
{
"address": "508 Kingsway",
"community": "Mount Pleasant",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-18",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4891237|License revision number: 0|Business name: WESTMINSTER COLLEGE INC|Business trade name: Westminster College|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Business - Vocational Instruction|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 3.0|Fee paid: 324.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-158497",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "147d4d34b5984995"
}
],
"property_id": "147d4d34b5984995",
"property_type": "Commercial"
},
{
"address": "688 Dunsmuir Street",
"community": "Downtown",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-11",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4966335|License revision number: 0|Business name: Keg Restaurants Ltd|Business trade name: The Keg Steakhouse & Bar - Dunsmuir|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Temp Liquor Licence Amendment|Business sub type: Chg of Hours|Number of employees: 111.0|Fee paid: 859.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-222623",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "14c39b9ecc863c7a"
}
],
"property_id": "14c39b9ecc863c7a",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "1281 W Georgia Street",
"community": "Downtown",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-23",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 5001073|License revision number: 1|Business name: (Olivia Jarrett)|Business trade name: Rook Nails|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Beauty Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 1.0|Fee paid: 681.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-112983",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "157d43aad0ae4d95"
}
],
"property_id": "157d43aad0ae4d95",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "1232 Robson Street",
"community": "West End",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-20",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4994438|License revision number: 0|Business name: RACLETTE STEAKS INC.|Business trade name: Raclette Steaks|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Restaurant|Business sub type: Class 1 no liquor service|Number of employees: 5.0|Fee paid: 687.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-250133",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "15da6aac18d2ef20"
}
],
"property_id": "15da6aac18d2ef20",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "543 Granville Street",
"community": "Downtown",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-18",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4993800|License revision number: 0|Business name: MLT YACHT LTD.|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Brokerage Services|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 2.0|Fee paid: 239.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-249514",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "16535c752c9a155e"
}
],
"property_id": "16535c752c9a155e",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "2095 Commissioner Street",
"community": "Grandview-Woodland",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-16",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4993300|License revision number: 1|Business name: AMRIZE CANADA INC.|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Non-Food Manufacturer Assembler and Processor|Business sub type: N/A|Number of employees: 25.0|Fee paid: 77.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-136900",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "16aa3d4bebda1b12"
}
],
"property_id": "16aa3d4bebda1b12",
"property_type": "Commercial"
},
{
"address": "102 E 4 Avenue",
"community": "Mount Pleasant",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-06-22",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4994456|License revision number: 0|Business name: VPS VANCOUVER PERFORMING STARS LTD.|Business trade name: N/A|Status: Inactive|Expired date: 2026-07-19|Business type: Special Events|Business sub type: Arts and Culture|Number of employees: 0.0|Fee paid: 166.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-250151",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "16e8b7bd6d5a5e7a"
}
],
"property_id": "16e8b7bd6d5a5e7a",
"property_type": "Apartment"
},
{
"address": "1463 W 8 Avenue",
"community": "Fairview",
"permits": [
{
"expand_permit_application_date": "2026-07-08",
"expand_permit_content": "License RSN: 4984285|License revision number: 0|Business name: VANCOUVER MASONIC CENTRE ASSOCIATION|Business trade name: Vancouver Masonic Centre Association|Status: Issued|Expired date: 2026-12-31|Business type: Long-term Rental|Business sub type: Non-Profit Housing|Number of employees: 0.0|Fee paid: 216.0|Extract date: 2026-08-11T01:08:44-06:00",
"expand_permit_id": "26-240187",
"expand_permit_type": "Business license",
"property_id": "16f0f67e87528f73"
}
],
"property_id": "16f0f67e87528f73",
"property_type": "Apartment"
}
],
"error": "",
"pagination": {
"current_page": 1,
"has_next_page": true,
"has_previous_page": false,
"page_total": 26
},
"price_quote": false,
"result_total": 645,
"time_ms": 260,
"ui_info": {
"city": "Vancouver",
"city_id": "3d4b9ab2229768be",
"city_link": "ca/bc/vancouver",
"city_slug": "vancouver",
"country": "Canada",
"country_abbreviation": "CA",
"country_abbreviation_id": "9ace2b6431b7f1be",
"country_abbreviation_link": "ca",
"country_slug": "canada",
"province": "British Columbia",
"province_abbreviation": "BC",
"province_abbreviation_id": "84b27e64bc119a2",
"province_abbreviation_link": "ca/bc",
"province_slug": "british_columbia"
}
}
Each result is a property with its license records attached, and the expand_permit_content field is where the sales intelligence lives. What it carries varies by city, and the variation is worth knowing:
Vancouver gives you the business name, the trade name, the business type and sub type, the license status, the expiry date, and an employee count. An employee count on a brand-new license is targeting gold - a two-person consultancy and a forty-person restaurant need completely different things from you.
Toronto gives you the category, the legal client name, the operating name, and frequently a business phone number, which turns a mailing list into a calling list.
Edmonton gives you the business category, the licence duration, issue and expiry dates, and the neighbourhood. Its categories include Residential Rental Accommodation, which means Edmonton's feed doubles as a registry of newly licensed landlords - a distinct audience that property managers and insurance brokers pay real money to find.
Calgary gives you the trade name, the license type, and the expiration date.
One mechanical note: the API filters on permit type and date, and the content field comes back as structured text. Matching "restaurant" or "salon" against the content happens in your code after the pull, not in the query. It is one parsing function per city, and the pipe-delimited format makes it a shallow one.
The expiry date is a second campaign nobody runs
Every license in this data carries an expiration or expiry date, and licenses renew on a cycle. Renewal time is when an owner is already doing paperwork about the business - reviewing costs, gathering documents, thinking about the year ahead. That mental state is precisely when a "switch your payment processor" or "requote your business insurance" message lands, and the data tells you the month it will arrive for every licensed business in four cities.
The opening campaign targets this month's new licenses. The switching campaign targets next month's expiries. Same data, two lists, opposite ends of the customer lifecycle.
The property record comes attached, and it sharpens the pitch
Because licenses are joined to properties, every lead arrives with the building's details available in the same query - property type, floor area, construction year. A security company quoting a premises wants the square footage before the first call. A telecom seller pitching fibre wants to know if it is a standalone commercial building or a unit in a tower. A commercial cleaning service prices by area without asking.
That context is what separates "we mail every new license" from "we mail new licenses that fit our product, with a pitch that already knows the building."
Honest limits
Four cities. Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver. A license query anywhere else returns nothing.
A license event is not always an opening. Renewals, revisions, and relocations all generate records. The content carries status and dates that let you tell a brand-new license from a renewed one - use them, or your "welcome to the neighbourhood" letter goes to a shop in its nineteenth year.
The content format differs per city. Budget a small parser for each. The fields above are what we observe today, and source cities occasionally change their formats.
Home-based businesses are in here too. Depending on your product that is either noise to filter or exactly the under-served segment you wanted.
Getting started
- Sign up for API access
- Pull last month's licenses for your city with the query above
- Parse the content into name, type, status, and expiry
- Split two lists - new licenses for the opening campaign, upcoming expiries for the switching campaign
- Measure close rates against your current lead source - this is the cheapest test in sales
Most fields cost a tenth of a cent per field per property, so a month of new licenses across all four cities is a few dollars. Details on the pricing page and the expand documentation.
Every business you want as a customer had a week where it chose all its vendors. The license record tells you when that week is happening. Explore the API or browse the datasets.