Licence guides · Toronto
Business licences and permits in Toronto
Pick your business type to see what the City of Toronto asks for before you open: the licence itself, health and safety notifications, and any provincial registrations the City's pages point to. We cover 33 business types and 54 distinct requirements, each linked to the page it came from.
They come from seven issuers, most often Municipal Licensing & Standards. The most common item is the Notify Toronto Public Health of a new food premises (DineSafe inspection), which applies to nine of the business types below.
- Business types
- 33
- Requirements
- 92
- Provincial
- 12
- Last verified
- Oct 31, 2026
Food & drink
6 guidesRestaurant
6 itemsStarts with the Eating or Drinking Establishment licence
3 with published fee1 provincialCafé / Coffee Shop
5 itemsStarts with the Eating or Drinking Establishment licence
3 with published feeTake-out Restaurant
3 itemsStarts with the Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence
1 with published feeBakery
4 itemsStarts with the Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence
2 with published feeGrocery Store
3 itemsStarts with the Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence
1 with published feeConvenience Store
5 itemsStarts with the Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence
2 with published fee1 provincial
Bars, nightlife & patios
3 guidesBar or Pub
7 itemsStarts with the Eating or Drinking Establishment licence
3 with published fee2 provincialNightclub
4 itemsStarts with the Entertainment Establishment/Nightclub licence
1 with published fee2 provincialSidewalk Patio (CaféTO)
3 itemsStarts with the Sidewalk Café Permit
2 with published fee1 provincial
Mobile food vending
2 guidesPersonal care & wellness
6 guidesHair Salon
2 itemsStarts with the Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence
1 with published feeBarbershop
2 itemsStarts with the Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence
1 with published feeNail Salon
2 itemsStarts with the Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence
1 with published feeSpa / Aesthetics Studio
3 itemsStarts with the Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence
2 with published feeTattoo Studio
2 itemsStarts with the Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence
1 with published feeHolistic Practitioner / Holistic Centre
2 itemsStarts with the Holistic Practitioner licence
2 with published fee
Trades & contractors
3 guidesBuilding Renovator / General Contractor
1 itemStarts with the Building Renovator licence
1 with published feePlumbing Contractor
3 itemsStarts with the Plumbing Contractor licence
3 with published feeHeating / HVAC Contractor
3 itemsStarts with the Heating Contractor licence
2 with published fee1 provincial
Automotive & driving
3 guidesAuto Repair Garage
1 itemStarts with the Public Garage licence
1 with published feeCar Wash / Gas Station
2 itemsStarts with the Public Garage licence
1 with published fee1 provincialDriving School
4 itemsStarts with the Driving School Operator (In-Vehicle Training) licence
3 with published fee1 provincial
Specialty retail
6 guidesUsed Goods Store
1 itemStarts with the Second Hand Shop licence
1 with published feePawn Shop
2 itemsStarts with the Pawn Shop licence
2 with published feeJewellery Store / Gold Buyer
1 itemStarts with the Jewellery Buyers & Precious Metal Shop licence (if buying old gold / precious metals)
1 with published feeVape Shop
2 itemsStarts with the Vapour Product Retailer licence
2 with published feeSmoke Shop / Tobacconist
2 itemsStarts with the Smoke Shop licence
2 with published feePet Store
1 itemStarts with the Pet Shop licence
1 with published fee
Services & accommodation
4 guidesLaundromat
1 itemStarts with the Laundry licence
1 with published feeDry Cleaner
2 itemsStarts with the Laundry licence
1 with published fee1 provincialShort-Term Rental Host
2 itemsStarts with the Short-Term Rental Operator Registration
1 with published feePayday Lender
2 itemsStarts with the Payday Loan Establishment licence
1 with published fee1 provincial
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the municipality before opening.
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