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Toronto · Food & drink

Licences and permits to open a bakery in Toronto

We found four licences, permits and registrations that can apply when you open a bakery in Toronto, starting with the Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence. Two of them apply only in certain situations, noted on each item. They are handled by two different bodies: Municipal Licensing & Standards and Toronto Public Health.

Everything on this list is municipal, so the City of Toronto is your main point of contact. Published application-plus-licence totals on these pages range from $395.20 to $536.64. Two have no fee listed on the page we reviewed.

The notes mention a zoning review, an inspection and a certificate or exam; those steps depend on other people's schedules, so they are worth starting early.

Requirements
4
Issuers
2
Provincial
0
Last verified
Oct 31, 2026

What you'll need

Last verified:

  1. 01Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence

    If applicable Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    If baked goods are sold exclusively for consumption off-site. Required where prepared food/drinks or pre-packaged food/drink items are offered exclusively for consumption off-site; zoning approval is required for most new applications.

    Fees as published

    • Application fee: $197.60 (inclusive of GST)
    • Licence fee: $197.60 (inclusive of GST)
    • Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $395.20
    • Renewal fee: $261.04 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified June 3, 2026)
    View on toronto.ca — City of Toronto page(opens in a new tab)

    Last verified:

  2. 02Eating or Drinking Establishment licence

    If applicable Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    If customers can eat or drink on-site. Required where food or drinks are prepared or served for immediate consumption on-site (take-out and limited entertainment may be included). An approved Zoning Review for Business Licence is needed before applying unless taking over a recently licensed business in the same category.

    Fees as published

    • Application fee: $268.32
    • Licence fee: $268.32
    • Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $536.64
    • Renewal fee: $362.96 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified July 27, 2026)
    View on toronto.ca — City of Toronto page(opens in a new tab)

    Last verified:

  3. 03Notify Toronto Public Health of a new food premises (DineSafe inspection)

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Toronto Public Health

    Anyone intending to operate a food premises (fixed, mobile or home-based), including buying an existing one, must notify the Medical Officer of Health before starting; premises are inspected and results posted on DineSafe.

    No fee published on the source page.

    View on toronto.ca — City of Toronto page(opens in a new tab)

    Last verified:

  4. 04Food Handler Certification

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Toronto Public Health

    The City lists Food Handler Certification as required for anyone who serves and handles food. Toronto Public Health's program is suspended; certificates from Ontario Ministry of Health-approved providers or any Ontario health unit are accepted.

    No fee published on the source page.

    View on toronto.ca — City of Toronto page(opens in a new tab)

    Last verified:

This is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the municipality before opening.

FAQ

Bakery in Toronto: common questions

What licences do I need to open a bakery in Toronto?
Our list has four items: Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence, Eating or Drinking Establishment licence, Notify Toronto Public Health of a new food premises (DineSafe inspection) and Food Handler Certification. Items marked "if" or "optional" apply only in certain situations — the notes explain when. Confirm with the City of Toronto before opening.
How much do the licences cost to open a bakery in Toronto?
Published fees: Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence: Application fee: $197.60 (inclusive of GST); Licence fee: $197.60 (inclusive of GST); Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $395.20; Renewal fee: $261.04 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified June 3, 2026) Eating or Drinking Establishment licence: Application fee: $268.32; Licence fee: $268.32; Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $536.64; Renewal fee: $362.96 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified July 27, 2026). Fees change; check the linked page for the current amount.
Who issues these licences and permits?
City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards (Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence and Eating or Drinking Establishment licence); City of Toronto — Toronto Public Health (Notify Toronto Public Health of a new food premises (DineSafe inspection) and Food Handler Certification).
Do I need anything from the Province of Ontario?
The City of Toronto pages we reviewed don't list a provincial requirement for this type of business. Other registrations, such as registering a business name or a tax account, can still apply depending on how you set up.
How current is this information?
Each item was last checked against the linked page on October 31, 2026. Rules and fees change, so open the linked page and confirm with the issuer before you apply. This is general guidance, not legal advice.

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Next steps

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