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Toronto · Bars, nightlife & patios

Licences and permits to open a bar or pub in Toronto

We found seven licences, permits and registrations that can apply when you open a bar or pub in Toronto, starting with the Eating or Drinking Establishment licence. Two of them apply only in certain situations, noted on each item. They are handled by four different bodies: Municipal Licensing & Standards, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the Province of Ontario and Toronto Public Health.

Two items are provincial rather than municipal — the Liquor sales licence (AGCO) and Smart Serve certificate — so expect to deal with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and the Province of Ontario as well as the City. Published application-plus-licence totals on these pages range from $536.64 to $1,100.32. Four 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
7
Issuers
4
Provincial
2
Last verified
Oct 31, 2026

What you'll need

Last verified:

  1. 01Eating or Drinking Establishment licence

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Covers businesses serving beverages for on-site consumption. 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:

  2. 02Expanded Activity Eating or Drinking Establishment licence

    If applicable Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Needed instead of the standard eating/drinking licence if the business meets three or more of: open past 11 p.m. on most days in a week, holds a liquor licence, offers amusement/entertainment/live performance, or has an occupant load over 150.

    Fees as published

    • Application fee: $375.96
    • Licence fee: $375.96
    • Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $751.92
    • Renewal fee: $546.00 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified September 30, 2026)
    View on toronto.ca — City of Toronto page(opens in a new tab)

    Last verified:

  3. 03Liquor sales licence (AGCO)

    Provincial

    Issued by: Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)

    Required to sell or serve alcohol. Apply to the AGCO first; the licence type determines which City of Toronto documents the AGCO needs, and your AGCO file number is required when requesting them from the City.

    No fee published on the source page.

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

    Last verified:

  4. 04Smart Serve certificate

    Provincial

    Issued by: Province of Ontario

    The City's business-regulations table lists a Smart Serve certificate among the provincial requirements for licensed bars, restaurants and nightclubs that serve alcohol.

    No fee published on the source page.

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

    Last verified:

  5. 05Notify 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:

  6. 06Accredited Food Handler Certification for staff

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Staff who handle food in licensed eating or drinking establishments — including servers, hosts, bartenders and cooks — must hold Accredited Food Handler Certification.

    No fee published on the source page.

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

    Last verified:

  7. 07Entertainment Establishment/Nightclub licence (if applicable)

    If applicable Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Applies instead if the venue has an occupant load over 150 and provides amplified music for entertainment or dancing, or meets three or more nightclub criteria (bottle service, calls itself a club, DJ/lighting/sound system, stage or dance floor).

    Fees as published

    • Application fee: $275.08
    • Licence fee: $825.24
    • Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $1,100.32
    • Renewal fee: $738.40 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified September 30, 2026)
    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

Bar or Pub in Toronto: common questions

What licences do I need to open a bar or pub in Toronto?
Our list has seven items: Eating or Drinking Establishment licence, Expanded Activity Eating or Drinking Establishment licence, Liquor sales licence (AGCO), Smart Serve certificate, Notify Toronto Public Health of a new food premises (DineSafe inspection), Accredited Food Handler Certification for staff and Entertainment Establishment/Nightclub licence (if applicable). 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 bar or pub in Toronto?
Published fees: 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) Expanded Activity Eating or Drinking Establishment licence: Application fee: $375.96; Licence fee: $375.96; Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $751.92; Renewal fee: $546.00 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified September 30, 2026) Entertainment Establishment/Nightclub licence (if applicable): Application fee: $275.08; Licence fee: $825.24; Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $1,100.32; Renewal fee: $738.40 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified September 30, 2026). Fees change; check the linked page for the current amount.
Who issues these licences and permits?
City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards (Eating or Drinking Establishment licence, Expanded Activity Eating or Drinking Establishment licence, Accredited Food Handler Certification for staff and Entertainment Establishment/Nightclub licence (if applicable)); Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) (Liquor sales licence (AGCO)); Province of Ontario (Smart Serve certificate); City of Toronto — Toronto Public Health (Notify Toronto Public Health of a new food premises (DineSafe inspection)).
Do I need anything from the Province of Ontario?
Yes. Liquor sales licence (AGCO) (the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)) and Smart Serve certificate (the Province of Ontario) are provincial. The City's pages reference them; apply with the provincial body directly.
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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