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Toronto · Personal care & wellness

Licences and permits to open a barbershop in Toronto

We found two licences, permits and registrations that can apply when you open a barbershop in Toronto, starting with the Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence. 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. The published application-plus-licence total for the Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence is $450.91. One has no fee listed on the page we reviewed.

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

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

What you'll need

Last verified:

  1. 01Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Hairstyling, including barbering and shaving facial hair, requires a PSS licence. Sole proprietors providing hairstyling (which includes barbering) must submit a Skilled Trades Ontario Certificate of Qualification.

    Fees as published

    • Application fee: $211.73
    • Licence fee: $239.18
    • Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $450.91
    • Renewal fee: $296.45 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified October 1, 2026)
    View on toronto.ca — City of Toronto page(opens in a new tab)

    Last verified:

  2. 02BodySafe notification to Toronto Public Health

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Toronto Public Health

    Personal service settings must notify Toronto Public Health in writing (BodySafe@toronto.ca) at least 14 days before opening and be inspected under Ontario Regulation 136/18; the BodySafe inspection notice must be posted near the entrance.

    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

Barbershop in Toronto: common questions

What licences do I need to open a barbershop in Toronto?
Our list has two items: Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence and BodySafe notification to Toronto Public Health. Confirm with the City of Toronto before opening.
How much do the licences cost to open a barbershop in Toronto?
Published fees: Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence: Application fee: $211.73; Licence fee: $239.18; Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $450.91; Renewal fee: $296.45 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified October 1, 2026). Fees change; check the linked page for the current amount.
Who issues these licences and permits?
City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards (Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence); City of Toronto — Toronto Public Health (BodySafe notification to Toronto Public Health).
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

Before you apply

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