Skip to content
FileSignal

Toronto · Food & drink

Licences and permits to open a convenience store in Toronto

We found five licences, permits and registrations that can apply when you open a convenience store in Toronto, starting with the Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence. One of them applies only in certain situations, noted on each item. They are handled by three different bodies: Municipal Licensing & Standards, Toronto Public Health and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

One item is provincial rather than municipal — the AGCO Lottery Retailer Registration (if selling lottery) — so expect to deal with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) as well as the City. The published application-plus-licence total for the Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence is $395.20. Three have no fee listed on the page we reviewed.

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

Requirements
5
Issuers
3
Provincial
1
Last verified
Oct 31, 2026

What you'll need

Last verified:

  1. 01Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Convenience/variety stores selling pre-packaged food or drinks need this licence. 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. 02Cigarettes, cigars and tobacco endorsement

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Licensed businesses such as convenience stores that sell cigarettes, cigars or tobacco along with other products must add this endorsement to their licence through a Same Owner Add-On application.

    No fee published on the source page.

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

    Last verified:

  3. 03Vapour Product endorsement

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Licensed businesses such as convenience stores that sell vapour products (e.g. e-cigarettes) along with other products must add this endorsement through a Same Owner Add-On application.

    Fees as published

    • Administration fee of $ 70.39 (2024 fee), as published on toronto.ca
    View on toronto.ca — City of Toronto page(opens in a new tab)

    Last verified:

  4. 04Notify 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:

  5. 05AGCO Lottery Retailer Registration (if selling lottery)

    If applicable Provincial

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

    The City's business-regulations table lists AGCO lottery retailer registration as a provincial requirement for variety/convenience stores (applies if you sell lottery products).

    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

Convenience Store in Toronto: common questions

What licences do I need to open a convenience store in Toronto?
Our list has five items: Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence, Cigarettes, cigars and tobacco endorsement, Vapour Product endorsement, Notify Toronto Public Health of a new food premises (DineSafe inspection) and AGCO Lottery Retailer Registration (if selling lottery). 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 convenience store 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) Vapour Product endorsement: Administration fee of $ 70.39 (2024 fee), as published on toronto.ca. 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, Cigarettes, cigars and tobacco endorsement and Vapour Product endorsement); City of Toronto — Toronto Public Health (Notify Toronto Public Health of a new food premises (DineSafe inspection)); Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) (AGCO Lottery Retailer Registration (if selling lottery)).
Do I need anything from the Province of Ontario?
Yes. AGCO Lottery Retailer Registration (if selling lottery) (the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)) is provincial. The City's pages reference it; 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.

Related guides

Similar businesses in Toronto

See all guides

Next steps

Before you apply

Partner

Need to register the business? We can help.

Most licence applications ask for a registered business name or corporation. Our partner, Markham Office, helps founders with business registration in Ontario.

Visit Markham Office (partner site) (opens in a new tab)

Get notified when requirements change

Occasional founder updates when we re-verify fees and rules or add municipalities. No spam.