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Toronto · Food & drink

Licences and permits to open a grocery store in Toronto

We found three licences, permits and registrations that can apply when you open a grocery store in Toronto, starting with the Take-out or Retail Food Establishment 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 Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence is $395.20. 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
3
Issuers
2
Provincial
0
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

    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. 02Notify 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:

  3. 03Food 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

Grocery Store in Toronto: common questions

What licences do I need to open a grocery store in Toronto?
Our list has three items: Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence, Notify Toronto Public Health of a new food premises (DineSafe inspection) and Food Handler Certification. Confirm with the City of Toronto before opening.
How much do the licences cost to open a grocery 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). 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); 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

Before you apply

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