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Toronto · Specialty retail

Licences and permits to open a pawn shop in Toronto

We found two licences, permits and registrations that can apply when you open a pawn shop in Toronto, starting with the Pawn Shop licence. One of them applies only in certain situations, noted on each item.

Everything on this list is municipal, so the City of Toronto is your main point of contact. Where a combined application and licence fee is published, it is $788.33.

Requirements
2
Issuers
1
Provincial
0
Last verified
Oct 31, 2026

What you'll need

Last verified:

  1. 01Pawn Shop licence

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Businesses that lend money to people who leave valuable items with a pawnbroker must hold this licence; a $2,000 security bond is required on approval.

    Fees as published

    • Application fee: $242.82
    • Licence fee: $545.51
    • Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $788.33
    • Renewal fee: $384.88 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified June 3, 2026)
    • plus a security bond of $2,000 (certified cheque) required upon approval
    View on toronto.ca — City of Toronto page(opens in a new tab)

    Last verified:

  2. 02Jewellery Buyers & Precious Metal Shop licence (if buying old gold)

    If applicable Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Also applies if you buy and deal in old gold or other precious metals for smelting and recovery.

    Fees as published

    • Application fee: $242.82
    • Licence fee: $545.51
    • Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $788.33
    • Renewal fee: $384.88 (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

Pawn Shop in Toronto: common questions

What licences do I need to open a pawn shop in Toronto?
Our list has two items: Pawn Shop licence and Jewellery Buyers & Precious Metal Shop licence (if buying old gold). 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 pawn shop in Toronto?
Published fees: Pawn Shop licence: Application fee: $242.82; Licence fee: $545.51; Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $788.33; Renewal fee: $384.88 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified June 3, 2026); plus a security bond of $2,000 (certified cheque) required upon approval Jewellery Buyers & Precious Metal Shop licence (if buying old gold): Application fee: $242.82; Licence fee: $545.51; Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $788.33; Renewal fee: $384.88 (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 (Pawn Shop licence and Jewellery Buyers & Precious Metal Shop licence (if buying old gold)).
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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