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Toronto · Services & accommodation

Licences and permits to operate as a payday lender in Toronto

We found two licences, permits and registrations that can apply when you operate as a payday lender in Toronto, starting with the Payday Loan Establishment licence. They are handled by two different bodies: Municipal Licensing & Standards and the Province of Ontario.

One item is provincial rather than municipal — the Provincial lender or loan broker licence (Payday Loans Act) — so expect to deal with the Province of Ontario as well as the City. One item lists a published fee, quoted below as the page states it. One has no fee listed on the page we reviewed.

Important: the City's page says it is not accepting some new applications for this category. Confirm with the City before you sign a lease or spend money.

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

What you'll need

Last verified:

  1. 01Payday Loan Establishment licence

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Required for payday lending premises, but the City is not accepting new applications: licences are capped and cannot be sold or transferred, so a new payday lender cannot currently open in Toronto.

    Fees as published

    • Application fee (for reference only — new applications not accepted): $788.33
    • Renewal fee: $384.88 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified January 16, 2026)
    View on toronto.ca — City of Toronto page(opens in a new tab)

    Last verified:

  2. 02Provincial lender or loan broker licence (Payday Loans Act)

    Provincial

    Issued by: Province of Ontario

    The City's page says applicants needed a valid lender or loan broker licence under the Payday Loans Act.

    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

Payday Lender in Toronto: common questions

What licences do I need to operate as a payday lender in Toronto?
Our list has two items: Payday Loan Establishment licence and Provincial lender or loan broker licence (Payday Loans Act). Confirm with the City of Toronto before opening.
How much do the licences cost to operate as a payday lender in Toronto?
Published fees: Payday Loan Establishment licence: Application fee (for reference only — new applications not accepted): $788.33; Renewal fee: $384.88 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified January 16, 2026). Fees change; check the linked page for the current amount.
Who issues these licences and permits?
City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards (Payday Loan Establishment licence); Province of Ontario (Provincial lender or loan broker licence (Payday Loans Act)).
Do I need anything from the Province of Ontario?
Yes. Provincial lender or loan broker licence (Payday Loans Act) (the Province of Ontario) 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.

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Next steps

Before you apply

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