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Toronto · Personal care & wellness

Licences and permits to open a spa or aesthetics studio in Toronto

We found three licences, permits and registrations that can apply when you open a spa or aesthetics studio in Toronto, starting with the Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence. One of them applies only in certain situations, noted on each item. 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. Published application-plus-licence totals on these pages range from $342.80 to $450.91. 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. The notes mention proof of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and an inspection; 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. 01Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Aesthetics (skin treatments, facials, waxing) are personal services requiring a PSS licence.

    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:

  3. 03Holistic Centre licence (if offering holistic services)

    If applicable Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Any premises where holistic services are provided or offered needs a Holistic Centre licence, with $1,000,000 liability insurance and a floor plan; note the City is not accepting new applications from members of certain holistic associations pending review.

    Fees as published

    • Application fee: $211.73
    • Licence fee: $131.07
    • Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $342.80
    • Renewal fee: $188.34 (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:

This is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the municipality before opening.

FAQ

Spa / Aesthetics Studio in Toronto: common questions

What licences do I need to open a spa or aesthetics studio in Toronto?
Our list has three items: Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence, BodySafe notification to Toronto Public Health and Holistic Centre licence (if offering holistic services). 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 spa or aesthetics studio 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) Holistic Centre licence (if offering holistic services): Application fee: $211.73; Licence fee: $131.07; Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $342.80; Renewal fee: $188.34 (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 (Personal Services Settings (PSS) licence and Holistic Centre licence (if offering holistic services)); 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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