Free tool · For founders
Which licences does your new business need?
Pick your municipality and business type. You'll get the licences, permits and registrations that can apply, who issues each one, the published fee and a direct link to the City's own page.
Toronto: 33 business types · 92 requirements · last verified Oct 31, 2026
Step 1: Where will the business operate?
Pick the municipality. We add cities as we verify their requirements.
Step 2: What kind of business?
Search by name or a common term, like “barber”, “pizza shop” or “Airbnb host”.
- Auto Repair Garage
- Bakery
- Bar or Pub
- Barbershop
- Building Renovator / General Contractor
- Café / Coffee Shop
- Car Wash / Gas Station
- Convenience Store
- Driving School
- Dry Cleaner
- Food Cart
- Food Truck
- Grocery Store
- Hair Salon
- Heating / HVAC Contractor
- Holistic Practitioner / Holistic Centre
- Jewellery Store / Gold Buyer
- Laundromat
- Nail Salon
- Nightclub
- Pawn Shop
- Payday Lender
- Pet Store
- Plumbing Contractor
- Restaurant
- Short-Term Rental Host
- Sidewalk Patio (CaféTO)
- Smoke Shop / Tobacconist
- Spa / Aesthetics Studio
- Take-out Restaurant
- Tattoo Studio
- Used Goods Store
- Vape Shop
Step 3: What you'll need
Toronto · Convenience Store
5 requirements to open a convenience store in Toronto
- Issuers
- 3
- Provincial
- 1
- Last verified
- Oct 31, 2026
01Take-out or Retail Food Establishment licence
MunicipalIssued 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)
02Cigarettes, cigars and tobacco endorsement
MunicipalIssued 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.
03Vapour Product endorsement
MunicipalIssued 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
04Notify Toronto Public Health of a new food premises (DineSafe inspection)
MunicipalIssued 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.
05AGCO Lottery Retailer Registration (if selling lottery)
If applicable ProvincialIssued 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.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the municipality before opening.
Read the full guideLicences and permits to open a convenience store in Toronto, with FAQsNeed 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.
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