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 · Driving School
4 requirements to open a driving school in Toronto
- Issuers
- 2
- Provincial
- 1
- Last verified
- Oct 31, 2026
01Driving School Operator (In-Vehicle Training) licence
MunicipalIssued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards
Required to operate a driving school with in-vehicle instruction; needs $2,000,000 liability insurance with an OEF/OPCF 6D endorsement and a recent MTO Safety Standards Certificate.
Fees as published
- Application fee: $178.51
- Licence fee: $384.97
- Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $563.48
- Renewal fee: $389.32 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified June 3, 2026)
02Driving School Operator (In-Class Training Only) licence
If applicable MunicipalIssued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards
Required instead for a driving school that offers in-class instruction only.
Fees as published
- Application fee: $233.02
- Licence fee: $288.31
- Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $521.33
- Renewal fee: $350.51 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified June 3, 2026)
03Driving School Instructor licence (instructor who owns vehicle)
MunicipalIssued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards
Every individual giving in-vehicle instruction in a vehicle they own needs this licence (a separate instructor licence applies to instructors who do not own the vehicle).
Fees as published
- Application fee: $178.51
- Licence fee: $384.97
- Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $563.48
- Renewal fee: $389.32 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified June 3, 2026)
04Provincial Driving School Instructor Licence (MTO)
ProvincialIssued by: Ontario Ministry of Transportation
A copy of the provincial driving instructor licence issued by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation must be submitted with the City instructor licence application.
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 driving school 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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