Business licences & permits across Ontario
Do I need a business licence or permit? What does it cost?
70 of 444 municipalities in Ontario have an adopted bylaw on business licences & permits on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherstburg Town |
By-law 2023-091 - Taxicab By-law | licence required: True · who must license: Taxicab Drivers, Taxicab Owners, and Taxicab Brokers · renewal: expires annually on December 31st | 2026-08-28 |
| Arnprior Town |
Licencing By-Law No. 6769-17
adopted 2017-11-27 |
licence required: True · who must license: Clothing Donation Bin, Old Gold Dealer, Pawnbroker, Hawker/Peddler, Mobile Canteen/Refreshment, Market Vendor, Special Events, Outdoor Sidewalk Patio Café · fee: As per the Town of Arnprior User Fees and Charges By-law, as amended. | 2026-08-28 |
| Barrie City |
Business Licensing (General) By-law (By-law 2006-266)
+4 more |
licence required: True · who must license: Adult Entertainment Establishment Class A and B, Adult Entertainment Attendant, Escort Service, Escort Attendant, and Escort Driver. · renewal: one year from the date of issue | 2026-08-28 |
| Belleville City |
Sign By-law No. 2006-55
adopted 2006-03-27 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Blind River Town |
Business Licensing and Regulation By-law 17-42
adopted 2017-08-21 |
licence required: True · who must license: Owners/operators of Restaurants, Cleaning, Retail, Beautician/Wellness, Leisure, Auto/Marine/Sport Supplies, or Transportation businesses in Town. · renewal: yearly; expires December 31; renew by March 1 for discount | 2026-08-28 |
| Bradford West Gwillimbury Town |
Business Licensing By-law 2014-70
adopted 2014-10-07 |
licence required: True · who must license: Taxicab owners/drivers/brokers, refreshment vehicle operators, adult entertainment parlour owners/operators, hawkers, peddlers, kennel owners/operators. · fee: Schedule 'A': Initial/Renewal vary (e.g. Taxicab Owner $300/$200, Driver $100/$90); Late Fees $50-$90 | 2026-08-28 |
| Brampton City |
Business Licensing By-law 184-2023
+2 more |
licence required: True · who must license: Driving school operators/instructors/vehicle owners, limousine owners/drivers, refreshment vehicle owners/drivers, taxicab/accessible taxicab owners/drivers/brokers, personal transportation companies, peddlers · fee: Driving School Operator $187.00; Driving School Instructor 1yr $116.00, 2yr $234.00, 3yr $350.00, 4yr $466.00; Driving School Motor Vehicle Owner $207.00; Limousine Owner $324.00; Limousine Driver 1yr $116.00, 2yr $234.00, 3yr $350.00, 4yr $466.00; Refreshment Class A/D $353.00, Class B/C $285.00; Refreshment Driver (all classes) 1yr $116.00, 2yr $234.00, 3yr $350.00, 4yr $466.00; Special Events $134.00; Taxicab Broker New $744.00, Renewal $583.00; Taxicab/Accessible Taxicab Owner New $4,623.00, Renewal $418.00; Conditional Licence Renewal-No Vehicle $61.00; Transfer $441.00; Taxi Driver 1yr $116.00, 2yr $234.00, 3yr $350.00, 4yr $466.00; Personal Transportation Company New and Yearly Renewal $24,519.00 plus monthly per-trip fee; Peddler 1yr $116.00; Late Renewal $66.00; Closed Application Fee $79.00; Replacement Plate $79.00; Vehicle Inspection Fee $153.00 | 2026-08-28 |
| Brant City |
Business Licensing By-law No. 50-06
+2 more adopted 2006-02-07 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Brock Township |
Refreshment Vehicles By-law 2382-2011
+1 more |
licence required: True · who must license: Persons operating a mobile canteen, including chip trucks, coffee trucks, hot dog carts and ice cream carts. · fee: in accordance with the "Fees By-law" as amended from time to time; 50% of the annual fee if issued between August 1st and December 31st; exempt for non-profit or volunteer organizations | 2026-08-28 |
| Brockville City |
Retail Business (Retail Sales) By-law 124-1992 (Consolidated)
+2 more |
licence required: True · who must license: Every busker operating within the City of Brockville · fee: There is no fee to obtain a licence. | 2026-08-28 |
| Burlington City |
Consolidated Business Licensing By-law 42-2008
+2 more adopted 2008-05-20 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Burpee and Mills Township |
By-law 2025-02 to Amend By-law 2022-02 to License Trailers | licence required: True · who must license: Any trailer, excluding assessed trailers or those in campgrounds · fee: $ 750.00 per year; $ 375.00 per year; $ 200 per month; $375.00 per Year | 2026-08-28 |
| Cambridge City |
Business Licensing By-law 142-16 (as amended)
+2 more adopted 2016-07-12 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Clarence-Rockland City |
User Fees By-law 2025-105 - Schedule C (Business Licence)
+2 more |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Collingwood Town |
Retail Business Holiday Exemption By-law No. 2016-071 | — | 2026-08-28 |
| Cornwall City |
Sign By-law No. 057, 1982 (with amendments) | — | 2026-08-28 |
| Cramahe Township |
Sign By-law No. 2010-44 | licence required: True · who must license: Persons erecting, placing, displaying, maintaining, altering or repairing signs · fee: one hundred and fifteen dollars ($115.00) | 2026-08-28 |
| Dryden City |
Business License By-law No. 2023-25
+1 more adopted 2023-05-23 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Dubreuilville Township |
By-Law 2024-49 - Transient Trader Business Licence
adopted 2024-10-09 |
licence required: True · who must license: Transient Trader (person who sells merchandise at a temporary location) · fee: $650.00 | 2026-08-28 |
| Elliot Lake City |
Mobile Vendors and Peddlers By-Law 23-53
+1 more |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Guelph City |
Business Licence By-law (2009)-18855
adopted 2009-09-28 |
licence required: True · who must license: Any Person carrying on a Business set out in Schedule "A" of this By-law. · renewal: annual, expires December 31st | 2026-08-28 |
| Haldimand City |
Hired Vehicle Licensing By-law No. 2139-20
+6 more adopted 2020-03-09 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Hamilton City |
By-law No. 07-170 - To Licence and Regulate Various Businesses (Office Consolidation, Nov 2023)
+2 more |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Hastings Highlands Municipality |
Business Licence Policy (Schedule A to By-law 2024-005)
+1 more |
licence required: True · who must license: Vendor, Mobile Food Vendor, Public Market, Door-to-Door Sales. Retail/home-based exempt. · renewal: expire annually, except were permitted otherwise in the appendixes | 2026-08-28 |
| Hawkesbury Town |
Business Licensing By-law N°30-2004 — Consolidated 2022 | licence required: True · who must license: Any person carrying on, conducting, operating, maintaining, keeping or engaging in any business within the Town · renewal: expires on the 31st day of December in the year it was issued | 2026-08-28 |
| Huron East Municipality |
Sidewalk Patio and Sidewalk Café By-law No. 35-2015
+1 more |
licence required: True · who must license: Any person wishing to erect, install, maintain, or carry on a Sidewalk Patio or Sidewalk Café · fee: $150.00 for Sidewalk Patio Licence; $75.00 for Sidewalk Café Licence | 2026-08-28 |
| Ingersoll Town |
Consolidated Sign By-law No. 82-3079
adopted 1982-04-14 |
licence required: True · who must license: persons erecting, causing to be erected or structurally altering any sign or awning · fee: five dollars ($5.00) per sign or awning | 2026-08-28 |
| Kawartha Lakes City |
By-Law to Licence, Regulate and Govern Refreshment Vehicle Businesses 2021-158
+6 more adopted 2021-11-16 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Kenora City |
Business Licensing By-law No. 80-2006
+1 more adopted 2006-06-12 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Kingston City |
Business License Bylaw No. 2025-34
+3 more adopted 2025-11-18 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| London City |
Business Licensing By-law No. L.-131-16
adopted 2017-12-12 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Markham City |
Mobile Business Licensing By-law 2022-20
+2 more |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Middlesex Centre Municipality |
Mobile Food Outlet By-law (2022-044)
adopted 2022-05-04 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Mississauga City |
Business Licensing By-law No. 0001-2006
+5 more adopted 2006-01-18 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Muskoka Lakes Township |
Business Licensing By-law 2017-090 | — | 2026-08-28 |
| New Tecumseth Town |
Business Licensing and Regulation By-law - Amendment No. 7 (By-law 2021-046, Pet Stores) | licence required: True · who must license: Any person who owns or operates a Pet Store offering or keeping animals for retail sale, adoption, or rental · fee: $150.00 | 2026-08-28 |
| Niagara Falls City |
Licensing By-law No. 2001-31 (consolidated)
+3 more adopted 2001-01-29 |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Norfolk City |
Business Licensing By-law No. 2020-17
+1 more |
— | 2026-08-28 |
| Orillia City |
Municipal Code Chapter 700 — Business Licensing
+2 more |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Oshawa City |
Business Licensing By-law 122-2024 (amended by By-law 102-2025)
+6 more adopted 2024-10-28 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Ottawa City |
Licensing (By-law No. 2002-189) | — | 2026-08-29 |
| Owen Sound City |
Business Licensing By-law No. 2023-128
+6 more adopted 2023-12-04 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Pelee Township |
Transient Traders, Peddlers and Mobile Vendors By-law No. 2010-15 | licence required: True · who must license: Transient traders, peddlers, and mobile vendors (motorized or non-motorized) operating within the Township of Pelee · fee: Peddler: $250.00 per calendar year; Mobile Vendor motorized: $250.00 per calendar year; Mobile Vendor non-motorized: $330.00 per calendar year | 2026-08-29 |
| Petawawa Town |
Sign By-law 1573/23 | — | 2026-08-29 |
| Peterborough City |
By-law No. 17-067 (Lodging Houses and Rental Dwelling Units Licence)
+1 more adopted 2017-06-26 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Pickering City |
Business By-law 1887/84
+3 more adopted 1984-07-30 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Port Colborne City |
Business Licence By-law No. 4324/160/02 (Hawkers and Peddlers)
+4 more |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Prince Edward City |
By-Law 48-2023 to Licence, Regulate and Govern Mobile Restaurants in the County of Prince Edward
+2 more adopted 2023-03-14 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Quinte West City |
Front Street Farmers Market By-law 12-136
+1 more |
licence required: True · who must license: Vendors selling or displaying items for sale at the Front Street Farmers' Market must pay a prescribed fee · fee: as set out in the Consolidated Fees and Charges By-law, as amended from time to time | 2026-08-29 |
| Ramara Township |
Business Licensing By-law 2013.20 | licence required: True · who must license: Hawkers/peddlers, salvage/wrecking yards, refreshment vehicles, and kennels (boarding/breeding/hunting/competition/predator control, over 3 dogs) · fee: As prescribed by Council as amended from time to time; consult Fee Schedule (Schedule "A" references "Licensing Fees and Charges Bylaw") | 2026-08-29 |
| Regional Municipality of Niagara Regional municipality |
Business Licensing By-law No. 2018-76 | licence required: True · who must license: Owners, operators, and entertainers at adult entertainment parlours · renewal: Owner's licence expires December 31 of year of issuance; Operator's and Entertainer's licences expire one year from date of issue | 2026-08-29 |
| Sables-Spanish Rivers Township |
Hawkers and Peddlers Licensing Bylaw 2002-23
adopted 2002-08-14 |
licence required: True · who must license: Persons going place to place selling goods, wares, merchandise, or carrying samples for later delivery in the Township. · fee: Ratepayer: $50.00/month or $250.00/year; Non-Ratepayer: $100.00/month or $500.00/year | 2026-08-29 |
| Sarnia City |
Business Licencing By-Law No. 128 of 2017 (Consolidated, incl. amendment 28 of 2024)
+4 more |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Sault Ste. Marie City |
Amusement Arcades Licensing By-law No. 2003-50
+6 more |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Smooth Rock Falls Town |
Food Vending Vehicles By-Law | — | 2026-08-29 |
| St. Catharines City |
Business Licensing By-law No. 2005-318
+1 more |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| St. Thomas City |
By-law 10-2003 - Sale of Perishable Goods (Letter)
+3 more adopted 2003-01-20 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Stratford City |
Business Licence By-law 187-2004
+2 more |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Temagami Municipality |
By-law 21-1577 - Licensing of Mobile Vendor Units and Refreshment Carts
adopted 2021-08-19 |
licence required: True · who must license: Persons selling goods, refreshments, foodstuffs, or flowers from a Mobile Portable Vendor Unit or Refreshment Cart · fee: Refreshment Cart Operator $100.00; Refreshment Cart Owner $150.00; Mobile Portable Display Unit Operator $100.00; Portable Display Unit Owner $150.00 | 2026-08-29 |
| Temiskaming Shores City |
Vehicles for Hire By-law No. 2024-097 (Office Consolidation)
adopted 2024-08-13 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Thorold City |
By-law to License, Regulate and Govern Refreshment Vehicles/Carts/Cycles No. 16-2017
+2 more adopted 2017-02-07 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Thunder Bay City |
Adult Entertainment By-law
+18 more adopted 2005-12-06 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Timmins City |
Business Licensing By-Law No. 2016-7798
+2 more |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Vaughan City |
Business Licensing By-law 122-2022 (Consolidated)
+2 more |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Waterloo City |
Business Licensing Bylaw No. 2023-105
+1 more adopted 2023-12-11 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| Welland City |
Business Licensing By-law No. 2011-173 (office consolidation Nov. 19, 2013)
+1 more adopted 2011-12-06 |
— | 2026-08-29 |
| West Grey Municipality |
Trailer Licence Bylaw No. 73-2016 | — | 2026-08-29 |
| West Nipissing Municipality |
By-law 2016-40 Hawkers-Pedlars Transient Traders and Mobile Food Equipment | licence required: True · who must license: Hawkers and pedlars, transient traders (Class 1 and 2), and mobile food service equipment operators · fee: Hawkers & Pedlars: $250 (3 days), $500 (season/3 mths), $1,000 (year); Transient Traders Class 1: $250 (3 days), $500 (season), $1,000 (year); Transient Traders Class 2 (Youth/Student): $50; Mobile Food Service Equipment: $250 (3 days), $500 (season), $1,000 (year) | 2026-08-29 |
| Windsor City |
Business Licensing By-law #395-2004
+6 more adopted 2004-12-13 |
licence required: True · who must license: Broad range: adult entertainment, food/hospitality, lodging, heating/plumbing trades, hawkers, escorts, retail/resale/pawnbrokers, pet shops, salvage yards, and others · fee: Varies by category; initial: $191–$616 (e.g., Bill Distributor $191, Entertainment Lounge $590, Bed & Breakfast/Lodging House/Public Hall $616); renewal: $191–$575; late renewal adds 50% surcharge over base fee; Class 2 Donation Bin Business 50% reduction | 2026-08-29 |
| Woodstock City |
Chapter 0564 - Business Licensing
+4 more |
— | 2026-08-29 |
Nothing on file for business licences & permits
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Other bylaws on file, none on this topic (363) — Addington Highlands, Adelaide Metcalfe, Adjala-Tosorontio, Admaston/Bromley, Ajax, Alberton, Alfred and Plantagenet, Algonquin Highlands, Alnwick/Haldimand, Amaranth, Armour, Armstrong, Arran–Elderslie, Ashfield–Colborne–Wawanosh, Asphodel–Norwood, Assiginack, Athens, Atikokan, Augusta, Aurora, Aylmer, Baldwin, Bancroft, Bayham, Beckwith, Billings, Black River-Matheson, Blandford-Blenheim, Bluewater, Bonfield, Bonnechere Valley, Bracebridge, Brantford, Brighton, Brockton, Brooke-Alvinston, Bruce County, Bruce Mines, Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan, Burk's Falls, Caledon, Callander, Calvin, Carleton Place, Carling, Carlow/Mayo, Casey, Casselman, Cavan Monaghan, Central Elgin, Central Frontenac, Central Huron, Central Manitoulin, Centre Hastings, Centre Wellington, Champlain, Chapleau, Chapple, Charlton and Dack, Chatham-Kent, Chatsworth, Chisholm, Clarington, Clearview, Cobalt, Cobourg, Cochrane, Cockburn Island, Conmee, Dawn-Euphemia, Dawson, Deep River, Deseronto, District Municipality of Muskoka, Dorion, Douro-Dummer, Drummond/North Elmsley, Dufferin County, Dutton/Dunwich, Dysart et al, Ear Falls, East Ferris, East Garafraxa, East Gwillimbury, East Hawkesbury, East Zorra-Tavistock, Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, Elgin County, Elizabethtown-Kitley, Emo, Englehart, Enniskillen, Erin, Espanola, Essa, Essex, Essex County, Evanturel, Faraday, Fort Erie, Fort Frances, French River, Front of Yonge, Frontenac County, Frontenac Islands, Gananoque, Georgian Bay, Georgian Bluffs, Georgina, Gillies, Goderich, Gordon/Barrie Island, Gore Bay, Grand Valley, Gravenhurst, Greater Madawaska, Greater Napanee, Greater Sudbury, Greenstone, Grey County, Grey Highlands, Grimsby, Guelph/Eramosa, Haliburton County, Halton Hills, Hamilton, Hanover, Harley, Harris, Hastings County, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Head, Clara and Maria, Hearst, Highlands East, Hilliard, Hilton, Hilton Beach, Hornepayne, Horton, Howick, Hudson, Huntsville, Huron County, Huron Shores, Huron-Kinloss, Ignace, Innisfil, Iroquois Falls, James, Jocelyn, Johnson, Joly, Kapuskasing, Kearney, Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards, Killarney, Kincardine, King, Kingsville, Kirkland Lake, Kitchener, La Vallee, LaSalle, Laird, Lake of Bays, Lake of the Woods, Lakeshore, Lambton County, Lambton Shores, Lanark County, Lanark Highlands, Larder Lake, Latchford, Laurentian Hills, Laurentian Valley, Leamington, Leeds and the Thousand Islands, Lennox and Addington County, Limerick, Lincoln, Loyalist, Lucan Biddulph, Macdonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional, Machar, Machin, Madawaska Valley, Madoc, Magnetawan, Malahide, Manitouwadge, Mapleton, Marathon, Markstay-Warren, Marmora and Lake, Matachewan, Mattawa, Mattawan, Mattice-Val Côté, McDougall, McGarry, McKellar, McMurrich/Monteith, McNab/Braeside, Meaford, Melancthon, Merrickville–Wolford, Middlesex County, Midland, Milton, Minden Hills, Minto, Mississippi Mills, Mono, Montague, Moosonee, Morris-Turnberry, Mulmur, Nairn and Hyman, Neebing, Newbury, Newmarket, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Nipigon, Nipissing, North Algona Wilberforce, North Bay, North Dumfries, North Dundas, North Frontenac, North Glengarry, North Grenville, North Huron, North Kawartha, North Middlesex, North Perth, North Stormont, Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, Northern Bruce Peninsula, Northumberland County, Norwich, Oakville, Oil Springs, Oliver Paipoonge, Orangeville, Oro-Medonte, Otonabee–South Monaghan, Oxford County, Papineau-Cameron, Parry Sound, Pelham, Pembroke, Penetanguishene, Perry, Perth, Perth County, Perth East, Perth South, Peterborough County, Petrolia, Pickle Lake, Plummer Additional, Plympton–Wyoming, Point Edward, Port Hope, Powassan, Prescott, Prescott and Russell, Prince, Puslinch, Rainy River, Red Lake, Red Rock, Regional Municipality of Durham, Regional Municipality of Halton, Regional Municipality of Peel, Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Regional Municipality of York, Renfrew, Renfrew County, Richmond Hill, Rideau Lakes, Russell, Ryerson, Saugeen Shores, Schreiber, Scugog, Seguin, Selwyn, Severn, Shelburne, Shuniah, Simcoe County, Sioux Lookout, Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, Smiths Falls, South Algonquin, South Bruce, South Bruce Peninsula, South Dundas, South Frontenac, South Glengarry, South Huron, South River, South Stormont, South-West Oxford, Southgate, Southwest Middlesex, Southwold, Spanish, Springwater, St. Clair, St. Joseph, St. Marys, St.-Charles, Stirling-Rawdon, Stone Mills, Strathroy-Caradoc, Strong, Sundridge, Tarbutt, Tay, Tay Valley, Tecumseh, Tehkummah, Terrace Bay, Thames Centre, The Archipelago, The Blue Mountains, The Nation, The North Shore, Thessalon, Tillsonburg, Tiny, Toronto, Trent Hills, Trent Lakes, Tudor and Cashel, Tweed, Tyendinaga, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Uxbridge, Val Rita-Harty, Wainfleet, Warwick, Wasaga Beach, Wawa, Wellesley, Wellington County, Wellington North, West Elgin, West Lincoln, West Perth, Westport, Whitby, Whitchurch-Stouffville, White River, Whitestone, Whitewater, Wilmot, Wollaston, Woolwich, Zorra.
No bylaws published online (8, verified negatives) — Brethour, Chamberlain, Fauquier-Strickland, Gauthier, Kerns, Moonbeam, O'Connor, Thornloe.
Unconfirmed (3, leads but nothing verified) — Coleman, Morley, Opasatika.