Business licences & permits — Sarnia, Ontario

Do I need a business licence or permit? What does it cost?

The City of Sarnia, Ontario has 5 adopted bylaws on file: Body-Rub Parlour By-Law No. 58 of 2017; Business Licencing By-Law No. 128 of 2017 (Consolidated, incl. amendment 28 of 2024); Sign By-Law No. 65 of 2014 (Consolidated, incl. amendment 95 of 2021); Sunday and Holiday Openings By-Law No. 24 of 1992 (Consolidated, incl. amendment 134 of 2008); Taxi By-Law No. 19 of 2018, verified 2026-08-23.

Body-Rub Parlour By-Law No. 58 of 2017 adopted bylaw

Requires licensing and regulation of body-rub parlours and persons engaged in providing body-rubs, under the Municipal Act's business licensing powers.

Business Licencing By-Law No. 128 of 2017 (Consolidated, incl. amendment 28 of 2024) adopted bylaw

Consolidated licensing regime covering business classes including eating establishments, food trucks, salespersons/peddlers, auctioneers, tattoo/piercing studios, pet shops, boarding houses, salvage yards, second-hand goods dealers and payday loan establishments, with fees in Schedules A/B.

Sign By-Law No. 65 of 2014 (Consolidated, incl. amendment 95 of 2021) adopted bylaw

Requires a permit to erect or display any sign or advertising device in the City; prohibits signs that obstruct parking/loading areas or sightlines, or that are attached to unauthorized structures such as trees, fences or utility poles.

Sunday and Holiday Openings By-Law No. 24 of 1992 (Consolidated, incl. amendment 134 of 2008) adopted bylaw

Permits designated tourist-attraction retail businesses listed in Schedule A to open on Sundays and statutory holidays under the Retail Business Holidays Act, on tourism-dependence grounds.

Taxi By-Law No. 19 of 2018 adopted bylaw

Licenses and regulates taxicabs and other vehicles for hire operating in the City; licensing and regulatory administration is delegated to the Chief of Police / Sarnia Police Services Board.

Machine-readable: business-licensing.json · Official website: https://www.sarnia.ca · Last verified 2026-08-23 · Business licences & permits in other municipalities