Business licences & permits — Waterloo, Ontario

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

The City of Waterloo, Ontario has 2 adopted bylaws on file: Business Licensing Bylaw No. 2023-105; Sign Bylaw No. 2016-050, verified 2026-08-23.

Business Licensing Bylaw No. 2023-105 adopted bylaw

Licensing system (application/renewal/suspension/revocation) for 30+ business types: food shops/food trucks/mobile vendors, B&Bs and short-term rental platforms, salons, contractors, nightclubs, flyer/donation-box operators, etc.; taxis and second-hand shops explicitly excluded.

Sign Bylaw No. 2016-050 adopted bylaw

Requires permits for most signs across 10 sign zones; temporary signs up to 3 months (new-business signs 30 days), portable signs capped at 180 cumulative days/year, election signs capped at 1.5sqm/face, non-illuminated, removed within 72hrs of the election.

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