The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has approved a temporary extension of liquor sale and service hours until 4 a.m. across Ontario for the upcoming world soccer tournament. Visit the AGCO for more information.
extensions of existing permanent licences (extensions of hours or premises)
Special Occasion Permits – Public SOP and Bring-your-own Event Permits
You should start by submitting your application for a liquor licence to the AGCO as the type of liquor licence you apply for will determine the type of documentation the AGCO requires from the City of Toronto to support your application. You will also need to include your AGCO file number and application summary when submitting your request to the City of Toronto.
Notices for private special occasion permits, catering endorsement and industry promotional events can be sent to liquorlicence@toronto.ca.
Public Special Occasion Permits
A Special Occasion Permit is required any time liquor is offered for sale anywhere other than in a liquor licensed establishment. It is not intended for use for extensions of premises, including outdoor patios.
If you are applying to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for a Special Occasion Permit (SOP), you may need the City’s endorsement for your application (otherwise known as a declaration of municipal significance).
An event should be deemed municipally significant, if, in the opinion of the Councillor for the ward, an event:
meets the criteria prescribed in the Delegation of Authority for the Endorsement of Liquor Licences, as confirmed by the City Clerk;
has a positive cultural, social and/or economic impact on the local community;
is considered to be in the public interest; and
complies with any other factors a ward councillor considers relevant to their determination.
City Council authorized the City Clerk to process endorsements for public events in consultation with the councillor(s) for the areas where an event is taking place.
Exception: If your event is not a community event or festival, the City Clerk cannot endorse events with outdoor music or activities after 9 PM.
Helpful Links
City of Toronto guidance on planning events on public property.
Bring-your-own Event Special Occasion Permit (Cultural or Community Events)
As of April 30, 2026, organizations and individuals will be able to apply to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which administers and regulates liquor licences and permits in the province, for permits to host bring-your-own events.
Bring-your-own events are public outdoor events held at ground level where attendees, 19 years and older, may bring their own liquor (BYOB) for consumption at the event. To be eligible for a bring-your-own event permit the AGCO requires that the event be declared a cultural or community event by the City of Toronto. Events held in connection with, and in proximity to, a professional, semi-professional or post-secondary sporting event (e.g., a tailgate party) do not require endorsement by the City of Toronto and are obtained by applying directly to the AGCO.
Examples of outdoor cultural or community events may include, but are not limited to:
outdoor movie screenings,
street markets,
arts and crafts shows,
free outdoor concerts,
fairs,
neighbourhood sports tournaments,
public performances (i.e. theatre),
farmers markets, or
international or religious festivals.
Additional information on applying for endorsement for a bring-your-own event permit in the City of Toronto will be posted as it becomes available. Visit the AGCO website for further information.
Temporary Outdoor Extensions
Establishments with an existing liquor sales or Tied House licence can apply to the City of Toronto to extend their licence to an outdoor patio if the proposed area is less than 10m from the existing licensed area and is operating May through October.
Patios being extended on private property must comply with applicable zoning by-laws.
Applications to extend liquor licences onto temporary patios on sidewalks/boulevards will be considered for community events and festivals, where a street closure is in place.
Applicants should note that this approval is to extend the existing liquor licence into a currently unlicensed area. This is not an approval from the City of Toronto for the use of additional/extended space. Contact your community event or festival organizer to obtain the necessary approval for extended outdoor patio space.
an event should be deemed municipally significant, if, in the opinion of the ward councillor, an event:
meets the criteria prescribed in the Delegation of Authority for the Endorsement of Liquor Licences, as confirmed by the City Clerk;
has a positive cultural, social and/or economic impact on the local community;
is considered to be in the public interest; and
complies with any other factors a member considers relevant to their determination.
the request is related to a larger community event or festival with a street closure; or
located on private property where they must comply with applicable zoning by-laws
the extended licensed area is adjacent to (located 10m or less) to the existing licensed establishment
liquor service is to start no earlier than 9 a.m. and end no later than 2 a.m. on major arterial roads and 11 p.m. on local roads
Exception: the City Clerk cannot approve applications for the following:
events with amplified music or sound outdoors after 9 PM, including sound emanating from inside (directly from the establishment, does not apply to music or sound from an outdoor festival)
Larger Events
Event organizers for larger events can submit applications on behalf of multiple businesses and partners.
If you have an existing liquor sales licence and are applying to the AGCO for a temporary extension of hours, you will need an endorsement and a letter of non-objection from the City of Toronto.
City Council authorized the City Clerk to process endorsements and letters of non-objection in consultation with the ward councillor(s) for the areas where your event is taking place if it is deemed to be municipally significant.
an event should be deemed municipally significant, if, in the opinion of the ward councillor, an event:
meets the criteria prescribed in the Delegation of Authority for the Endorsement of Liquor Licences, as confirmed by the City Clerk;
has a positive cultural, social and/or economic impact on the local community;
is considered to be in the public interest; and
complies with any other factors a member considers relevant to their determination.
Your event must be one of the following:
a local live sports game
a televised nationally- or internationally-recognized sports event in a different time zone
an arts performance (including multi-event festivals and associated events)
an event with special live performances throughout serving hours
Exception: the City Clerk cannot endorse applications for the following:
serving of alcohol indoors later than 4 AM
amplified music or sound outdoors after 9 PM, including sound emanating from inside (directly from the establishment, does not apply to music or sound from an outdoor festival)
Larger Events
Event organizers for larger events can submit applications on behalf of multiple businesses and partners.
As part of the liquor sales licence approval, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario requires the Municipal Information Form to be signed by the City Clerk and municipal clearance/approval letters from Toronto Building, Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Public Health.
When submitting your documentation to the City Clerk’s Office:
You must include your business licence number from Municipal Licensing and Standards (if applicable) and your AGCO file number
Your establishment must be ready for inspection within 30 days from the day your application is submitted
If your application includes an outdoor patio, you must ensure that a building permit has been issued that includes the patio OR that you have obtained a preliminary zoning review for the patio. If you are unsure, call Toronto Building at 416-397-5330
The City Clerk’s Office will:
Take your payment and complete section 2 of the Municipal Information Form
Circulate your application and documentation to Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Building and Toronto Public Health for letters of approval/clearance
Give notice of your application to Toronto Police Services and the Ward Councillor
Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Building and Toronto Public Health will:
Contact you to arrange an inspection
Conduct the inspection
Provide the AGCO with the required approval or denial (compliance letter)
If you require a licence to operate a retail store that sells alcohol, you must fill and submit the Municipal Information form to the City Clerks Office.
The City Clerk’s Office will schedule you for an in-person appointment at Toronto City Hall
During the appointment, you will need to pay the administration fee of $128.15 (HST does not apply).
Payment-types accepted: Debit, credit card, money order or certified cheque payable to “Treasurer, City of Toronto”
Fees are subject to change as per City Council
Temporary and Occasional Liquor Licence Applications Map
All temporary liquor licence applications that have been endorsed or approved as municipally significant by the City of Toronto are available on a map.
You can search the record by location (premise), applicant, or address and filter by ward or liquor license type. Data is available by year and defaults to the current year when you first go to this page.
Requests for municipal endorsements are made by event organizers, Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), businesses with existing liquor licences, and, members of the public.
