Sidewalk cafés, formerly known as boulevard cafés, are outdoor eating areas located on sidewalks where food or drink is served to the public by a licensed eating or drinking establishment.
Notice: The Licence & Permit Issuing Office at the East York Civic Centre is open by appointment only. Appointments can be booked between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m
Businesses can apply for new licenses online or you must book an in-person appointment prior to attending. New taxicab, limousine and tow truck licence applications need to be submitted online and cannot be submitted in person.
Visit toronto.ca/Licences and search for your licence category for more information or to book appointments.
Existing licensees can only renew their licenses via the Business Licence & Permit Renewal form. Both licence application and renewal fees can be paid online.
Business licences set to expire in 2021 will be cancelled for non-payment after 150 days, and will not be subject to late fees.
Sidewalk cafés can have a variety of location and configurations, for example, Frontage Café, Curbside Café and Parklet Café. Additional information on the configurations of these cafés can be found by visiting the City of Toronto website.
Applying for a sidewalk café permit
To apply for a sidewalk café permit, you must submit all application requirements in person at the Business Licensing and Regulatory Services Office. The application guide and application can be picked up at the same office and is also available online.
More information can be found by visiting the City of Toronto website.
The minimum amount of commercial liability insurance is $2,000,000.00