Businesses that provide personal services must obtain a Personal Services Settings licence.
Personal services include:
Sole proprietorships (individuals), partnerships or corporations.
If you are considering opening a personal services setting in your home, ensure you have approval from Zoning before you request your health inspection or apply for a licence. You can submit an application through Zoning for a fee, to confirm the use of your property for compliance with Zoning By-Laws.
Apply for Zoning Review for Business Licence
Applications must include two pieces of identification, one must be photo ID:
Note:
If you will be opening a personal services setting in your home, please submit a Notice of Zoning Compliance Letter or Building Permit.
If you are taking over an existing business that has a valid business licence or a licence that has expired less than three years prior to the time of new application (for the same licence category), please submit an Occupancy Declaration Form.
If you are applying as a corporation, submit:
If you are applying as a designate for a corporation, please submit all corporation requirements as well as an original letter advising of signing authority on corporation letterhead, signed by a director of the corporation and dated within 30 days.
If you will be providing the following services: electrolysis, ear piercing, body piercing, micropigmentation, microblading or tattooing, please submit a completed insurance form, signed and stamped by the insurer, with proof of $1,000,000 in Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance.
If you are a Sole Proprietor or Partnership and will be providing hairstyling, please submit a valid Certificate of Qualification issued by the Province of Ontario through the Ontario Colleges of Trades.
You can apply for new business licences online or in-person.
Save yourself time and apply online. Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the application, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to submit a new application. Licence application fees can be paid online or by sending a cheque.
If you have already submitted an application you may upload additional documents using your upload token.
Upload Documents for Existing Request
You must book an appointment at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
Please arrive 10-15 mins early to check in and be on time for your appointment or you may be turned away and asked to re-book for another day and time, subject to availability.
You must bring a complete application as applications will not be accepted unless all the required documents are provided. Bring hard copies of all required documents and forms, including a recent photo if required. Digital copies of documents will not be accepted.
Payment can only be made by debit, credit or cheque. Cash will not be accepted.
Application fee: $188.24 (inclusive of GST)
Licence fee: $212.62 (inclusive of GST)
Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $400.86
ML&S shall deny an application for, or a renewal, for all businesses required to be licenced under this chapter that has:
Despite these screening criteria, if a licence has been previously issued or renewed and the applicant’s or licensee’s record discloses no new breach of the screening criteria, the licence may be issued or renewed without the matter being referred to the Toronto Licensing Tribunal.
These screening criteria do not apply to any offence for which a licensee or applicant has been granted a criminal record suspension (i.e. a pardon) by the Parole Board of Canada.
Zoning approval is required for the majority of new business licence applications. When zoning approval is required, City staff will initiate the approval process after the application is received.
Zoning approval is not required if an applicant is taking over an existing business that has a valid business licence or had a valid business licence that expired less than three years prior to the time of new application (for the same licence category). When zoning approval is not required, you must complete and sign the Occupancy Declaration Form.
You are required to get a passed Personal Serve Settings Inspection Report from Toronto Public Health. You can arrange this by calling 311 or the Health Connection Line at 416-338-7600.
Your licence will expire annually on the anniversary of the date that the licence was first issued. A renewal notice, identifying any documents required to renew the licence, will be mailed to the address on file.
The renewal fee is $263.55
Existing licensees must renew their licences online. Licence renewal fees can be paid online or by sending a cheque.
Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the renewal, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to renew a licence or permit.
Find your outstanding business licence or permit renewal invoice.
If you fail to renew your licence according to the bylaw, your licence will be cancelled and you will have to reapply.