Please note: New applications for new body rub parlour locations are not being accepted. Application requirements are shared for reference purposes only.
Body rub parlours are any place where non-medical or non-therapeutic massaging services are provided by someone other than registered massage therapists, or other licensed or registered holistic practitioners.
Those who own or operate body rub parlours are required to have a Body Rub Parlour licence.
Individuals, partnerships and corporations.
Applicants must be 18 years or older to apply.
Prior to submitting an application, you must provide an approved Preliminary Project Review for Business Licence.
This is not required if an applicant is taking over an existing business that has a valid business licence or is expired less than one year prior to the time of new application (for the same licence category). However, you must complete and sign the Occupancy Declaration Form.
Apply for Preliminary Project Review
Original documents required for all applications (and renewal transactions).
Two pieces of government-issued identification (one must be photo ID):
Note:
All applicants must also provide the following:
Corporations must also provide:
If a director of the corporation is unable to apply in person at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, a designate may apply on their behalf. The designate must:
Applicants must provide an original Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check issued by a Canadian Police Service within 280 days prior to the application.
A designate applying on behalf of a corporation must also provide a Criminal Record & Judicial Matters Check for each officer and director of the Corporation.
Applicants will also be required to provide the following:
The Licence and Permit Issuing Office at the East York Civic Centre is closed due to COVID-19. Businesses requiring licences and/or permits from the City of Toronto can apply via a new online application portal.
Licence application and renewal fees must be paid 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.
If you have already submitted an application you may upload additional documents using your upload token.
$13,886.70
A photo of the applicant must be submitted with all other required application documents. It is essential that the photo provided complies with the Licence Application Photo Requirements. Failure to do so may result in delayed or rejected applications.
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.
Staff will conduct a property inspection once a complete application is submitted.
The application will be reviewed by the Toronto Licensing Tribunal to determine whether or not the application should be granted.
Applicants are not required to take any further actions at this stage.
The number of body rub parlour licences issued within Toronto is limited to 25.
The City of Toronto has 25 licensed body rub parlours and is no longer accepting new applications.
Your licence will expire annually on the anniversary of the date that the licence was first issued.
The renewal fee is $13,418.43
A renewal notice, identifying any documents required to renew the licence, will be mailed to the address on file.
The Licence and Permit Issuing Office at the East York Civic Centre is closed due to COVID-19. Existing licensees can now renew their licences via a new online renewal portal. Licence renewal fees must be paid online.
Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the renewal, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved.
Payments received after the licence expiry date are subject to late fees in addition to the annual licence fee. 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.