A licence is required to operate a bowling alley.
Sole proprietorships (individuals), partnerships or corporations.
Include 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 must provide proof of $1,000,000 in Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance.
The completed form must be signed and stamped by the insurer.
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 and a representative has contacted you about uploading additional documents, you may do so using the upload token provided to you by the representative. Please note, you cannot upload additional documents using this tool if you do not have an upload token.
Upload Documents for Existing Request
In-person services are available at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor.
You must bring hard copies of all application requirements. Applications will not be started unless all requirements are provided. Digital copies of documents will not be accepted.
Payment can only be made by debit, credit or cheque. Cash will not be accepted.
Walk-in services are available for new applications Monday – Wednesday starting at 8:30AM subject to capacity. The office is closed from 12:30PM – 1:30PM daily.
Appointment services are available on Fridays only.
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.
Application fee: $242.67
Licence fee: $234.77
Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $477.44
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.
Your licence will expire annually on the anniversary of the date that the licence was first issued. The expiry date is written on your licence for your reference.
A courtesy notice will be mailed to your mailing address on file identifying any documents required to renew the licence. As a licensee you are responsible for ensuring that your business licence is valid while operating. If you have not received your renewal notice and your licence is about to expire, please contact us at mlsbusinesslicence@toronto.ca for additional information.
The renewal fee is $275.60
Find your outstanding business licence or permit renewal invoice.
Existing licensees must renew their licences online or in-person. Licence renewal fees can be made in-person, paid online or by sending a cheque.
If you fail to renew your licence according to the bylaw, your licence will be cancelled and you will have to reapply.
Walk-in renewal services are available Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor starting at 8:30AM subject to capacity. The office is closed from 12:30PM – 1:30PM daily.