Serving & Selling Alcohol in Toronto

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).

How to Request the City’s Endorsement

• Submit the following to the City Clerk’s Office by emailing liquorlicence@toronto.ca
  • completed application form
  • for outdoor events a site or floor plan indicating the area to be temporarily licensed with measurements
  • supporting documents (cover letter, promotional materials etc.)

Application Form

Additional Information

• 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.

City of Toronto guidance on planning events on public property.

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Special Occasion Permit Application Guide

As of January 1, 2023 the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has implemented new requirements for temporary outdoor extensions (temporary patios).

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.

How to request the City’s Endorsement

• submit the following to the City Clerk’s Office, liquorlicence@toronto.ca
  • completed application form
  • cover letter describing the event if applicable
  • site or floor plan/map indicating the area(s) to be temporarily licensed with measurements of the extended area

Application Form 

Criteria for the City’s Endorsement

• 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.
• Please contact us for support with your application liquorlicence@toronto.ca.

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.

How to request the City’s Endorsement

• submit the following to the City Clerk’s Office, liquorlicence@toronto.ca
  • completed application form
  • letter of support from event partner(s)/sponsor(s)

Application Form

Criteria for the City’s Endorsement

• 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.
• Please contact us for support with your application liquorlicence@toronto.ca.

Municipal Clearance for a Liquor Sales Licence

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)

How to Submit your Documentation

Submit the following forms by email to liquorlicence@toronto.ca:

• Completed Municipal Information form provided by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)

Municipal Information Form

• Floor plans identifying the proposed area to be licensed (format 8.5″x11″)
• City of Toronto Municipal Liquor Licence Clearance Form
• AGCO Application Summary

Municipal Liquor Licence Clearance Form

• 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 administrative and inspection fee of $903.90 (including HST)
  • 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

Additional Resources

• AGCO Liquor Sales Licence (Including Tied House) and Mini Bar Licence Guide

Retail Store Authorization

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.

How to Submit your Documentation

Send the following forms by email to liquorlicence@toronto.ca:

• The Municipal Information for a Retail Store Authorization form provided by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)

Municipal Information for a Retail Store Authorization Form 

• 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 $125 (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

All temporary liquor licence applications that have been endorsed or approved as municipally significant by the City of Toronto are available on a map.

Temporary and Occasional Liquor Licence Applications 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.