Eating or Drinking Establishment

As of January 1, 2025, the City has updated licensing and zoning bylaws for restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Learn how the changes may impact your business and find available resources.

The City has developed a Licence Finder Tool to help businesses understand which licence or licences are suited to their operations.

An Eating or Drinking Establishment is a business where:

  • Food or beverages are prepared or served to patrons for immediate consumption on-site
  • May include take-out service and some entertainment or live performance

Learn more about the CaféTO program.

Sole proprietorships (individuals), partnerships or corporations.

Zoning Review for Business Licence

Prior to submitting an application, you must provide an approved Zoning Review for Business Licence.

NOTE: You do not need to do a Zoning Review if you’re taking over an existing business with a valid licence or one that expired less than three years ago in the same licence category.

Apply for Zoning Review for Business Licence

For a sole-proprietor application submit:

  • Photo identification
  • Proof of work status
    • Canadian Birth Certificate
    • Canadian Passport
    • Citizenship Card/Certificate
    • Permanent Resident Card
    • Social Insurance Card/Certificate
    • Study Permit
    • Work Permit
  • Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (valid for 280 days from search date)

For a corporation application submit:

If you’re applying for a corporation, include all the application documents and two pieces of identification for the signing authority (one must be a photo identification) and a letter saying you have permission to sign on behalf of the corporation. This letter should be signed by a director of the corporation and dated within the last 30 days.

For a general partnership application submit:

  • Two pieces of identification for all partners (one must be a photo identification)
  • Criminal Record & Judicial Matters Check for all partners (valid for 280 days from search date)
  • Controlling Interest Declaration for Partnership

All applicants are required to submit:

Please note:

  • Health Cards are not accepted as identification
  • Your first and last names must match all your identification and documents
  • Applications will not be started until ALL required documents are provided
  • In person: digital copies will not be accepted

      After obtaining all documents and information, you can apply for your new licence(s) or permit(s) online or in-person.

      Apply online

      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.

      Submit Application

      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

      Apply in-person

      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

      Walk-in services are available for new applications Monday – Wednesday starting at 8:30 a.m. subject to capacity. The office is closed from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. daily.

      Appointments

      Appointment services are available on Fridays only.

      Book Appointment

      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.

      These businesses must also provide:

      • adequate supervision of dining rooms, including outside eating areas
      • a sufficient number of attendants to ensure that outside eating areas are kept clean and free of garbage at all times
      • a sufficient number of appropriate containers for garbage, recycling and organics.

      Accreditation for staff who handle food

      Staff who handle food in these establishments must have Accredited Food Handler Certification. This includes waiters, waitresses, hosts, hostesses, bartenders, cooks and every other person serving or making available food or drink.

      Accessibility Requirements as a Business Owner

      Increased space for entertainment

      25 per cent of the floor area in Eating or Drinking Establishments can be dedicated to entertainment in most commercial zone and along the edges of industrial zones. This change maintains that eating and drinking remains the primary use of these businesses but allows for more entertainment and makes the rule easier to understand and enforce.

      Application fee: $ 258.00 (inclusive of GST)

      • The application fee is non-refundable and is required upon submittal of a complete application.

      Licence fee: $258.00 (inclusive of GST)

      • The licence fee is due upon approval of the application.

      Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $516.00

      ML&S shall deny an application for, or a renewal, for all businesses required to be licenced under this chapter that has:

        1. Been convicted at any time of a sexual offence against a minor or a person with a disability under any of sections 151 to 153.1 of the Criminal Code;
        2. Been convicted of any sexual offence under the Criminal Code in the preceding ten years;
        3. Been convicted of an offence under the following Criminal Code sections in the preceding five years:
          1. 84 to 117.15 (Firearms and Other Weapons);
          2. 264.1 to 286.1 (Offences Against the Person);
          3. 321 to 378 (Offences Against Rights of Property);
          4. 379 to 462 (Fraudulent Transactions, Wilful and Forbidden Acts of Certain Property, Offences Relating to Currency);
          5. 462.3 to 462.5 (Proceeds of Crime).
        4. Been convicted at any time of an offence under the following Criminal Code sections:
          1. 83.01 to 83.33 (Terrorism);
          2. 219 to 248 (Major Offences Against the Person);
          3. 267, 268, 270.01, 272, 273 (Major Assaults or Major Sexual Assaults).
        5. Been convicted of an offence under the following Controlled Drugs and Substances Act sections in the preceding ten years:
          1. 5 (Trafficking);
          2. 6 (Importing and exporting);
          3. 7 (Production);
          4. 7.1 (Possession for use in production or trafficking).
        6. Been convicted of any offence under section 4 (Possession or obtaining) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in the preceding five years;
        7. Been convicted of five or more offences under Chapter 545 or 546 of the Toronto Municipal Code in the preceding three years;
        8. Any overdue by-law fines, unless the applicant provides proof that such fines have been subsequently paid.

      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.

      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 $349.00

      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.

      Renew Licence

      Renew In-Person

      Walk-in renewal services are available Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor starting at 8:30 a.m. subject to capacity. The office is closed from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. daily.