Eating Establishments

Restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and other eating and drinking establishments with seating must have a licence. Learn more about the CaféTO program.

Sole proprietorships (individuals), partnerships or corporations.

Zoning Review of Business Licence

Prior to submitting an application, you must provide an approved Zoning Review of 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 three years prior to the time of new application (for the same licence category).

Apply for Zoning Review for Business Licence

Identification

Include two pieces of government-issued identification (one must be photo ID):

  • Canadian Passport
  • Driver’s Licence
  • Canadian Birth Certificate
  • Citizenship Card
  • Permanent Resident Card
  • SIN Card (Social Insurance Number)
  • Valid Work Permit

Note:

  • First and last names must match on all identification
  • We do not accept Health Cards
  • For sole proprietorship or individual applicants, one piece of ID must provide proof of work status

Documentation

Additional documentation may be required:

If you are starting a new business submit a Notice of Zoning Bylaw 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), submit an Occupancy Declaration Form .

If you are applying as a corporation, submit:

  • A copy of Articles of Incorporation (Note: If there has been a change to the list of officers and directors, please also provide a current Corporate Profile Report or a Federal Form 6);
  • The Annual Return for Corporation Form, signed by an officer or director,  which lists all current directors & officers of the Corporation;
  • Two pieces of government-issued identification (one must be photo ID) for each officer/director;
  • A Check for each officer/director issued by a Canadian Police Service within 280 days prior to the application.

If you are applying as a designate for a corporation, 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.

You can apply for new licences or permits 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 you may upload additional documents using your upload token.

Upload Documents for Existing Request

Apply in-person

You must book an appointment at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor. Walk-ins will not be accepted.

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.

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: $ 256.63 (inclusive of GST)

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

Licence fee: $286.89 (inclusive of GST)

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

Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $543.52

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.

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. A renewal notice, identifying any documents required to renew the licence, will be mailed to the address on file.

The renewal fee is $327.62

Existing licensees must renew their licences via a new online renewal portal. 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.

Renew Licence

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.

Renewal Files: