A Smoke Shop is any retail store that sells cigars, cigarettes, or tobacco.
Smoke shops and businesses selling cigars, cigarettes, or tobacco but not otherwise licenced, need to obtain a Smoke Shop business licence from the City of Toronto.
Licenced businesses, such as convenience stores that sell cigarettes, cigars or tobacco along with other products, need to obtain a cigarettes, cigars and tobacco endorsement.
Sole proprietorships (individuals), partnerships or corporations.
Applications must include two pieces of government-issued identification (one must be photo ID):
Note:
You can apply for new business licences or permits 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 you may upload additional documents using your upload token.
Upload Documents for Existing Request
You must book an appointment at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
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: $215.88 (inclusive of GST)
Licence fee: $484.95 (inclusive of GST)
Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $700.83
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.
A cigars, cigarettes and tobacco endorsement needs to be added to licences for businesses, such as convenience stores, that sell cigars, cigarettes or tobacco along with other products.
This can be done any time, in person or online, by submitting a “Same Owner Add-On” application. To apply please complete the following steps:
Note: If applying to add an endorsement online, you may be prompted to upload additional documents that are not listed above. If so, please upload blank or duplicate documents into all additional required document spots.
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 $342.16
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.
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.