Updating the Licensing Bylaw

2025 – 2029 Licensing Bylaw Review

Toronto’s Licensing Bylaw is being modernized to better reflect today’s business environment, and to reduce regulatory burden while continuing to support health and safety, consumer protection, and community well-being. This work is guided by the City Council-approved Business Licence and Permit Applications Action Plan (2025–2029), which includes:

• Reviewing the requirements to obtain a licence or permit across all business and trade categories;
• Improving the business licence and permit application and renewal processes, including enhancing online services;
• Optimizing interdivisional reviews;
• Reducing regulatory burden by simplifying and removing licence categories where appropriate; and
• Enhancing direct supports so clients can connect with the right information about business licence and permit services.

The Action Plan roadmap was adopted by Toronto City Council in 2025 (2025.EC22.7) and subsequent progress updates were provided in 2026 (2026.EC27.1 and 2026.EC30.6).

The City continues to implement this roadmap, and aims to review the following by 2029:

• 2027: Review of regulations for second-hand goods related businesses; temporary sign providers; renovation trade licences and driver/vehicle owner licences; precious metal shops; a regulatory sandbox framework for new business models; user engagement research findings; and an implementation review of nightclub regulations.
• 2028: Review of regulations for clothing drop box operators and tobacco and vapour products retailers.
• 2029: Review of regulations for automobile-related businesses; parking-related businesses; and loans and goods exchanges-related businesses.

Get Involved – User Experience Research and Survey

The City is currently working with Monumental, a third-party vendor, to seek input from current and potential new licence holders, particularly from equity-deserving communities, to better understand their experience with the City’s business licensing application process, including any barriers and pain points. Findings from this research will help inform future policy and service improvements.

Between July and November 2026, the City and Monumental will connect with current licence and potential applicants through in-person engagement and an online survey. The online survey will be available in September 2026.

Email LicensingReview@toronto.ca to learn more and participate.

Previous Changes to Business Licensing

The City has already made several enhancements to the licensing regulatory framework. Work completed to date includes:

• Launching a revamped licence renewal system and a phone information line, with a modernized licence application portal planned as the next phase.
• Reducing regulatory burden while maintaining health and nuisance protections, in part by adopting an activity-based licensing approach for bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues, so that businesses with higher safety or nuisance impacts receive more oversight.
• Removing obsolete definitions and licence types from the Licensing Bylaw, such as owners and drivers of horse-drawn vehicles, chimney sweepers, and second-hand goods collectors.

Overview of the Licensing Bylaw

Through the Province of Ontario’s City of Toronto Act, 2006, the City has the authority to adopt and enforce licensing and permitting requirements for businesses, trades, and occupations. The regulations aim to enhance the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the city, support health and safety, protect consumers and mitigate community nuisance.

Examples of rules in the Licensing Bylaw include but are not limited to paying licence application and renewal fees, following safety and health requirements and setting up businesses only in permitted areas of the city.

The bylaw is an amalgamation of the former boroughs’ respective licensing bylaws. Over the years, updates have been made to the document and the City periodically reviews the bylaw to modernize regulations and add in any missing information.