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Business Licences

Are you a business owner in the City of Oshawa? You may be required to have a Business Licence. For more information go to our Business Licensing By-law and Responsible Pet Owner By-law

Business Licensing Category

The following businesses require a licence in the City of Oshawa:

Adult Entertainment Parlour

Fees:

$3,000 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Contact Licensing at 905-436-3311, ext. 2428 for detailed information on obtaining your licence.

Billiards

Fees:

$150 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

Criminal Information report
Business name registration (Master Business Licence and Articles of Incorporation)

Application

Body Rub

Contact Licensing at 905-436-3311, ext. 2428 for detailed information on obtaining your licence.

Owner Operator

Licensing fee: $1,500 annually

Owner who does not operate

Licensing fee: $1,400 annually

Attendant

Licensing fee: $100 annually

Bowling Alley

Fees:

$120 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

Business name registration (Master Business Licence and Articles of Incorporation)

Application

Carnival

Fees:

$120 licensing fee per day Carnival is being run
$75 application fee

Must include:

$2 - 5 million general liability insurance naming the City as an additional insured
TSSA licence for inflatable company
TSSA Device permits for each inflatable being used at your event
Written approval from residents within a 100 metre radius of event

Application

Designated Driving Services

Note: standards pertaining to Designated Driving Services are effective January 2, 2017. Please visit the Designated Driving Services web page for more information on licensing and operating requirements.

Licensing fees:

Designated Driver - $150 valid for two years
Designated Driving Broker - $250 annually

Driving School Services

Driving School

Fees:

$100 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Driving Instructors

Fees:

$175 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Application

Please see the Driving School Services webpage for further information.

Food Shop

Fees:

$150 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

Business name registration (Master Business Licence and Articles of Incorporation)

Application

Pawnbroker

Fees:

$150 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

$2,000 security deposit
Criminal Information report
Business name registration (Master Business Licence and Articles of Incorporation)

Application

Peddler

Peddler licence applications must be submitted at least thirty (30) days prior to the event.

Class A - General Peddler (per location)

Fees:

1 to 2 days: $100 licensing fee
3 to 5 days: $200 licensing fee
In excess of 5 days: $30 per day licensing fee
$75 application fee for each application

Must include:

Site plan detailing the location of all participating peddlers.

Application

Class B - Special Events, Trade Show, Craft Fair, Flea Market Organizer

Fees:

$400 licensing fee
$75 application fee

Must include:

Proof of $2 - 5 million general liability insurance naming the City as additional insured.
Proposed list of vendors.
Site plan detailing the location of all participating vendors.

Application

Durham Region Requirement

Durham Region Guidelines

Class C - Seasonal Sales

Fees:

1 to 3 months: $250 licensing fee
$75 application fee

Must include:

Proof of permission for proposed site.

Application

Pet Stores

Pursuant to the Responsible Pet Owner By-law.

Fees:

This is a free annual licence.

Application

Please see the Pet Store webpage for further information.

Place of Amusement

Fees:

$175 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

Criminal Information report
Business name registration (Master Business Licence and Articles of Incorporation)

Application

Public Garage

Fees:

$160 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

Criminal Information report
Business name registration (Master Business Licence and Articles of Incorporation)
Map of property - include parking spaces, entrance and exits and any other businesses being run at the proposed location of your business.

Application

Public Hall

Fees:

$200 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

Hydro certificate within 6 months of application
Proof of $3 million (minimum) general liability insurance

Application

Refreshment Vehicles

Oshawa currently defines four (4) classes of refreshment vehicles within the Business Licensing By-law including:

Hot Dog Cart: a Mobile Refreshment Vehicle that is operated or licensed to operate at one location for a period no less than three (3) hours and not exceeding nine (9) hours on any day. Example: Hot dog cart
Mobile Refreshment Vehicle: A Refreshment Vehicle that is propelled by means other than an on-board motor or engine. Examples: ice cream bikes, coffee bikes, and trailers.
Motorized Refreshment Vehicle: A Mobile Refreshment vehicle that is self-propelled by means of an on-board motor or engine. Examples: food trucks and ice cream trucks.
Stationary Refreshment Vehicle: A Refreshment Vehicle operated from one Lot but does not include a Hot Dog Cart. Examples: “Chip Trucks” as seen on various private property lots in Oshawa.

Refreshment Vehicle Application Package

Fees for Mobile and Stationary Refreshment Vehicles

$200 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Please see the Refreshment Vehicle webpage for further information.

Residential Rental Housing

Licensing Fee:

$500 first-time applicant or if renewal application is submitted with less than 60 days before the expiry of the licence
$360 renewal

Please see the Residential Rental Housing web page for the application and additional information.

Salvage Shop

Fees:

$500 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

Criminal Information report
Business name registration (Master Business Licence and Articles of Incorporation)

Application

Second Hand Goods

Fees:

$500 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

Criminal Information report
Business name registration (Master Business Licence and Articles of Incorporation)
A site map with location of holding area for goods
A letter of approval from property owner

Application

Special Event Licensing

A special event is typically a variety of businesses coming together to sell their goods to the community at one location. There is a variety of Licence types for events; the licence you require depends on your business practices.

If you are unsure what type you would fall under send an email describing your event in detail to licensing@oshawa.ca for review. Once the review is complete they will let you know which type of Licence you are required to obtain for your special event.

Licence Types

Food Sales

There are two different licence types for short term food sales.

Short Term Food Shop Licence

If you are selling consumables to the general public on a short term basis you would require this licence.

Fees:

$75 Application fee

(paid once per calendar year at your first event or it is covered through your annual fees for your Oshawa Food Shop Licence)

$30 Licence fee

(per day you are vending at event location)

To apply for a Short Term Food Shop licence you have to submit the following:

1. City of Oshawa Application

2. Durham Region Health Application for Vendors
3. Fire Extinguisher Information (if cooking or warming at event)
a. Picture of the Fire Extinguisher Maintenance Record
b. Picture of the tag located on the neck of the extinguisher or documentation from the service contractor
c. The date of manufacture of the extinguisher
4. Payment

Temporary Refreshment Vehicle Licence

If you are vending from a vehicle or trailer you would be considered a refreshment vehicle.

Fees:

$170 ($75 application fee and $95 Licence fee)

Up to 5 days at the same location

To apply for a Temporary Refreshment Vehicle application please submit the following to our office:

Application
Durham Region Health Vendor Application for Vendors
Business Name Registration (Master Business Licence )
Articles of Incorporation (if a corporation)
Ownership of Vehicle/Trailer
Propane Certificate (if applicable)
Photograph of Vehicle
Safety Certificate
Commercial General Liability Insurance with a minimum of $2,000,000 (two million dollars)
Vehicle Insurance Certificate
Picture of the Fire Extinguisher presently available in the vehicle
Fire Extinguisher Maintenance Record. Picture of the tag located on the neck of the extinguisher or documentation from the service contractor
The date of manufacture of the extinguisher
Fire Suppression System Inspection Record (dated within 6 months) (Also known as NFPA 96 Commercial Cooking Suppression System) (if applicable)
Payment

Peddling Goods

If you are a business selling your goods and wares at an event you would require a Peddlers Licence. The type depends on your vendor attendance.

Peddler - Class A: General Peddler

Peddler - Class A: General Peddler (single peddler licence)

Licence Fees:

$100 (1 to 2 days per location)

$200 (3 to 5 days per location)

$30 per day (in excess of 5 days)

$75 Application fee is added to your peddler application.

In the Business Licensing by-law a Class A – General Peddler is defined as:

“a person who goes from place to place, or to a particular place, with goods, wares or merchandise for sale, or who carries and exposes samples, patterns or specimens of any goods, wares or merchandise that are to be delivered in the City afterwards”

To apply for a Peddler A application you must submit the following:

1. City of Oshawa Application

2. Site Plan detailing the location of peddling

3. Payment

Peddler - Class B: Special Events Organizer

$400 Licence fee

$75 Application Fee

Total is $475 per event

If you are organizing an event and have invited businesses together to sell their goods you would be required to apply for a Peddler B Licence.

In the Business Licensing By-law Class B – Special Events Organizer is defined as:

“ (including but not limited to the following events: Trade Show, Craft Fair, and Flea Market): any person organizing an event involving multiple vendors at one location exhibiting, offering for sale, and/or distribution of, on a temporary basis, goods, wares, and/or merchandise to the general public”

To apply for a Peddler B application you must submit the following:

1. Application

2. Proof of 2-5 million insurance (listing the City of Oshawa as an additional insured if using

our facility or property)

3. Vendors List (All peddlers selling non-food items at your event)

4. Site Map

5. Approval in writing from property owner or contract from Facility Booking Office

6. Send Health Department Coordinator Application

7. Payment

Carnival

If you are operating rides or inflatables and inviting the general public you would require a Carnival Licence. It doesn’t make a difference if you are using private or city property, both locations would still require a licence.

$120 Licence Fee (per day)

$75 Application Fee (per day)

Total is $195 (per day)

To obtain a Carnival Licence you must submit the following:

Carnival Application
TSSA Licence (from inflatable company)
Device Permits (specific to the inflatable you are operating at your event)
General Liability Insurance from Inflatable Company
Proof of $2-$5 million General Liability Insurance from applicant organization naming the City of Oshawa as an additional insured
Written Approval from residents for homes within a 100 meter radius of event (we do have two different samples you can use)
Payment

Zoning

Is your location zoned for your type of business? Call Municipal Licensing and Standards at 905-436-3311, ext. 2299 for more information.

Go to our Zoning By-law.

Business Licensing Checklist

Many business categories require a detailed review or Council approval; therefore, applications must be submitted at least 30 days before you wish to open your business.

All business licence applications are subject to a $75 application fee payable at the time of submission.

A copy of your Business Name Registration (Master Business Licence and Articles of Incorporation) is usually required.

Licensing Approvals

As part of the licensing process, we may contact the following agencies to provide approval for business licence applications:

Provincial Regulations

Business Name Registration and Incorporating a Business

The Business Names Act requires registration of a business name, with the Ministry of Government Services, if the business is to operate under a name other than the owner's. You can apply for a business name registration with Service Ontario online or in person at a ServiceOntario Centre.

You can get information on incorporating a business from Service Ontario or by visiting the ServiceOntario Centre located at 590 Rossland Rd. E., Whitby, Ontario, L1N 9G5, 1-800-267-8097.

You can also visit our Small Business Resources.