Home/Business & Investment/Licences and Permits/Business Licences

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

Business Licensing Category

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

Designated Driving Services (Effective January 2, 2017)

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

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.

Auctioneer

Fees:

$80 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

Criminal Information report

Application

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

Owner Operator

Licensing fee: $1,500 annually

Owner who does not operate

Licensing fee: $1,400 annually

Attendant

Licensing fee: $100 annually

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

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

Food Shop

Fees:

$150 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

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

Application

Food Shop (Special Events/Short Term)

There are two types of licenses for food vendors at events.

Short Term Food Shop

Fees:

$30 licensing fee per day you are operating
$75 application fee which is paid once per calendar year

Temporary Refreshment Vehicle

Fees:

$95 licensing fee (up to 5 consecutive days at the same location)
$75 application fee

Application Package

Durham Region Guidelines

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

Class C - Seasonal Sales

Fees:

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

Must include:

Proof of permission for proposed site.

Application

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)

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

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

Theatre

Fees:

$120 annual licensing fee
$75 annual application fee

Must include:

A copy of Provincial theatre licence
Business name registration (Master Business Licence and Articles of Incorporation)

Application

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:

Licensing & Standards (Zoning)
Municipal Law Enforcement Services
Durham Regional Health Department
Durham Regional Police Services
Fire Services
Building Services
Planning Services

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.