Entertainment, Parlour and Public Hall Licences

The City’s review of the Business Licensing By-law has been completed and Business Licensing By-law 122-2024 is effective November 4, 2024. If you have any questions, please email licensing@oshawa.ca.

Note: As of November 4, 2024, Billiard Halls, Bowling Alleys and Places of Amusement are no longer licensed by the City of Oshawa. If you have received one of these Licences from the City in the past, you are not required to renew it.

The City of Oshawa administers various licences for businesses that address health and safety issues and provide consumer protection. You are required to have a Business Licence if you operate a business related to any of the Licence Classes listed below.

View the categories below for further information. For questions, please contact Licensing Services at 905-436-3311 ext. 2428 or email licensing@oshawa.ca.

Adult Entertainment Parlour

Any premise where any of the following is provided, in pursuance of a trade, calling, business or occupation, entertainment or service appealing to or designed to appeal to erotic or sexual appetites or inclinations.

An Adult Entertainment Parlour is only permitted to operate in Oshawa on the properties listed in section 2.26 of Schedule "B" of the Business Licensing By-law 122-2024 .

Application requirements

Fees for a new Class “A” Owner Licence: $3,850 ($50 application fee plus $3,800 new licence fee). Fees to renew this licence: $2,450 ($50 application fee plus $2,400 renewal licence fee).

Fees for a new Class “B” Operator Licence: $1,050 ($50 application fee plus $1,000 new licence fee). Fees to renew this licence: $1,050 ($50 application fee plus $1,000 renewal licence fee).

Fees for a new Class “C” Attendant Licence: $550 ($50 application fee plus $500 new licence fee). Fees to renew this licence: $550 ($50 application fee plus $500 renewal licence fee).

For information on obtaining an Adult Entertainment Parlour Licence, contact our office by email: licensing@oshawa.ca.

Body Rub Parlour

A Body Rub Parlour includes any premise where a Body Rub is performed, offered or solicited in pursuance of a trade, calling, business or occupation. This does not include any premise or part thereof where the body rubs performed are for the purpose of medical or therapeutic treatment and are performed or offered by persons otherwise duly qualified, licensed or registered so to do under the laws of the Province of Ontario.

A Body Rub Parlour is only permitted to operate in the Oshawa within the geographic limits of the three (3) areas described in section 2.4 of Schedule “C” of the Business Licensing By-law 122-2024

Class "A" Owner/Operator Licence

Application requirements

Fees for a new Body Rub Parlour Class “A” Owner/Operator Licence: $2,425 ($50 application fee plus $2,375 new licence fee).

To apply for a new Body Rub Parlour Owner/Operator Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Valid Photo I.D.
Business Name Registration
Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
Property Ownership or Lease of Premises for your place of business
Enhanced Floor Plans of Premises - Detailed site plan sketch/diagram/drawing of the premises including perimeter dimensions and total area, location and dimensions and identification of all entrances, exits, rooms and patios
Record of Employees - List of employees that work at the business
Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence
Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matter Check (dated within thirty (30) days of your application)
Durham Region Public Health Inspection Report

Apply for a new Body Rub Parlour Class "A" Owner/Operator Licence

Renewal requirements

Fees to renew your current Body Rub Parlour Class “A” Owner/Operator Licence: $1,550 ($50 application fee plus $1,500 renewal licence fee).

To renew your current Body Rub Parlour Class “A” Owner/Operator Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Valid Photo I.D.
Update Floor Plan of Premises - Site plan sketch/diagram/drawing of the premises (if changes were made in the past year)
Record of Employees - List of employees that work at the business
Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence
Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matter Check (dated within thirty (30) days of your application)
Durham Region Public Health Inspection Report

Renew your Body Rub Parlour Class "A" Owner/Operator Licence

Class "B" Owner Licence

Application requirements

Fees for a new Body Rub Parlour Class “B” Owner Licence: $2,425 ($50 application fee plus $2,375 new licence fee).

To apply for a new Body Rub Parlour Class “B” Owner Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Valid Photo I.D.
Business Name Registration
Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
Property Ownership or Lease of Premises for your place of business
Enhanced Floor Plans of Premises - Detailed site plan sketch/diagram/drawing of the premises including perimeter dimensions and total area, location and dimensions and identification of all entrances, exits, rooms and patios
Record of Employees - List of employees that work at the business
Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence
Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matter Check (dated within thirty (30) days of the application)
Durham Region Public Health Inspection Report

Apply for a new Body Rub Parlour Class "B" Owner Licence

Renewal requirements

Fees to renew your current Body Rub Parlour Class “B” Owner Licence: $1,550 ($50 application fee plus $1,500 renewal licence fee).

To renew your current Body Rub Parlour Class “B” Owner Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Valid Photo I.D.
Update Floor Plan of Premises - Site plan sketch/diagram/drawing of the premises (if changes were made in the past year)
Record of Employees - List of employees that work at the business
Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence
Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matter Check (dated within thirty (30) days of your application)
Durham Region Public Health Inspection Report

Renew your Body Rub Parlour Class "B" Owner Licence

Class "C" Operator Licence

Application and renewal requirements

Fees for a new Body Rub Parlour Class “C” Operator Licence: $200 ($50 application fee plus $150 new licence fee).

Fees to renew this licence: $200 ($50 application fee plus $150 renewal licence fee).

To apply for a new or renew your current Body Rub Parlour Class “C” Operator Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Valid Photo I.D.
Affiliation Letter - Letter from Body Rub Parlour you work for
Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (dated within thirty (30) days of your application)

Apply for a new or renewal of Body Rub Parlour Class "C" Operator Licence

Class "D" Attendant Licence

Application and renewal requirements

Fees for a new Body Rub Parlour Class “D” Attendant Licence: $200 ($50 application fee plus $150 new licence fee).

Fees to renew this licence: $200 ($50 application fee plus $150 renewal licence fee).

To apply for a new or renew your Body Rub Parlour current Class “D” Attendant Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Valid Photo I.D.
Affiliation Letter - Letter from Body Rub Parlour you work for
Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (dated within thirty (30) days of your application)
Medical Certificate of Health (dated within thirty (30) days of your application)

Apply for a new or renewal of Body Rub Parlour Class "D" Attendant Licence

Public Hall Licence

Public Hall means a building or a part of a building, including a portable building, together with patios and decks, if any, with a capacity of over 150 persons that is offered for use or used as a place of public assembly, but does not include a theatre or that part of a building used solely for religious purposes.

Large Public Hall means a Public Hall for which the maximum permitted occupant load set out on the Public Hall licence exceeds 650 persons but does not include a Public Hall for which the City, a provincial government, a School Board or the Federal Government is a Keeper.

Note: Insurance requirements vary if your Public Hall serves alcohol or is considered a Large Public Hall. Please see details in application requirements below.

This Licence class may qualify for a Modular Licence.

Application requirements

Fees for a new Public Hall Licence: $300 ($50 application fee plus $250 new licence fee).

To apply for a new Public Hall Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Business Name Registration
Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
Property Ownership or Lease of Premises for the place of business
Enhanced Floor Plan of Premises - Detailed site plan sketch/diagram of the premises including:
- Perimeter dimensions and total area
- Location and dimensions and identification of all entrances, exits, rooms and patios
- Location and dimensions of seating arrangements, tables, bars, pool tables and arcade games, etc.
- Location of fire safety systems, including fire alarms, emergency lighting, and exit signs
Electrical System Inspection - The electrical system inspection form must be completed by a qualified licensed electrician and dated within three (3) months of your application. This is required every five (5) years.
If hall capacity is over 150 and less than 650 and does not allow service of alcohol, insurance required is Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence
If hall capacity is over 150 and less than 650 and does allow service of alcohol, insurance required is Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than five million dollars ($5,000,000) per occurrence
If hall capacity is over 650, insurance required is Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than five million dollars ($5,000,000) per occurrence
Occupant load certificate provided by Oshawa Fire Services

Apply for a new Public Hall Licence

Renewal requirements

Fees to renew your current Public Hall Licence: $275 ($50 application fee plus $225 renewal licence fee).

To renew your current Public Hall Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Electrical System Inspection - The Electrical System Inspection Form must be completed by a qualified licensed electrician and dated within three (3) months of your application. This is required every five (5) years.
Proof of required insurance

Renew your Public Hall Licence

Licences previously issued under Repealed Business Licensing By-law 120-2005 are valid for the duration of licence term and are subject to the requirements, regulations and conditions found in By-law 120-2005. For a copy of the repealed by-law, please contact licensing@oshawa.ca. Any renewal of a licence after that term has expired is subject to the requirements, regulations and conditions of Business Licensing By-law 122-2024.

Contact Us

Service Oshawa
Oshawa City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7
Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: service@oshawa.ca

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