Business Licences and Permits
The City’s review of the Business Licensing By-law is complete and is effective November 4, 2024. View report SF-24-06, for details of all the changes. Previous Temporary Licence Exemptions that were in place related to Food Shop Licences, Short Term Food Shop Licences, and Class A/Class B Peddler Licences (General Peddlers and Special Event Organizers) no longer apply.
The City of Oshawa administers various licences for businesses that address health and safety issues and provide consumer protection.
View the Business Licence Classes below for further information about the various licences administered by the City.
Modular Licensing
A business that operates more than one (1) regulated business class at one (1) location can apply for a Primary Licence with the ability to receive Additional Licence Endorsements to operate additional regulated business classes at the same location.
The Primary Licence is the required class with the highest level of Application Requirements and Licensing Approvals.
Additional Licence Endorsements may require additional Application Requirements and Licensing Approvals and are subject to a nominal $50 application fee.
The main licence classes that may be eligible for modular licensing at this time include:
- Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shops
- Vehicle Establishments
- Public Halls
- Class “A” Food Shops
However, if someone operates a business out of one (1) location that requires more than one (1) City licence, they may also be eligible for a modular licence. Business operators are encouraged contact to Licensing Services for more information.
Business Licence Classes
Exemption Requests
You can apply for an exemption to the Business Licensing By-law. The fee for an exemption request is $125.
To apply, please complete the Exemption Request to Business Licensing By-law Application form and submit it to the Licensing Office by email, mail or in person.
Zoning
Is your location zoned correctly for your type of business, and do you have the required number of parking spaces? Call Municipal Licensing and Standards at 905-436-3311, ext. 2299 or email: [email protected] to find out.
View our Zoning webpage for more information.
Licences to Serve and/or Sell Alcohol
To serve and/or sell alcohol in Oshawa, you must apply for a liquor licence/permit from the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario (A.G.C.O.). In addition, specific licences require municipal clearance or approvals from the City of Oshawa. Once you apply to the A.G.C.O., they will tell you what else they require from you. Please visit the A.G.C.O.'s website to apply.
Municipal Clearance for a Liquor Sales Licence
As part of the liquor sales licence approval, the A.G.C.O. may require the Municipal Information Form to be signed by Licensing Services and municipal clearance/approval letters from the building, fire and health departments.
Licensing Services |
To apply, please submit the following:
When your application is submitted to Licensing Services, we will then complete your Municipal Information form and send back to your. You will then submit it to the A.G.C.O. Licensing Services 1st Floor, West Wing, City Hall 50 Centre St. S. Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7 Phone: 905-436-3311 ext. 2428 Email: [email protected] |
Oshawa Fire Services |
You require an Occupant Load Fire Inspection from the Fire Department for the A.G.C.O. Once your online application is submitted, Oshawa Fire Services will contact you to conduct an inspection. |
Building Services |
Please visit Building Inspections for more information on the fee, inspection, and to obtain an application form. |
Durham Health Department |
Please visit the Durham Region Health's website for more information. |
Special Occasion Permits
All Special Occasion Permits (S.O.P.) must be completed on the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario's online portal. For help determining which type of S.O.P. you require, please see the A.G.C.O.'s Special Occasion Permit Application Guide or contact the A.G.C.O. at 416-326-8700.
Public Events require the municipality to deem the event an event of municipal significance.
For Public Events, please submit the following to the Licensing Services Office:
When your application is submitted to Licensing Services, we will review it and provide you with a letter of Municipal Significance. You will then submit that letter to the A.G.C.O.
If your S.O.P. event is taking place on City property, please review our Municipal Alcohol Policy. This policy lists which City-owned or operated facilities, parks, and lands allow S.O.P. events. It also outlines the procedures, rules, and responsibilities for applicants who host S.O.P. events on City property.
Manage Your Liquor Sales Licence
Information related to changing, renewing or transferring an existing Liquor Sales Licence, can be found on the A.G.C.O.’s website. You can manage these changes yourself through the A.G.C.O.'s online portal.
Information related to temporarily extending your indoor Liquor Sales Licence to an outdoor patio can be found on A.G.C.O. Temporary Outdoor Physical Extension page. You must get a letter of approval from the City of Oshawa for your temporary patio and notify the A.G.C.O. of your approval, the duration of your approval and any conditions on the approval. To request a letter of approval from the City, please send the details of your proposed temporary extension to the City's Licensing Office by email.
If you have specific questions concerning your Liquor Sales Licence, contact the A.G.C.O. directly.
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
- Fire Services
- Building Services
- Planning Services
Provincial Regulations
To register a business name and incorporate a business, please see Service Ontario's Business Registry page.
Small Business Resources
BizPaL is an online source of information on permits and licences to start or grow your business. BizPaL will help identify what you may require, quickly and easily. Find everything from a single source; entrepreneurs spend less time dealing with red tape - saving effort and money in the process - and more time building their business.
If you are considering opening a new business in Oshawa, contact Business and Economic Development Services to discuss your business requirements.
Visit Invest Oshawa for incentives and support to ensure the success of your business.