Skip to Content

City of Oshawa homepage City of Oshawa homepage

Text Resize

Regular Large X-Large

Colour Contrast

Default High

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, please contact [email protected]

View Our Accessibility Plan

  • Careers
  • Live Chat
  • Apply & Register
    • Animal Licence
    • Apply for a Job
    • Bid Opportunity
    • Blue Box and Green Bin
    • Building Permits
    • Business Licence
    • Certification of Recognition
    • Development Application
    • Freedom of Information Request
    • Grant or Rebate
    • Parking Permit
  • Pay & Buy
    • Animal Licences
    • By-law Penalty
    • Donations
    • Parking Tickets
    • Property Taxes
    • Recreation Program
  • Get Involved
    • Attend or View a Meeting
    • Connect with Oshawa
    • Contact Council
    • Service Feedback
    • Speak at a meeting
    • Submit a Complaint
    • Volunteer
  • Report an Issue
    • City or Park Tree Maintenance
    • Faulty Parking Meter or Pay Machine
    • Lost Pet
    • Missed Garbage Collection
    • Parks or Trail Maintenance
    • Roadway or Sidewalk Maintenance
    • Streetlight Out
    • Service Oshawa Online
Contact Us
  • Parks, Recreation and Culture
    • Parks, Recreation and Culture
    • Arts and Culture
    • Community Clubs, Groups and Organizations
    • Events Calendar
    • Festivals and Events
    • History and Heritage
    • Libraries
    • Parks, Trails and Open Spaces
    • Recreation
    • Visiting Oshawa
    • Volunteering
    • Waterfront
  • Home and Property
    • Home and Property
    • Animal Services
    • Building and Renovating
    • Cemeteries
    • City Services Map
    • Environment
    • Fire Services
    • Garbage, Recycling and Green Bin
    • Housing Permits and Licences
    • New Subdivision Homeowners
    • New to Oshawa
    • Parking
    • Property Maintenance and Standards
    • Property Taxes
    • Snow Clearing
    • Tenants
    • Traffic Safety
    • Zoning
  • Fire Services and Community Support
    • Fire Services and Community Support
    • Accessibility
    • Animal Services
    • Community Engagement
    • Community Safety, Security and Well-Being
    • COVID-19
    • Education
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Feed the Need Oshawa
    • Fire Services
    • Oshawa Community Grants
    • PulsePoint
    • Seniors
    • Tribute Communities Centre Suite and Bowl Tickets
    • Unsheltered or Homelessness
  • Transportation and Parking
    • Transportation and Parking
    • Cycling
    • Development Map
    • Interactive Map
    • Oshawa Executive Airport
    • Parking
    • Regional Roads
    • Road and Sidewalk Closures
    • Road and Engineering Projects
    • Road Maintenance
    • Road Permits
    • Roundabouts
    • Snow Clearing
    • Street Naming Policy
    • Traffic Safety
    • Transit
    • Weight Restrictions
  • Business and Development
    • Business and Development
    • Bid Opportunities
    • Building and Renovating
    • Business Directory
    • Business Licences and Permits
    • Development Map
    • Downtown Oshawa
    • Filming in Oshawa
    • GO East Durham
    • Housing Permits and Licences
    • Incentives and Programs
    • Invest Oshawa
    • Major Construction and Renewal Projects
    • Mayors Economic Recovery Task Force
    • Planning and Development
    • Shop Local
    • Sponsorship and Advertising
    • TeachingCity Oshawa
    • Tour of Growth and Development
  • City Hall
    • City Hall
    • Accessibility
    • Applications, Licences and Permits
    • Bid Opportunities
    • Budget and Financial
    • By-laws
    • Careers
    • City Committees
    • City Council
    • City Records
    • Commissioner of Oaths
    • Community Engagement
    • Complaints
    • Contact Us
    • COVID-19 Information and Updates
    • Departments
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Elections
    • Government Services
    • Major Construction and Renewal Projects
    • Merchandise and Souvenirs
    • News Centre
    • Our Oshawa
    • Plans, Reports and Studies
    • Recognition and Awards

tree lined street in Oshawa

Business Licences and Permits

HomeLicences and PermitsBusiness Licences
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

The City administers various licences for businesses that address health and safety issues and provide consumer protection. You may be required to have a Business Licence if you operate a business and/or will be selling your products/goods/food at a Special Event.

View the categories below for further information. For questions, please contact Licensing Services at 905-436-3311 ext. 2428 or email [email protected].

Business Licensing Categories

take-out food
Food Licences
Mechanic working on car
Public Garage Licence
Midway swing ride
Special Event Licences
dog and cat
Pet and Pet Store Licences
Young woman getting out of taxi
Vehicles for Hire
hands on steering wheel
Driving School and Instructor Licences
colourful bingo cards and marker chips
Lottery Licences
swing ride at midway
Entertainment, Parlour, and Public Hall Licences
second hand clothing on hanging on rack
Licences for Buying and/or Selling Goods
canadian money beside a wallet
Payday Loan Establishment Licence
outside business signage "Pharmacy"
Sign Permits

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 [email protected] or by 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 at [email protected] to find out.

View our Zoning By-law 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 licenses require that you get 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 need 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:

  • Municipal Clearance form
  • Payment: $50
  • If your application includes an outdoor patio, you must include a site plan of the business.

When your application is submitted to Licensing Services, we will then complete your Municipal Information form and submit it to the A.G.C.O. You will also receive a copy.

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 the Building Services office for their application.

Building Permit and Inspection Services

1st Floor, Rundle Tower, City Hall

50 Centre St. S.

Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7

Phone: 905-436-3311 ext. 2290

Email: [email protected]

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 A.G.C.O.'s online portal. For help to determine 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:

  • Event of Municipal Significance Application form
  • Fee: $50

When your application is submitted to Licensing Services, we will submit a decision letter to the A.G.C.O. You will receive a copy.

If your S.O.P. event will take 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. 

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. 

Contact Us

© 2022 City of Oshawa

Service Oshawa
1st Floor, West Wing, City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7

Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: [email protected]

  • Resources

    • Accessibility
    • Contact Us
    • Freedom of Information
    • Land Acknowledgement
    • Privacy & Terms of Use
    • Sitemap
    • Website Feedback
  • Open new window to view our Facebook page
  • Open new window to view our Twitter page
  • Open new window to view our Instagram page
  • Open new window to view our Youtube page
  • Open new window to view our LinkedIn page

Browser Compatibility Notification

It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.