Guide · Business licences

Who needs a Toronto
business licence.

Registering a business name with Ontario is not the same as getting a City of Toronto business licence. The province registers names and the CRA handles HST, but the City licenses only the trades and businesses named in Chapter 545 of its Municipal Code. If yours is on that list, the bylaw also says what your ads and vehicles must show. Fees below are the City's published figures as of November 2026.

Published 2026-11-04 · Formory Marketing Group

Short answer

A City of Toronto licence is needed only for businesses listed in section 545-2 of Municipal Code Chapter 545, such as building renovators, plumbers, drain and heating contractors, restaurants, take-out food shops, personal services settings and holistic practitioners. Renovators and plumbers must show "Toronto Licence No." on vehicles and advertising. Ontario name registration is separate.

Provincial registration is a different thing.

Under section 2 of the Business Names Act, an individual trading under a name other than their own, a partnership, and a corporation using a name other than its corporate name must register that name with Ontario. Our guide to registering a business name in Ontario covers the steps. HST is federal: the CRA says you must register once taxable sales pass $30,000, in a single calendar quarter or over four consecutive quarters.

None of that is a City licence. Section 545-2A of Chapter 545 lists the people who must take out a licence from Municipal Licensing and Standards, and says none of them may carry on that business in Toronto until they have one. If your business is not on the list, Chapter 545 does not require a licence. Taxis and limousines moved to a separate chapter, 546, in 2016. The two systems meet at the application: the City asks every applicant for a provincial business name registration or a franchise declaration.

Trades and home services on the list.

For work on homes and buildings, section 545-2A lists building renovators, chimney repairers, drain contractors and drain layers, plumbing contractors, plumbers and master plumbers, heating contractors and master heating installers, insulation installers, driveway paving contractors and building cleaners.

The renovator category is wide. The Code defines a building renovator as anyone in the business of altering, repairing or renovating buildings, including anyone who solicits or advertises that work, but not a builder whose principal business is new construction. The City's building renovators page puts it simply: the licence is needed by any business that advertises renovation services. Applicants also pass an oral trade examination of about 30 minutes on business, bylaw and technical knowledge.

Two trades people expect to find are gone. Electrical contractors and master electricians were deleted from the list in 2015; the provincial rules are in our ESA licence guide. Tow trucks were removed from Chapter 545 by By-law 970-2023, effective January 1, 2024.

Food, personal care and wellness.

Since January 1, 2025, food businesses are licensed as an eating or drinking establishment, an expanded activity eating or drinking establishment, or a take-out or retail food establishment (s. 545-2A(72) to (74)). According to the City's summary of the changes, the expanded licence applies when a restaurant meets three or more criteria: open past 11 p.m. on most days, a liquor licence, entertainment or live performance, and an occupant load over 150.

A personal services setting licence (s. 545-2A(69)) covers aesthetics, body piercing, electrolysis, hairstyling, manicure and pedicure, and tattoo and micropigmentation. You need a separate endorsement for each class you offer (s. 545-516B), the City sends every application to the Medical Officer of Health, and the latest inspection notice stays posted near the entrance (s. 545-517).

Holistic centres and holistic practitioners are licensed separately (s. 545-2A(58) and (59)). The definition of holistic services leaves out treatment by people already qualified, licensed or registered under Ontario law. Laundries and laundromats are also on the list.

Animals, vehicles and the rest.

Today pet shops are the only animal business that needs a licence. From February 1, 2027, the City replaces that category with a Pet Establishment licence that also covers pet daycares, cat and dog groomers and kennels. Each service is an endorsement on one licence, with no extra fee for endorsements. Veterinary practices, animal centres and rescue groups are not pet establishments.

Other categories small businesses meet include driving schools and driving instructors, public garages, drive-self rental vehicles, second-hand shops, pawnbrokers, payday lenders, auctioneers, temporary sign providers, commercial parking lots, private parking enforcement agencies and amusement establishments, which the City says include escape rooms, axe throwing and arcades.

What your ads and vehicles must show.

One rule covers every licence: you may not advertise, promote or carry on business under any name other than the one on your licence (s. 545-5E(3)). If the website says one name and the licence another, fix one of them.

Building renovators, plumbing and drain contractors, heating contractors, driveway paving contractors and building cleaners have a display rule (ss. 545-437, 545-420, 545-429, 545-510 and 545-317). Every vehicle used in the business carries the words "Toronto Licence No." and the number on both sides, in letters at least 10 centimetres high and legible from six metres. The same inscription goes on stationery, invoices and "any other printed or written advertising material", including directory and other published ads. The Code does not mention websites; the cautious reading is to put the number in your site footer and on your Google listing as well.

Holistic centres must state the owner's licence number in all advertisements (s. 545-175), and only licensed operators may use words such as "licensed", "Toronto-licensed" or "holistic service" (s. 545-180). Driving schools may not advertise an address they do not operate from, and their vehicles carry a sign with the business name, address and phone number readable from 15 metres (s. 545-13B).

Fees and paperwork.

The City publishes fees for each category. A building renovator licence costs $234.62 to apply and $260.50 on approval, $495.12 in total, plus a $79.65 trade exam, and renews for $293.14. A take-out or retail food establishment licence is $395.20 in total and renews for $261.04. An eating or drinking establishment licence is $536.64. The 2026 application fee for an amusement establishment is $477.44.

A sole proprietor typically submits photo ID, proof of work status, a criminal record and judicial matters check, the provincial name registration and an occupancy declaration signed by the landlord. Most new applications need zoning approval. Licences expire each year on the anniversary of issue. Breaking the chapter is an offence with a maximum fine of $100,000 (s. 545-8.5).

How to check a licence.

The City's Business Licence Lookup searches by operating name, licensee name, street address, trade number, licence number, category, postal code or ward. Look yourself up: customers and competitors can, and a record under a different name from your website looks wrong. The Find Licence and Permit Types page describes each licence, licensing staff answer at 416-392-6700, and complaints about a licensed business go through 311.

What the website should show.

The licensed name, the same one you registered with Ontario. For the trades with a display rule, "Toronto Licence No." and the number in the footer, on quote pages and on invoices. For holistic centres, the licence number in every ad. No "licensed" or "Toronto-licensed" unless your licence covers that work. And if you groom, board or train pets, plan for the new licence before February 1, 2027.

This is a plain summary of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, the Business Names Act and City and CRA guidance as of November 2026, not legal advice.

Sources.

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Asked often.

Do I need a City of Toronto licence to run a small business?

Only if your type of business is listed in section 545-2 of Chapter 545. Registering a business name with Ontario is a separate requirement.

Do renovators need a Toronto licence?

Yes. Building renovators, including anyone who advertises renovation work, need a licence and must pass a trade examination. Builders whose principal business is new construction are excluded.

Where does the licence number have to appear?

For renovators, plumbing, drain and heating contractors, driveway pavers and building cleaners: on both sides of every business vehicle and on stationery, invoices and advertising material.

Do dog groomers need a licence?

From February 1, 2027, yes: the new Pet Establishment licence covers groomers, daycares and kennels. Until then, only pet shops are licensed.

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Who needs a Torontobusiness licence.