Liquor Licences

You must have a provincial liquor licence to sell liquor in any establishment.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is the provincial regulatory agency that approves liquor licence applications. The City of Burlington administers:

• Liquor sales licences
• Temporary Liquor Licence Application for Temporary Patios on Private Lands
• Changes or additions to existing licensed areas
• Temporary extensions
• Special occasion permits

Note: Applicants are required to reapply annually.

Applying for a liquor sales licence

A liquor sales licence is required for the on-site sale, service and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Once you have submitted your documents, City Staff will provide Agency Letters of Approval from the Building Department and Fire Department. The applicant is responsible for submitting Halton Region Health Department clearance as part of their documentation for staff to review.

Once the By-Law Compliance Department has received and reviewed all three Agency Letters of Approval, the City Clerk will officially sign off on the MIF form. Once you receive the signed MIF form you can submit your completed package to the AGCO.

Temporary liquor licences for temporary patios on private lands

Patios on private property will need to get approval from the City of Burlington if they are serving liquor. Owners must fill out a temporary liquor licence application for an extension of an existing licensed area. 

Listed below is the process for a temporary liquor licence for a temporary patio on private land only. The process for getting a temporary liquor licence for a temporary patio on public land is done through the application form on burlington.ca/patios. If your temporary patio will be on both public land and private land, you will not need to apply twice. Please apply using the application form on burlington.ca/patios. This online form will be available in March, 2024.

In accordance with Zoning By-law 2020, as amended, temporary patios are permitted from April 15th to October 31st. To qualify for a temporary patio on private property, you will need to ensure that your proposal:

• Complies with Zoning By-law 2020.463, as amended.
• Does not require any building permits. 
• Does not require site plan approval. 

Changes or additions to existing licensed areas

If you would like to make changes or additions to your existing licensed areas, we need a completed AGCO application and Municipal Information Form. If you are making changes to buildings or patios and it increases your occupancy, you may need a new liquor sales licence application.

Temporary liquor licence extension

The area covered by a valid liquor licence may be temporarily extended for a period no longer than 14 days. We must receive your application forms at least 30 days before your event.

Special occasion permit

You must have a special occasion permit to sell or serve liquor at an event in any location other than a licensed establishment, residence or private place. A private place is an indoor location not generally open to the public or not open to the public at the time of the event.

Special occasion permits are intended for occasional use only and are categorized as sale, no sale or auction. Special occasions include:

• Auctions
• Charitable fundraisers
• Community festivals
• Receptions
• Weddings