A business licence permits the operation of a business in the City of Burlington. Only businesses outlined in the Business Licensing Bylaw, as amended (042-2008) need a business licence. Each municipality operates under a different licensing bylaw.
Apply for a licence
To apply for or follow up on an application, or for any questions about business licences, please email bylaw@burlington.ca.
Application forms, requirements and fees
See the business licences, fees and requirements required for each of the following types of businesses:
Automotive |
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You need a licence for any motor vehicle dealership, new or used, repair garages or storage facilities. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Automotive Business Licence Application and Requirements. FeesThe annual fee for an automotive business licence is $261.12. |
Carnivals |
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Carnivals need to be licensed per event. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Carnival Business Licence Application Form and Requirements. FeesThe fee for a carnival licence is $693.60. |
Festivals |
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Festivals need to be licensed per event. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Festival Business Licence Application and Requirements. FeesThe fee for a festival licence is $700.74. |
Sale of fireworks |
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You can only sell fireworks on Victoria Day and Canada Day. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Sale of Fireworks Business Licence Application and Requirements. FeesThe fee for a firework selling licence is $261.12. |
Convenience store: sale of tobacco |
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You need a licence to sell tobacco in a convenience store. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Convenience Store Business Licence Application and Requirements for Sale of Foodstuff; Tobacco; Adults Magazines; Adult Videos; Lunch Counter. FeesThe annual licence fee for the sale of tobacco at a convenience store is $193.80. |
Convenience store: sale of foodstuff |
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You need a licence to sell foodstuff in a convenience store. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Convenience Store Business Licence Application and Requirements for Sale of Foodstuff; Tobacco; Adults Magazines; Adult Videos; Lunch Counter. FeesThe annual licence fee for the sale of foodstuff at a convenience store is $193.80. |
Convenience store: sale of foodstuff and tobacco |
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You can get a licence to sell both foodstuff and tobacco at a convenience store. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Convenience Store Business Licence Application and Requirements for Sale of Foodstuff; Tobacco; Adults Magazines; Adult Videos; Lunch Counter. FeesThe annual licence fee for the sale of both foodstuff and tobacco at a convenience store is $346.80. |
Convenience store: sale of foodstuff, tobacco and lunch counter |
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You can get a licence for the sale of foodstuff and tobacco and a lunch counter at a convenience store. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Convenience Store Business Licence Application and Requirements for Sale of Foodstuff; Tobacco; Adults Magazines; Adult Videos; Lunch Counter. FeesThe annual licence fee for the sale of foodstuff and tobacco and a lunch counter at a convenience store is $515.10. |
Newspaper boxes |
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You need a licence to install a newspaper box. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Newspaper Box Business Licence Application and Newspaper Box Requirements. FeesThe annual fee for a newspaper box licence is $53.04 per box. |
Pawnbroker |
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You need a licence for the sale of used goods offering a buy-back service. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Pawnbroker Business Licence Application and Pawnbroker Requirements. FeesThe annual licence fee for a pawnbroker is $261.12. |
Personal services |
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You need a licence for personal services, including:
Application form and requirementsContact us for the Personal Services Business Licence Application and Personal Services Requirements. FeesThe annual licence fee for personal services is $261.12 |
Public assembly: billiards, pool halls, pinball and electronic games |
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You need a licence for billiards, pool halls, pinball and electronic game establishments, bowling alleys and theatres. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Public Assembly Business Licence Application and Requirements for Public/Banquet Halls; Billiard/Pool Establishments; Bowling Alleys; Pinball/Electronic Game Machine Establishments; Theatres. FeesThe annual licence fee for billiards, pool halls, pinball and electronic game establishments, bowling alleys and theatres is $261.12. |
Public assembly: banquet halls and public halls |
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You need a licence for banquet halls and public halls. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Public Assembly Business Licence Application and Requirements for Public/Banquet Halls; Billiard/Pool Establishments; Bowling Alleys; Pinball/Electronic Game Machine Establishments; Theatres. FeesThe annual licence fee for banquet and public halls is $193.80. |
Public assembly: night clubs |
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You need a licence for night clubs. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Public Assembly Business Licence Application and Requirements for Night Clubs. FeesThe annual licence fee for night clubs is $1,278.06. |
Public assembly: restaurants, take out and lunch counters |
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Restaurants, take out restaurants and lunch counters require a licence. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Public Assembly Business Licence Application and Requirements for Restaurants, Take Out Restaurants and Lunch Counters. FeesThe annual licence fee for restaurants, take out restaurants and lunch counters is $287.64. |
Refreshment vehicles: Class A |
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You need a licence for hotdog carts, chip or fry carts and barbeque equipment (maximum of three locations at one time). Application form and requirementsContact us for the Refreshment Vehicle Business Licence Application and Requirements for Refreshment Vehicles Class A; Chip Trucks, Hot-dog Carts and Barbeque Equipment. FeesThe annual licence fee for hotdog carts, chip carts and barbeque equipment is $392.70. |
Refreshment vehicles: Class B |
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You need a licence for ice cream bikes, yogurt or juice carts (non-motorized with prepackaged food only). Application form and requirementsContact us for the Refreshment Vehicle Business Licence Application and Requirements for Refreshment Vehicles Class B; Non-motorized icecream bikes/yogurt/juice carts. FeesThe annual licence fee for ice cream bikes, yogurt or juice carts is $193.80. |
Refreshment vehicles: Class C |
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Catering trucks and ice cream trucks (motorized vehicles with frozen food or packaged food for sale to the public) require a licence. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Refreshment Vehicle Business Licence Application and Requirements for Refreshment Vehicles Class C; Catering Trucks and Ice Cream Trucks. FeesThe annual licence fee for catering trucks and ice cream trucks is $287.64. |
Refreshment vehicles: Class D |
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Food trucks require a licence. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Refreshment Vehicle Business Licence Application and Requirements for Refreshment Vehicles Class D; Food Trucks]. FeesThe licence fees are food trucks are:
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Salvage yards |
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Salvage yards require a licence. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Salvage Yard Business Licence Application and Requirements for Salvage Yards. FeesThe annual licence fee for salvage yards is $261.12. |
Sale of adult magazines |
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You need a licence to sell adult magazines. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Sale of Adult Magazines Business Licence Application and Requirements for Sale of Foodstuff; Tobacco; Adult Magazines; Adult Videos; Lunch Counter. FeesThe annual licence fee for the sale of adult magazines is $193.80. |
Transient trader: general sales |
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Transient traders require a sales licence. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Transient Trader Business Licence Application and Requirements for General Transient Traders and Door-to-Door Sales. FeesThe annual fees for a transient trader licence are:
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Transient trader: door-to-door sales |
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You need a licence to conduct door-to-door sales. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Door-to-Door Sales Business Licence Application and Requirements for General Transient Traders and Door-to-Door Sales]. FeesThe annual fees for a transient trader licence are:
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Transient trader: Christmas trees |
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You need a licence to sell Christmas trees. Application form and requirementsContact us for the Christmas Tree Sales Business Licence Application and Requirements for Christmas Tree Sales]. FeesThe annual fees for a transient trader licence are:
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Other applicable fees
Other applicable fees may include:
Licensing Committee Hearing |
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The fee for a Licensing Committee hearing is $429. |
Late fee |
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The fee for renewals submitted past the expiration of the licence is $73.44. |
Change of Information |
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The fee to change licensing information is $46.92. |
Removal of newspaper boxes |
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The cost to remove a newspaper box is $79.20 per box. |
Replacement of lost, stolen, missing, defaced or illegible plates |
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The cost to replace a licence plate is $99.96 per plate. |
Replacement of licence |
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The cost to replace a licence is $46.92 per licence. |
Administration fee |
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The annual administration fee is $99.96. |
Licence renewal
Depending on the type of business licence, you can renew it:
Online with our Licence Renewal Form
- By mail to:
City of Burlington
Attn: Building & Bylaw Department
426 Brant St PO Box 5013
Burlington ON, L7R 3Z6 - By mail drop-off box: the City has a secure drop box on Elgin Street for receiving cheque payments. It is dark blue and located at 390 Brant St, between Coffee Culture and SB Prime. The drop box is emptied regularly. Please place the cheque in a sealed envelope, attention to: Licensing office, Building and By-law Department, lower level
- By email to bylaw@burlington.ca. Staff will reply and give you the choice of filling out a preauthorized credit card form or paying by e-Transfer. Please include your business's name and licence number when submitting your request by email
Licences that you can renew online include: |
All other business licences need to be renewed by email or mail. |
Adult entertainment licences
Adult entertainment establishments must be licensed under the Adult Entertainment Bylaw (001-2008). View our adult entertainment licences to learn about the specific licensing requirements and fees for different types of adult entertainment businesses.
Public vehicle licences
Public vehicles must be licensed under the Public Vehicles Bylaw, as amended (020-2009). View our public vehicle licences to learn about the specific licensing and renewal requirements and fees for different types of public vehicle businesses.