A business licence permits the operation of a business in Burlington. Only those businesses outlined in the business licensing bylaw require a licence from the City of Burlington. Each municipality operates under a separate licensing bylaw. Businesses that require a licence in Burlington may be different than those in other municipalities.
For more information about business licences and permits email building@burlington.ca.
To protect the public and City staff and to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, there is no Counter Service currently in place, but we are happy to serve you via phone and email.
City staff continue to work remotely and are ready to assist the community in the delivery of as many of our services as possible.
If you are looking to apply for or following up on an application, please email building@burlington.ca. Staff from the Building Division will respond to your request and be able to assist you with the process.
Application Forms and Requirements
Bylaw number 42-2008 provides for the licensing, regulating and governing of various businesses in the City of Burlington.
|
Business Type |
Details |
Links |
Fee* |
|
Automotive |
Motor vehicle dealership (new or used), repair garage and storage facility |
$261.12 |
|
|
Carnivals |
Licensed per event |
$693.60 |
|
|
Festivals |
Licensed per event |
$700.74 |
|
|
Sale of fireworks |
Victoria Day and Canada Day only |
$261.12 |
|
|
Convenience store |
Sale of tobacco |
$193.80 |
|
|
Convenience store |
Sale of foodstuff |
$193.80 |
|
|
Convenience store |
Sale of foodstuff and tobacco |
$346.80 |
|
|
Convenience store |
Sale of foodstuff, tobacco and lunch counter |
$515.10 |
|
|
Newspaper boxes |
Licensed per box |
$53.04 per box |
|
|
Pawnbroker |
Sale of used goods offering a buy-back service |
$261.12 |
|
|
Personal services |
Haircutting, manicuring, nail treatment, electrolysis, tattooing, micro-pigmentation, body and ear piercing |
$261.12 |
|
|
Public assembly |
Billiards, pool hall, pinball and electronic games |
$261.12 |
|
|
Public assembly |
Banquet hall, public hall |
$193.80 |
|
|
Public assembly |
Night club |
$1,278.06 |
|
|
Public assembly |
Restaurant, take out, lunch counter |
$287.64 |
|
|
Refreshment vehicles |
Class A: hotdog carts, chip or fry carts, barbeque equipment (maximum of three locations at one time) |
$392.70 |
|
|
Refreshment vehicles |
Class B: ice cream bikes, yogurt or juice carts (non-motorized with prepackaged food only) |
$193.80 |
|
|
Refreshment vehicles |
Class C: catering trucks, ice cream trucks (motorized vehicles with frozen food or packaged food for sale to the public) |
$287.64 |
|
|
Refreshment vehicles |
Class D: food trucks |
$99.96 (day) $388.62 (month) $767.4 (3 months) $1,416.78 (year) |
|
|
Salvage yards |
|
$261.12 |
|
|
Sale of adult magazines |
|
$193.80 |
|
|
Transient trader |
General sales |
$104.04 (1-days) |
|
|
Transient trader |
Door-to-door sales
|
|
$104.04 (1-days) |
|
Transient trader |
Christmas trees |
$104.04 (1-days) |
* The business licence fees provided above shall be increased as per the Rates and Fees By-law annually on January 1st. The licence fee may be rounded up to the nearest whole dollar. Fees are subject to change.
Other Applicable Fees
|
Item |
Fee* |
|
Licensing committee hearing |
$429.00 |
|
Late fee (for renewals submitted past the expiration of the licence) |
$73.44 |
|
Change of information |
$46.92 |
|
Removal of newspaper boxes |
$79.20 (per box) |
|
Replacement of lost, stolen, missing, defaced or illegible plates |
$99.96 (per plate) |
|
Replacement of licence |
$46.92 (per licence) |
|
Administration fee |
$99.96 |
Licence Renewal
The City of Burlington is excited to announce that we are updating and expanding online services to allow the following types of businesses to renew their licence online. This new online service will be an efficient, convenient and secure way of conducting business with the city.
The renewal form is not mobile friendly. We strongly recommend using a desktop browser.
All licences will still be available for renewal either by mail/courier or by emailing building@burlington.ca.
Business Licences available to be renewed online include:
- Automotive
- Pawn Brokers
- Personal Services
- Public Assembly:
- Restaurants/Take Out/Lunch Counter
- Movie Theatre
- Banquet/Public Halls
- Pinball or Electronic Game Machine
- Night Club
- Sale of Foodstuff
- Sale of Tobacco
- Sale of Adult Magazines
- Sale of Foodstuff
- Sale of Tobacco
- Salvage Yard
If you do not see the business licence you require for your renewal, please submit your renewal notice and payment by email or by mail/courier. If you have any further questions, please contact the Building Department at 905-335-7731 or email building@burlington.ca.