Business Licence

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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, visit the BizPaL page or email building@burlington.ca.

Application Forms and Requirements

Bylaw number 42-2008 provides for the licensing, regulating and governing of various businesses in the City of Burlington.

Type of Business	Details	Links	Fee*
Automotive	Motor vehicle dealership (new or used), repair garage and storage facility	Application form Requirements	$250
Carnivals	Licensed per event	Application form Requirements	$660
Festivals	Licensed per event	Application form Requirements	$670
Sale of fireworks	Victoria Day and Canada Day only	Application form Requirements	$250
Convenience store	Sale of tobacco	Application form Requirements	$185
Convenience store	Sale of foodstuff	Application form Requirements	$185
Convenience store	Sale of foodstuff and tobacco	Application form Requirements	$330
Convenience store	Sale of foodstuff, tobacco and lunch counter	Application form Requirements	$490
Newspaper boxes	Licensed per box	Application form Requirements	$50 per box
Pawnbroker	Sale of used goods offering a buy-back service	Application form Requirements	$250
Personal services	Haircutting, manicuring, nail treatment, electrolysis, tattooing, micro-pigmentation, body and ear piercing	Application form Requirements	$250
Public assembly	Billiards, pool hall, pinball and electronic games	Application form Requirements	$250
Public assembly	Banquet hall, public hall	Application form Requirements	$185
Public assembly	Night club	Application form Requirements	$1,210
Public assembly	Restaurant, take out, lunch counter	Application form Requirements	$275
Refreshment vehicles	Class A: hotdog carts, chip or fry carts, barbeque equipment (maximum of three locations at one time)	Application form Requirements	$375
Refreshment vehicles	Class B: ice cream bikes, yogurt or juice carts (non-motorized with prepackaged food only)	Application form Requirements	$185
Refreshment vehicles	Class C: catering trucks, ice cream trucks (motorized vehicles with frozen food or packaged food for sale to the public)	Application form Requirements	$275
Refreshment vehicles	Class D: food trucks	Application form Requirements	$95 (day) $370 (month) $730 (3 months) $1,355 (year)
Salvage yards		Application form Requirements	$250
Sale of adult magazines		Application form Requirements	$185
Transient trader	General sales	Application form Requirements	$100 (day) $285 (month) $680 (3 months) $1,210 (year)
Transient trader	Door-to-door sales	Application form Requirements	$100 (day) $285 (month) $680 (3 months) $1,210 (year)
Transient trader	Christmas trees	Application form Requirements	$100 (day) $285 (month) $680 (3 months) $1,210 (year)
Tourist and trailer camp		Application form Requirements	$250

* The business licence fees provided in this bylaw shall be indexed to the Consumer Price Index (Ontario) as of Dec. 31, and are to be adjusted accordingly, annually on Feb. 1. The licence fee shall be rounded up to the nearest five dollars. Fees are subject to change.

Other Applicable Fees

Item	Fee*
Licensing committee hearing	$380
Late fee (for renewals submitted past the expiration of the licence)	$70
Change of information	$45
Removal of newspaper boxes	$70 (per box)
Replacement of lost, stolen, missing, defaced or illegible plates	$95 (per plate)
Replacement of licence	$45 (per licence)
Administration fee	$95

* The business licence fees provided in this by-law shall be indexed to the Consumer Price Index (Ontario) as of Dec. 31, and are to be adjusted accordingly, annually on Feb. 1. The licence fee shall be rounded up to the nearest five dollars. Fees are subject to change.

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.

All licences will still be available for renewal either in-person at City Hall or by mail/courier.

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
Tourist/Trailer Camps

Get Started

The renewal form is not mobile friendly. We strongly recommend using a desktop browser.

If you do not see the business licence you require for your renewal, please submit your renewal notice and payment to City Hall in person, or by mail/courier. If you have any further questions, please contact the Building Department at 905-335-7731 or email building@burlington.ca.