- Apply for a licence
- Application forms, requirements and fees
- Other applicable fees
- Licence renewal
- Adult entertainment licences
- Public vehicle (Taxicab and Limo) licences
- Group homes
A business licence permits the operation of a business in the City of Burlington. Only businesses outlined in the Business Licensing Bylaw 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 requirementsView 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 requirementsView the Carnival Business Licence Application 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 requirementsView 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 requirementsView 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 requirementsView the Convenience Store Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Convenience Store Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 need a licence to sell foodstuff in a convenience store. Application form and requirementsView the Convenience Store Business Licence Application and requirements. FeesThe annual licence fee for the sale of 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 requirementsView the Convenience Store Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Newspaper Box Business Licence Application and 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 requirementsView the Pawnbroker Business Licence Application and 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 requirementsView the Personal Services Business Licence Application and 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 requirementsView the Public Assembly Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Public Assembly Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Public Assembly Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Public Assembly Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Refreshment Vehicle Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Refreshment Vehicle Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Refreshment Vehicle Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Refreshment Vehicle Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Salvage Yard Business Licence Application and requirements. Fees The 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 requirementsView the Sale of Adult Magazines Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Transient Trader Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Door-to-Door Sales Business Licence Application and requirements. 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 requirementsView the Christmas Tree Sales Business Licence Application and requirements. FeesThe annual fees for a transient trader licence are:
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Other applicable fees
Other applicable fees may include:
| Licensing Committee Hearing |
| The fee for a Licensing Committee hearing is $429. |
| Late fee |
| The fee for renewals submitted past the expiration of the licence is $73.44. |
| Change of Information |
| The fee to change licensing information is $46.92. |
| Removal of newspaper boxes |
| The cost to remove a newspaper box is $79.20 per box. |
| Replacement of lost, stolen, missing, defaced or illegible plates |
| The cost to replace a licence plate is $99.96 per plate. |
| Replacement of licence |
| The cost to replace a licence is $46.92 per licence. |
| Administration fee |
| The 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
- By email to bylaw@burlington.ca
Licences that you can renew online include:
- Automotive
- Pawn Brokers
- Personal Services
- Public Assembly
- Sale of Foodstuff
- Sale of Tobacco
- Sale of Adult Magazines
- Sale of Foodstuff
- Sale of Tobacco
- Salvage Yard
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. View our adult entertainment licences to learn about the specific licensing requirements and fees for different types of adult entertainment businesses.
Public vehicle (Taxicab and Limo) licences
Public vehicles must be licensed under the Public Vehicles Bylaw. View our public vehicle licences to learn about the specific licensing and renewal requirements and fees for different types of public vehicle businesses.
Group homes
Service Burlington is responsible for the registration and renewal of group homes. A number of requirements must be met before a group home can be registered. See the requirements and fees to register or renew the registration of a group home.
Business Licence Renewal payment options:
By Mail
City of Burlington
Attn: Building & Bylaw Department
426 Brant St., P.O. Box 5013
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
By Mail Drop Off Box
Envelopes can be left in our overnight drop box by the back doors of City Hall located at the Locust Street entrance.
By Email
Renewals can be sent via email. Send request to bylaw@burlington.ca.
Staff will reply and give you the choice of filling out a preauthorized credit card form paying by e-Transfer.
Please include your business’s name and licence number when submitting your request by email.