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If you’re planning to start a business in Guelph, you may need a City licence, a Provincial licence or both.
On this page, you’ll find information about City-issued business licences. To learn about Provincial requirements, visit serviceontario.ca
What business are you planning?
Scroll down to see which licence you need from the City.
Your licence may require zoning, building or health inspections.
Is the business permitted at the planned location?
Guelph has designated areas for different types of businesses.
To check, visit Guelph zoning
Is the building ready?
A Business Licence can be issued when all building permits and inspections are complete.
Visit building permits and inspections to view or apply for building permits.
Do you need Public Health approval?
Contact Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health to confirm what is required.
Visit
WDG Public Health
Do you have your documents?
You will need a floor plan, lease, Articles of Incorporation, Master Business Licence, and General Liability Insurance.
Which licence do you need?
Look through the tables to learn which type of licence and inspections you need for your business. We’ve provided a few sample documents you may find helpful as well.
If there are no outstanding building permits or safety inspections, we can typically issue your licence within 90 days. If there are delays, we will contact you.
We’re working to make all business licences available online via the portal below, as not all are available yet. If you need a licence that’s not in the portal, you’ll find links in the tables below.
Accommodation
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed and Breakfast | An establishment that the owner lives in, with three or fewer rooms for overnight accommodation, inclusion of breakfast and a guest registry. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly |
| Hotel Establishment | An establishment providing four or more rooms of overnight accommodation. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly |
| Short-term rental *Apply here | Temporary accommodation in all or part of a dwelling that is provided for 30 consecutive days or less in exchange for payment or service. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection | Yes, a year from the end of the month the licence was obtained |
Adult Entertainment
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Entertainment Establishment | An establishment that provides performances or services tailored to adult audiences. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly *bylaw inspection required for renewal |
| Adult Entertainment Retail Store | An establishment selling nude magazines/videos or other products of a sexual nature. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly *bylaw inspection required for renewal |
Food
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catering Business | A business that prepares and delivers food to be served at events, gatherings, or other locations. Food is typically made in a commercial kitchen and transported to the customer. Caterers don’t provide a dining area for customers to eat on-site. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Health Unit Review | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly *health inspection required for renewal |
| Food Establishment | A restaurant, café, or fast-food spot that prepares and serves food directly to customers at the same location where the food is made. These businesses generally have a designated area for customers to dine in, take food to go, or, in some cases, get delivery. This also includes stores that have coffee machines, slushie machines, ice cream scoops, etc. (Any food that is not pre-packaged and sold). | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Health Unit Review | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly *health inspection required for renewal |
| Outdoor Food Sales Annual Licence (requires both forms a and b) *apply with links below a. Outdoor Food Sales b. Business Licence Application | A food truck/stand that typically has a permanent contract with private property or the City. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Health Unit Review • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, a year from the end of the month the licence was obtained *bylaw and health inspection required for renewal |
| Outdoor Food Sales (short-term) *Apply here | A food truck or stand that sells food at a location for up to three days. Typically for a special event. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Health Unit Review • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, a year from the end of the month the licence was obtained *bylaw and health inspection required for renewal |
Holistic or Personal Services
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holistic Services Practitioner *Apply here | Services practiced in the areas of energy or life-force therapies; herbal/botanica therapies; and physical therapies of which do not include specialized positions such as registered massage therapists, physiotherapists or psychotherapists etc. | • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly *Bylaw inspection required for renewal |
| Holistic Services Establishment | Any premise in which any Holistic Service is provided as noted under “Holistic Services Practitioner”. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Health Unit Review • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly *Bylaw and health inspection required for renewal |
| Personal Services Establishment | An establishment where services are provided to another person’s body that carry risk of exposure to body fluids or blood, such as hair salon, lash/brow studio, piercings etc. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Health Unit Review • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly *Bylaw and health inspection required for renewal |
Indoor Games and Sports
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amusement Establishment | May include the following: escape rooms, trampoline park, indoor mini-golf, virtual reality experiences, climbing walls, interactive play zones, simulated sports centres. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly |
Outdoor collection bins and boxes
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donation Bin | A receptacle located outdoors, within the geographic area that is under the City’s jurisdiction, for the purpose of collecting donated items from the public. | • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly |
| Publication Dispensing Bin *Apply here | Often used for things like newspapers, flyers, books. A newspaper vending box is the most common association. | • Zoning Review | Yes, a year from the end of the month the licence was obtained *Bylaw inspection required for renewal |
Outdoor Retail
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Merchandise* Sales Annual Licence (requires both forms a and b) *apply with links below a. Merchant Stand Application for Inspection b. Business Licence Application Short-term Licence c. Short-term Merchant Stand Licence Application | An outdoor wheel-less frame (excluding a merchandise vehicle), base or display structure not permanently affixed to the ground and capable of being moved daily. (i.e. pop-up tent or food truck). | • Zoning Review • Health Unit Review • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, a year from the end of the month the licence was obtained *Bylaw and health inspection required for renewal |
Payday Loan Establishment
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payday Loan Establishment | A place offering services pursuant to a licence issued under the Payday Loans Act, 2009. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly |
Private Parking Agent
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Parking Agent *Apply here | Individuals licensed by the City to issue parking notices on private property. A Business License issued for a Private Parking Agent shall apply only to the property or properties identified in the application and set out in the licence. | • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly |
Public Assembly Halls
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Assembly Hall | A building, or portable structure, with a seating capacity for over 100 persons that is used as a place of public assembly, and includes a Flea Market and a Theatre, this does not include places of worship. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection • Health Unit Review | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly *Health inspection needed for renewal |
Taxis/Rideshares, Driving Instructors
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxicab Driver *Apply here | Any individual who drives a taxicab. This is not considered a Vehicle for Hire. | • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires April 30 yearly *bylaw inspection needed for renewal |
| Taxicab Owner *Apply here | Any person who owns a taxicab and includes any person who has possession or control of a taxicab under an installment-purchase agreement, a hire-purchase agreement, or a lease agreement lasting at least one year. | • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires April 30 yearly *bylaw inspection needed for renewal |
| Vehicle for Hire | A driver for a vehicle for hire business which, through an electronic platform, arranges transportation of passengers. This does not include: • taxicab businesses • any bus transportation service or business, • any carpooling arrangement as defined in the Public Vehicles Act, or • emergency vehicle services | • Bylaw Inspection | No |
| Driving Instructor *Apply here a. Map of regulated streets | An individual who accepts remuneration to provide instruction in the operation of motor vehicles but does not include an individual who provides in-class instruction only (for teaching behind the wheel). | • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, a year from the end of the month the licence was obtained |
Used or Second-hand Goods
| Licence Type | Example | Inspection(s) needed | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawnbroker | An individual who runs a business where people can borrow money by leaving an item of value as security or collateral until they pay back the loan (pawn or pledge). If the loan isn’t repaid, the business can keep or sell the item. In compliance with the Pawnbrokers Act, 1990. | • Zoning Review • Building Inspection | Yes, expires annually Dec 31 |
| Salvage Goods/Yard | An automobile wrecking yard, salvage shop or premise where salvage is purchased, sold, processed. | • Zoning Review | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly |
| Second-hand Goods Store | Goods that have been previously owned or used by one or more persons and which are transferred to a second-hand goods licensee for resale. | • Bylaw Inspection | Yes, expires Dec 31 yearly *Bylaw inspection needed for renewal |
Bylaws
Other licenses and permits
- Liquor Licenses
- Lottery Licenses
- Temporary Seasonal Patio Permits
- Portable Sign Permits
- Special Events Permits
- Guelph Fire Department Business Licence
More business resources
Provincial licensing requirements
ServiceOntario
1 Stone Road West, Guelph
519-826-3372
serviceontario.ca
Importing and exporting
Information regarding importing and exporting products is available by contacting:
Canada Border Services Agency
1-800-461-9999
cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Starting a small business
For information regarding starting your own small business contact:
Business Centre Guelph-Wellington
519-822-1260 extension 3907
guelphbusiness.com
For more information
519-822-1260 extension 2551