Business Licence and Permit Applications Action Plan: Chapter 545, Licensing (2025 to 2029)

In addition to business licences, the Division administers business-related permits, including but not limited to permits to display marketing signs and permits to use public-rights-of-way. To meet Council directive 2024.EC14.14 , staff have developed the Business Licence and Permit Applications Action Plan: Chapter 545, Licensing (2025 to 2029) ("Action Plan"), which is presented in this report and is Municipal Licensing and Standards' roadmap for completing the remaining work aimed at improving the business licensing and permitting experience for applicants and licence holders. This staff report supports and is in alignment with 2025.EX22.9 , which affirmed the City's commitment to enhancing Toronto's business environment to drive new investment, employment growth, and economic resilience. Additionally, the report and Action Plan address multiple outstanding Council directives, including reducing burden for local business owners; supporting public health and safety; addressing problematic establishments; reviewing in full Chapter 545, Licensing; and assessing the feasibility of enabling broader community input to Toronto Licensing Tribunal hearings. To reduce regulatory burden for businesses and trades, Municipal Licensing and Standards is implementing the following five actions in partnership with other Divisions: 1) simplify Municipal Licensing and Standards' business licence and permit application and renewal requirements; 2) transform the technology that enables Municipal Licensing and Standards' business licence and permit administration and enforcement; 3) optimize interdivisional reviews, issuance, and enforcement of business licences and permits 4) modernize the City of Toronto's business licensing regulations; and 5) broaden access to and streamline direct supports and information on Municipal Licensing and Standards' business licence and permit services. This report was prepared in consultation with Technology Services, Toronto Building, Transportation Services, Economic Development and Culture, Toronto Public Health, Customer Experience (311 Toronto), and City Planning.

b. Delete all provisions that require or might require an applicant or licensee to file a list of employees with Municipal Licensing and Standards and any other provisions that depend on such information. c. Delete all provisions that limit or might limit an applicant, licensee, or employee to only one employer and any other provisions that depend on such information. d. Delete all provisions that require or might require an applicant, licensee, or employee to undergo a medical examination and any other provisions that depend on such information. Delegate authority to Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to impose conditions 2.City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows: a. Reorganize and make all necessary changes to Article I - General Licensing Provisions to grant Municipal Licensing and Standards, in addition to the Toronto Licensing Tribunal, the authority to place conditions on a business licence before issuing or renewing a licence or at any time during the term of a licence, subject to the following procedure: 1. Municipal Licensing and Standards shall notify the applicant or licensee in writing of the proposed conditions, including the applicant's or licensee's right not to agree to the proposed conditions; 2. If the applicant or licensee agrees to the proposed conditions, in a form and manner prescribed by Municipal Licensing and Standards, Municipal Licensing and Standards may place the conditions on the business licence; and 3. If the applicant or licensee does not agree to the proposed conditions, Municipal Licensing and Standards may deny the application (subject to the applicant's right to request a hearing before the Toronto Licensing Tribunal) or refer the licence to the Toronto Licensing Tribunal for a hearing, as appropriate, at which time Municipal Licensing and Standards may request that the Toronto Licensing Tribunal add the proposed conditions to the licence. b. Add a provision to Article I - General Licensing Provisions to permit the Toronto Licensing Tribunal to consider a licensee's contravention of such conditions as part of any future hearing related to the licensee and to impose such penalty or further conditions as the Tribunal considers just. Require email contact information as part of the licence application process 3. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows: a. Amend Article I - General licensing provisions to require persons or entities wishing to apply for or renew a licence to provide the name, phone number, and email address of a person responsible for responding to all communications from Municipal Licensing and Standards and to require a licensee to immediately update Municipal Licensing and Standards on any changes to such contact information. b. Amend Article I - General licensing provisions to specify that all communications relating to this chapter between Municipal Licensing and Standards and an applicant or licensee shall be sent via email to the email address most recently provided to Municipal Licensing and Standards as part of the licensing and renewal process under this chapter, except where another method is authorized by the Executive Director; and that any email sent in accordance shall be deemed for the purpose of this chapter to have been received by the addressee on the day it is sent. Remove municipal licensing requirements for certain businesses/trades 4. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows: a. Amend Article I - General licensing provisions to delete definitions and licence requirements for or related to the following: 1. Boats for hire 2. School bus driver 3. Transient trader 4. Building cleaner 5. Chimney repairman 6. Builder of radiation fall-out shelters 7. Collector for second hand goods b. Delete Article XIV - Operators of boats for hire. c. Amend Article XV - Drive-self vehicles for hire; school bus drivers to delete provisions pertaining to school bus drivers. d. Amend Article XVII - Hawkers and Pedlars to delete provisions pertaining to transient traders. e. Amend Article XXIII - Salvage yards; second hand goods to delete provisions pertaining to collector for second hand goods. f. Delete Article XXX - Building cleaners. g. Amend Article XXXVI - Chimney repairman; persons renovating buildings; construction of radiation fall-out shelters to delete provisions pertaining to chimney repairman and construction of radiation fall-out shelters. Remove associated fees for certain business/trade licences 5. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C - Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards to delete the fees in the following table: Ref No. Service Fee Description Category Fee Basis Fee Annual Adjustment 185 Licence & permit issuance Application fee: Boats for hire licence Full cost recovery Per application $433.57 Yes 186 Licence & permit issuance Renewal fee: Boats for hire licence Full cost recovery Per application $285.05 Yes 247 Licence & permit issuance Application fee: School bus driver licence Full cost recovery Per application $474.52 Yes 248 Licence & permit issuance Renewal fee: School bus driver licence Full cost recovery Per application $351.16 Yes 341 Licence & permit issuance Application fee: Transient trader licence Full cost recovery Per application $758.01 Yes 342 Licence & permit issuance Renewal fee: Transient trader licence Full cost recovery Per application $370.08 Yes 351 Licence & permit issuance Application fee: Building cleaner licence Full cost recovery Per application $476.08 Yes 352 Licence & permit issuance Renewal fee: Building cleaner licence Full cost recovery Per application $281.87 Yes 361 Licence & permit issuance Application fee: Chimney repairman licence Full cost recovery Per application $476.08 Yes 362 Licence & permit issuance Renewal fee: Chimney repairman licence Full cost recovery Per application $281.87 Yes 399 Licence & permit issuance Application fee: Collector for second hand goods licence Full cost recovery Per application $738.52 Yes 400 Licence & permit issuance Renewal fee: Collector for second hand goods licence Full cost recovery Per application $370.08 Yes Update commercial parking lot provisions in the Licensing Bylaw 6. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows: a. Amend Article I - General licensing provisions to add to the definition of Commercial Parking Lot "including visitor parking spots for residential buildings," so that it reads: "Any location, including visitor parking spots for residential buildings, that demands compensation in relation to the use of a parking space, but does not include: A. Any parking location operated by or under the authority of the Toronto Parking Authority, regulated under Chapter 179, Parking Authority; B. Any City agency, board, commission, corporation or division; C. Any parking space rented on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis for one person's exclusive use; D. Any space located upon the driveway of a residential building that is used for parking on a temporary basis; and E. Any parking location operated by a registered charitable organization, as defined in subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.), or successor legislation, that has a registration number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency, or successor agency." b. Amend Article XLV, 545-530 to specify that despite its provisions, commercial parking lots that consist only of residential visitor parking shall not make any advertisement or display any signage that might indicate the location is used for paid parking or is available to members of the general public, except the signage that must be displayed at each pay station. Update provisions for owners and operators of laundries in the Licensing Bylaw 7. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows: a. Amend 545-2(20) to require every operator of a laundry premises to obtain a licence. b. Delete 545-2(21), which contains a duplicative licence requirement for laundreterias. c. Add the following definition of "Laundry Premises" "LAUNDRY PREMISES - Any premises at which laundry services, including wet washing, dry cleaning, laundry collection or return, and self-serve washing machines or dryers are offered or provided to the public, but does not include a premises used solely for laundry collection or return that is operated by a licensed operator of a laundry premises. d. Amend 545-228, by deleting the existing requirements for a separate licence for each premises owned or occupied by the operator and instead requiring every applicant for a laundry premises operator licence or its renewal to provide a list of premises owned or operated by the applicant that are used solely for laundry collection or return and to immediately notify Municipal Licensing and Standards of changes to this list. e. Delete 545-229, Maintenance of premises and related equipment and vehicles. f. Delete 545-230, Hours of operation restricted for certain machinery. g. Amend 545-231 to require every operator to post their licence in a conspicuous place within the laundry premises. h. Amend 545-232 to require every operator to post a sign in a conspicuous place at each premises they use solely for laundry collection or return that states the operator's name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number. i. Delete 545-233, Identification for premises with coin operated machines. j. Delete 545-234, Premises to be kept clean and tidy. Amend provisions for driving school operators 8. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows: a. Amend 545-15(B) so that it reads "No driving school operator shall cause or permit driving instruction to be given in or upon the streets, highways and areas described in Subsection A of this section." Introduce a zoning review user fee for Municipal Licensing and Standards 9. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C - Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards by adding the associated fee in the following table: Ref No. Service Fee Description Category Fee Basis Fee Annual Adjustment NEW MS517 Licence & permit issuance NEW Zoning review fee: Business licence application Full cost recovery Per application NEW $239.11 Yes Bills and authorization 10. City Council direct that recommendations 1 to 9 come into effect on January 1, 2026. 11. City Council authorize and direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to extend the term of licences held as of October 1, 2025, for boats for hire; school bus drivers; transient traders; building cleaners; chimney repairmen; collectors of second-hand goods to December 31, 2025, without the need to pay associated licence renewal fees. 12. City Council authorize the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to make such clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or other amendments to Chapter 545 as may be necessary to give effect to these recommendations.