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Business licensing

The Compliance and Licensing Enforcement office at 300 City Centre Drive will reopen to the public on September 8 by appointment only. Appropriate health and safety protocols will be in place. Book an appointment.

If you plan to start a new business or have changed the name, ownership, location or category of an existing business in Mississauga, you need to apply for a business operating licence.

If your business has more than one location, you’ll need to apply for a separate licence for each.

If you already have a business operating licence, it needs to be renewed annually.

Before you sign a lease or buy a commercial property for your business, you’ll need to make sure that the property is zoned to permit your business activity.

If you’re taking over an existing business in a fixed location, you’ll need to confirm that the property’s Zoning Certificate of Occupancy is still valid.

If you plan to start a new business, you may need to apply for operating licence if your business activity includes any of the following:

  • Adult bookstore
  • Adult entertainment business
  • Body rub business owner
  • Amusement arcade
  • Auto service station
  • Billiard parlour
  • Breeding or boarding kennel
  • Clothing donation drop box
  • Selling fireworks (also requires a fire prevention inspection and an approval letter)
  • Night club
  • Parking lot
  • Pawnbroker
  • Personal services setting
  • Pet Shop
  • Public hall
  • Restaurant or retail food shop
  • Salvage yard
  • Second hand goods shop
  • Take out restaurant
  • Tobacco sales
  • Vehicle pound facility
  • Lodging house
  • Medical marihuana production facility
  • Methadone clinic or pharmacy

If you plan to start a new business, you may need to apply for operating licence if your business activity includes any of the following:

  • Auctioneer
  • Body rub attendant
  • Carnival or circus
  • Second hand goods shop employee
  • Trader / Hawker peddler

Applicants must apply in person, except for a carnival or circus licence, which can be applied for by an authorized agent.

Business licence requirements

Depending on the kind of business you’re running, you’ll need different supporting documents and approvals. These include (but are not limited to):

For the specific documents required for your business check the Business Licence Requirements Chart.

Depending on the nature of your business, inspections and approvals of your location may be required. These include:

Apply for a new licence

New licence applications must be submitted in person, by appointment only starting September 8, 2020. A business owner or director can provide an authorization letter for an agent to complete and submit an application on their behalf.

You’ll only be admitted to the building if you have a scheduled appointment. Only one person may attend the appointment. If you’re late by 10 minutes or more, your appointment will be cancelled and you’ll need to reschedule.

If all of the requirements are met and your documents are in order, your licence will be issued right away.

Renew your licence

Compliance and Licensing Enforcement
300 City Centre Drive, ground floor
Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1

If your licence has already expired, it cannot be renewed. You will need to apply for a new licence.

Contact us

If you have any questions about licensing your business, call 311 (905-615-4311 outside City limits) or email bylaw.enforcement@mississauga.ca.