A business licence is required for many types of businesses in the City of St. Catharines. Business owners must apply for a licence with the City before conducting business and all licences are renewed on an annual basis.
Business licences are subject to a number of conditions, including fire inspection, health inspection and zoning approval. Learn more about the regulations of issuing business licences in St. Catharines with our Business Licences By-law or contact us for more information.
Apply for a Business Licence
Most businesses in the city can operate with our general business licence, however some require a different type of licence. Learn the definition that your business falls under, then complete and submit the corresponding application.
New Business Licence and Renewals
For new business licence and renewal applications we can accept payment over the phone with a credit card or in office by attending the Planning and Building Services front counter located on the 1st floor of City Hall. Applications and payment by cheque can be submitted to the dropbox at the James Street entrance to City Hall, or by mail to:
50 Church St.
PO Box 3012
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7C2
Here are the business licences available that can be applied for online in St. Catharines:
Business definitions
Review the different types of businesses and their definitions to see which business yours falls under.
"Amusement Arcade" means any premises, part thereof, or separate part of a premises, in which are located four or more amusement machines but does not include any premises, part thereof or separate part thereof that is licensed under the Liquor Licence Act R.S.O. 1990 c. L. 19, as amended.
"Auctioneer" means any person selling or putting up for sale goods, wares, merchandise or effects by public auction, except a sheriff or bailiff offering for sale goods or chattels seized under a writ of execution or distraint for rent.
"Bills" means a poster or notice of any description and shall include bulletin boards and sign posters.
"Bill Poster" means a person who affixes bills on public property.
"Bill distributor" means a person who delivers unsolicited gratuitous bills to a place or from door to door.
"Event Promoter" means the person or an organization promoting an event within the City of St. Catharines that has hawkers and peddlers in attendance. The purpose is to licence the promoter therefore the onus is on the promoter to obtain the property approvals as outlined in the by-law.
"Hawker and Peddler" means a person who goes from place to place or to a particular place with goods, wares or merchandise for sale, or who carries and exposes samples, patterns or specimens of any goods, wares or merchandise that are to be delivered in the City of St. Catharines afterwards.
"Non-resident" means any person who is not a resident of the City of St. Catharines.
"Hawker and Peddler" means a person who goes from place to place or to a particular place with goods, wares or merchandise for sale, or who carries and exposes samples, patterns or specimens of any goods, wares or merchandise that are to be delivered in the City of St. Catharines afterwards.
"Master Plumber" shall mean a person who is skilled in the planning, superintending and installing of plumbing, is familiar with the laws, rules and regulations governing the same and who himself, or by Journeyman Plumbers under his supervision, performs plumbing work.
"Plumbing Contractor" shall mean a person engaged in the business of contracting for the making of repairs of plumbing installations, and includes any person who solicits for plumbing work, or who in any way advertises to, or holds himself out to the public as being a Plumbing Contractor; and has a regular lawful place of business in the Province of Ontario.
"Public Hall" means a building or structure or any part thereof used or offered for use as a place of public assembly for any purpose, but does not include a theatre within the meaning of the Film Classification Act, S.O. 2005, c. 17.
"Public Hall" means a building or structure or any part thereof used or offered for use as a place of public assembly for any purpose, but does not include a theatre within the meaning of the Film Classification Act, S.O. 2005, c. 17.
"Refreshment Stand" means a building or place, or part thereof containing two or less tables from which food and/or drinks are sold for immediate consumption by the public, while seated in the building or place, or taken away for consumption elsewhere.
"Restaurant" means a building or place, or part thereof, containing three or more tables from which meals are prepared and sold for the immediate consumption of the public generally while they are seated in the building or place.
"Second Level Lodging House" (hereinafter referred to as a "house") means a nursing home and any house or other building or portion thereof:
- In which persons are harboured, received or lodged for hire, but does not include a hospital, nursing home, home for the young or aged or institution if it is licensed, approved or supervised under any other general or special act; and,
- Which accommodates four or more residents who are over the age of 65, or physically or mentally infirm or who require guidance in the activities of daily living and where 24 hours a day operator or adult supervision is provided within the house to furnish such guidance.
"Theatre" means premises located pursuant to Film Classification Act, S.O. 2005, c. 17., for the purpose of the exhibition of film, but shall not include an adult entertainment parlour, as defined by this by-law.
"Drive-in Theatre" means premises from which film is used to exhibit moving pictures and viewed by the public vehicles.
Fees
Annual Business Licence fees for each business type include:
- Amusement arcade: *$0.50 per square feet gross per usable floor space
- Auctioneer: *$114.35
- Hawkers and peddlers (Event promoter): *$240.10
- Hawkers and peddlers (resident)
- *$240.10
- Use of municipal sidewalk or road allowance: $17.95 per square foot with a minimum fee of $600.20
- Hawkers and peddlers (non-resident)
- *$738.35
- Use of municipal sidewalk or road allowance: $17.95 per square foot with a minimum fee of $600.20
- Master plumbers and plumbing contractors
- $220.40 per new licence (Master Plumber / Plumbing Contractor)
- $194.75 per licence renewal (Master Plumber / Plumbing Contractor)
- $92.45 per new licence (Master Plumber only)
- $158.90 per licence renewal (Master Plumber only
- Public hall: *$247.70
- Public hall (non-profit or charitable): *$139.25
- Refreshment stand / restaurant: *$218.70
- Second level lodging house: $240.10
- Theatre: *$210.00 (per screen)
- Restaurant: *$218.70
Master plumbers and auctioneers are exempt from renewal late fees.
*On January 22, 2024, City Council passed a motion to waive 50 per cent of the required business licence fee for 2025.
Further business resources and assistance
The Government of Canada provides further resources and information on topics such as:
- Managing your business during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Maintaining your business
- Starting your business
- Protecting your business
- Business grants and financing
You can also register a business name, start, dissolve or change a corporation, learn about scams and frauds, file small claims court documents online and more with ServiceOntario.
Tax information
Learn about tax information for your business, including income tax, GST and HST, payroll, savings and pension plans, child and family benefits, and more.
