Business Licensing
Most businesses in the City must be licensed by the City of Brantford to operate legally. We require business licences to help ensure the safety of our citizens and your customers. The City issues licences for both stationary businesses and some mobile businesses.
Cloudpermit
The City of Brantford is pleased to provide a more efficient and convenient new way to expedite the business licensing process. The City now uses a cloud-based e-permitting software called Cloudpermit. This system digitizes the process and will eventually help us transition to a paperless environment. This change will make it easier for businesses to track their application status and maintain direct contact through required inspections and approvals.
With Cloudpermit, you can easily:
- Apply for a business licence
- Upload required documents
- Check the status of an application (change of application status or additional information requests will be automatically be emailed to the applicant)
- Submit and request changes to an existing application
- Pay business licensing fees online
- Print your approved business licence
Register your Cloudpermit account
To begin, you will need to create a Cloudpermit account. Cloudpermit currently supports Firefox, Google, and Safari browsers. Once registered, you can conveniently apply for permits and easily track their progress.
We’re here to help
As we roll out this new process, we expect you may have some questions. Our staff is happy to answer your inquiries in-person by appointment, or by phone. Please email Licensing@Brantford.ca or call 519-759-4150 Ext. 5871.
Business licensing regulations and by-Laws
Regulations
A number of regulations must be met when you apply for a business licence. Your application will be circulated for signatures from required departments and agencies like building, zoning, police and fire. Grand Erie Public Health (formerly Brant County Health Unit) must also approve certain applications like:
- Food premises
- Food service vehicle
- Lodging homes
- Personal service setting
- Public halls
- Temporary sales (food sales only)
By-laws
Business licensing by-laws help enforcement officers protect the community against infractions related to:
- Public health and safety
- Nuisance control
- Consumer protection
Visit our by-law page to view a list of our business-related by-laws.
Business licensing categories
Below you will find information about the required business licences issued by the City of Brantford including fees for each category:
| Adult live entertainment | ||||||||||||
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There are three types of business licences related to adult entertainment in the City of Brantford. All owners, operators, and entertainers require a licence in order to comply with our by-law. View our list of currently licensed adult live entertainment.
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| Amusement arcade | ||||||||||||
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Amusement arcades include a range of businesses where there are at least four or more amusement devices available to use for a fee. These do not include any businesses that are licensed under the Liquor Licence Act. Amusement devices include things like pinball games and video games, but not pool tables, bowling alleys, or slot machines. Please refer to our by-law page for more information. The following is required for an amusement arcade licence:
Fees:
View our list of currently licensed amusement arcades. |
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| Clothing donation bin | ||||||||||||
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Clothing donation bins are containers meant for the collection of clothing donated by the public. Please refer to our by-law page for more information. The following is required for a clothing donation bin licence:
View our list of currently licensed clothing donation bins. See below for a listing of licence fees.
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| Food premises | ||||||||||||
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There are three types of business licences related to food premises in the City of Brantford. All food shops, eating establishments, and food vending require a licence in order to comply with our by-law. View our list of currently licensed food premises.
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| Food service vehicle (food truck) | ||||||||||||
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There are four main types of business licences related to food service vehicles in the City of Brantford. All food carts, special event carts, trailers, and special event trailers require a licence in order to comply with our by-law.
View our list of currently licensed food service vehicles. View our list of currently licensed special event food service vehicles.
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| General building trades | ||||||||||||
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General building trades include any of the following:
Refer to our by-law page for more information. Please note that driveway pavers and sealers must submit proof of $2 million public liability and property damage insurance with the City of Brantford named on the policy The following is required for a general building trades licence:
Fees:
View our list of currently licensed general building trades.
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| Hotel/Motel | ||||||||||||
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All hotels and motels within Brantford as defined below, require a licence in order to comply with our by-law. “Hotel” shall mean a lot and a building, or structure, or portion thereof, or two or more connected or detached buildings, in which rooms are provided for rent as places of abode on a temporary or transient basis, containing a restaurant and convention centre, meeting rooms, public halls, fitness, pool and spa facilities and may include, as an accessory use, retail facilities provided for the convenience of hotel patrons, accessory retail sales open to the public on a temporary basis, but shall not include an apartment dwelling, lodging house, retirement home or crisis residence. “Motel” shall mean a lot and a building, or structure, or portion thereof, or two or more connected or detached buildings, in which rooms are provided for rent as places of abode on a temporary or transient basis, and may include a restaurant, but shall not include a lodging house, retirement home, an apartment dwelling, meeting rooms, retail facilities, convention centre, or a public hall. Schedule A-13 outlines what is required to obtain and maintain a Hotel/Motel Licence:
Fees:
View our list of currently licensed hotel/motel.
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| Lodging home | ||||||||||||
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Lodging homes contain one or more units intended to be used for sleeping accommodations and provided to at least five people. These units may include washroom facilities or kitchen facilities, but not both. Please refer to our by-law page for more information. The following is required for a lodging home licence:
Fees:
View our list of currently licensed lodging homes.
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| Payday Loan Establishment | ||||||||||||
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All payday loan establishments within Brantford as defined below, require a licence in order to comply with our by-law. “Payday Loan” shall mean an advancement of money in exchange for a post-dated cheque, a pre-authorized debit or a future payment of a similar nature but not for any guarantee, suretyship, overdraft protection or security on property and not through a margin loan, pawn broking, a line of credit or a credit card; “Payday Loan Establishment” shall mean a premises where a loan broker or lender administers payday loans. Schedule A-14 outlines what is required to obtain and maintain a Payday Loan Establishment Licence
Fees: New Payday Loan Establishment Licence: $507.00 New Payday Loan Establishment Licence (after October 1st): $253.50 Renewal: $308.00 View our list of currently licensed payday loan establishment.
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| Pawnbroker | ||||||||||||
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Pawnbrokers loan money to people who bring in valuable items which they leave with the pawnbroker. Please refer to our by-law page for more information. The following is required for a pawnbroker licence:
Fees:
View our list of currently licensed pawnbrokers.
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| Personal service setting | ||||||||||||
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Personal service settings are businesses that provide body piercing, electrolysis, scarification, and tattooing. Please refer to our by-law page for more information. The following is required for a personal service setting licence:
Fees:
View our list of currently licensed personal service settings.
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| Plumbing trades | ||||||||||||
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There are four types of business licences related to plumbing trades in the City of Brantford. All plumbing contractors, sewer or drain contractors, master drain layers, and master plumbers require a licence in order to comply with our by-law. View our list of currently licensed plumbing contractors. View our list of currently licensed sewer drain contractors.
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| Public halls | ||||||||||||
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Public halls include any building, structure, or tent with a seating capacity of over 100 people used for meetings, events, and entertainment. They may include facilities for on-site food preparation and the consumption of food. All public halls require a licence in order to comply with our by-law. Please note that public halls are not exempt from our noise by-law. The following is required for a public hall licence:
Fees:
View our list of currently licensed public halls.
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| Salvage Yard | ||||||||||||
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Salvage yards are places where materials are stored in the open, including junk yards, scrap yards, and automobile wrecking yards. All salvage yards require a licence in order to comply with our by-law. The following is required for a salvage yard licence:
Fees:
View our list of currently licensed salvage yards.
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| Short Term Rental | ||||||||||||
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All Short Term Rental Accommodations as defined below are required to be registered within the City. A short term rental is defined as “a dwelling unit, or part thereof, in which temporary accommodation is made available to members of the travelling public for a maximum of 28 consecutive days per stay, and does not include a bed and breakfast establishment, lodging house or group home; or as defined by the City of Brantford’s Zoning By-law 160-90” Fees: $50.00 annually Register your Short Term Rental Accommodation using Cloudpermit |
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| Temporary Outdoor Physical Extension (Temporary Patio) | ||||||||||||
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Most liquor sales licensees and manufacturers that hold a by-the-glass endorsement who want to operate a temporary patio will need municipal approval
Apply for a Temporary Outdoor Physical Extension (Temporary Patio) |
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| Temporary Sales | ||||||||||||
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All temporary sales require a licence in order to comply with our by-law. Temporary sales need a licensed pedlar operator. This is a person who employs or supervises one or more pedlars. Pedlars are people who go from place to place selling goods and services. The following is required for a temporary sales licence:
Fees:
View our list of currently licensed pedlars.
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