Business Licence

All Adult Entertainment Establishments within the City of Stratford are required to obtain a business licence prior to operating.

The following information is required on an annual basis for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• Current zoning of the premise;
• Master Business Licence/Vendor's Permit - if applicable;
• Approved ACGO Liquor Licence - if applicable.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding the operation of an Adult Entertainment Establishment and obtaining a licence.

All Adult Entertainment Performers within the City of Stratford are required to obtain a business licence prior to operating.

The following information is required on an annual basis for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Proof of identification - must be 18 years of age.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining an Adult Entertainment Performer licence.

All Auctioneers within the City of Stratford are required to obtain a business licence prior to operating.

Auctioneers licences means a person carrying on the business of selling or putting up for sale, goods, wares, merchandise or effects by public auction.

The following information is required on an annual basis for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• List of all goods/wares/merchandise that is intended to be auctioned.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining an Auctioneer licence.

All Body Piercing Parlours within the City of Stratford are required to obtain a business licence prior to operating.

The following information is required on an annual basis for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• Master Business Licence or Vendors Permit - if applicable;
• A copy of the lease/authorization letter if the location of the business is a rented space.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining a Body Percing Parlour licence.

All Body Rub Parlours within the City of Stratford are required to obtain a business licence prior to operating.

The following information is required on an annual basis for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• Current zoning of the premise;
• Master Business Licence or Vendors Permit - if applicable.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining a Body Rub Parlour licence.

All Body Rub Attendants within the City of Stratford are required to obtain a business licence prior to operating.

The following information is required on an annual basis for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Proof of identification - must be 18 years of age.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining a Body Rub Attendants licence.

All Circuses that are planning on operating within the City of Stratford are required to obtain a business licence prior to operating.

A circus is defined as a variety show usually including feats of physical skill and performances by jugglers and clowns except other live exhibitions with performing exotic or wild animals as defined in Bylaw 89-2003.

The following information is required for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• Written permission from the owner of the property where the circus is to be held.

If tents are being used, a tent permit may be required. Please contact the Building & Planning Department at 519-271-0250 ext. 5345 for further information.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining a Circus licence.

Hawker Pedlar licences flea markets, craft shows, antique shows, trade shows and door to door sales.

Organizers of an event where goods/food are being sold must apply for a Hawker Pedlar licence. As part of this application, the following information is required to be submitted no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. Failure to submit all required documentation may result in the licence not being issued in time for the event.

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• Master Business Licence/Vendor's Permit - if applicable;
• Site plan of the event space if taking place on City property - eg. Market Square, Rotary Complex;
• Complete vendor list including the name of each vendor, contact information of each vendor and a complete list of all goods/food that each vendor is selling/providing.

If tents are being used, a tent permit may be required. Please contact the Building & Planning Department at 519-271-0250 ext. 5345 for further information.

If the event includes the serving and consumption of alcohol, a provincial Liquor Permit must be obtained from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The AGCO will outline conditions that must be met for a liquor licence to be issued, which may include approval from City Council. Please contact the ACGO for further information.

Registered charitable organizations or not-for-profit organizations are required to obtain a business licence but are exempt from paying the licence fee.

If food is being sold/served/consumed, please contact the Huron Perth Public Health Unit for further information.

As an event organizer, you are responsible for ensuring that all City bylaws, Provincial Acts and Federal Acts are followed while operating under the business licence.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining a Hawker Pedlar licence.

All businesses or events that sell or purchase old gold, other precious metals or old jewellery are required to obtain a licence prior to operating.

The following information is required for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• List of all gold/metals/jewerlly that is intended to be sold or purchased;
• Written permission from the owner of the property of where the event is to take place.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining an Old Gold, Other Precious Metals, Old Jewellery Sales licence.

Outdoor Patio Program

The patio season is May 1 - October 31. Patios will not be permitted to operate prior to May 1.

Outdoor Cafe licences are required for all restaurants where outdoor seating on municipal property, including a sidewalk, is provided for the serving or consumption of food or beverage.

The following information is required for all applications for new Outdoor Cafes:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• Master Business Licence/Vendor's Permit;
• Approved ACGO Liquor Licence - if applicable;
• Detailed drawing or sketch of the proposed outdoor cafe and surrounding area including the location of existing street furniture, parking meters, landscape features, sandwich board signs, vegetation and encroachments;
• Detailed interior floor plan layout including all areas of the indoor restaurant, seating layout, permitted occupant load, number and location of washroom(s) onsite, and exit locations.

In addition to requiring an annual licence, all outdoor cafe applicants are required to enter into an agreement with the City which sets out the terms, conditions and rental fees for the use of municipal property.

Once the business licence has been approved and the agreement has been entered into, the outdoor cafe will be permitted to operate.

Along with the licence fee, a fee per square foot is required to be paid based on the square footage of the outdoor cafe on an annual basis.

A licence is required to be obtained on an annual bases to operate an outdoor cafe.

As per section 8 of the Use of Municipal Property, Boulevards and Sidewalk policy:

Street furniture placed on municipal sidewalks and boulevards shall be removed by November 1st of each year and cannot be placed out the following year until after March 31st to allow for municipal snow clearing operations. This provision excludes utility poles, traffic signs, bus stop signs, telephone booths, parking metres, and related items.

Please see the Business Licensing Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining an Outdoor Cafe licence.

All pawnbroker businesses are required to obtain a licence on an annual basis prior to operating within the City of Stratford.

The following information is required on an annual basisi for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence fee;
• Proof of insurance;
• A security deposit in the amount of $2,000 made payable to "The City of Stratford".

All refreshment vehicles and bicycle ice cream vehicles are required to obtain a licence on an annual basis prior to operating within the City of Stratford.

A refreshment vehicle (often referred to as a food truck) includes a vehicle from which food stuffs are sold or offered for sale and where the food stuffs are prepared or cooked on the refreshment vehicle or elsewhere.

A bicycle ice cream vehicle means any cart, bicycle or tricycle, irrespective of the type of motive power employed to move the bicycle ice cream vehicle from one point to another. The only food stuffs that are sold or offered for sale by consumption by the public, are prepared ice cream products.

The following information is required on an annual basis for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence Fee;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• Master Business Licence/Vendor's Permit - if applicable;
• Proof of valid Province of Ontario driver's licence, except in the case of a cart that is not driven by a vehicle;
• Proof of a current motor vehicle permit;
• Complete list of all food items that are avaiable for purchase;
• Written permission from property owner where the vehicle will be operating from.

A refreshment vehicle or bicycle ice cream vehicle cannot operate on private property within the City without the written permission of the property owner. The letter must include contact information for the property owner and the specific dates and times that the vehicle will be operating.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining a Refreshment Vehicle and Bicycle Ice Cream Vehicle licence.

All Tattoo Parlours within the City of Stratford are required to obtain a business licence prior to operating.

The following information is required on an annual basis for all applications:

• Completed Business Licence Application;
• Licence Fee;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• Master Business Licence or Vendors Permit - if applicable;
• A copy of the lease/authorization letter if the location of the business is a rented space.

Please see the Business Licence Bylaw for further information regarding obtaining a Tattoo Parlour licence.