Business Licences and Permits in Canada: How to Find Exactly What You Need

Business licences and permits in Canada don’t come from one place. Depending on what you do and where, you may need approvals from the federal government, your province and your city, all at once. The good news: a free government tool lists them for you in a few minutes. My own consulting business didn’t need a licence, but many businesses do, and operating without one can mean fines or being shut down.

Your licence and permit checklist

1. 1. Understand the three levels of government
2. 2. Run your business through BizPaL
3. 3. Check your city's licence list and zoning
4. 4. Register your Business Number and other accounts
5. 5. Put renewals in your calendar

Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks stay on this device only.

Three levels of government, three kinds of approval

Level	What it usually covers	Examples
Federal	Certain products and activities across Canada	Importing or exporting goods, and federally regulated products
Provincial	Regulated trades, professions and products in your province	Contractors and trades, professional licences, alcohol sales
Municipal	Operating in your city, at your address	City business licence, zoning, signs, renovations

Which ones apply depends entirely on your business type and location, which is why a lookup tool beats guessing.

Find your licences and permits with BizPaL

BizPaL is a free service led by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. You answer a few questions about your business type and location, and it lists the permits and licences you may need from all three levels of government, with links to apply where available (BizPaL Initiative).

1. Open BizPaL and choose your province and city.
2. Pick your business type (for example, “restaurant”, “consulting” or “home renovation”).
3. Review the list: each item says which government issues it and links to its page.
4. Save or print the list, then apply on each official page.

Already running a business? Run it through BizPaL anyway, to confirm you hold everything you need.

Check your city: the Mississauga example

The City of Mississauga issues business licences for many categories, including:

• Food: restaurants and retail food, banquet halls, food trucks and refreshment carts
• Personal services: hair and nail salons, barbershops, tattoo and piercing studios, tanning
• Trades: building renovation, plumbing, heating (HVAC), driveway paving and drain laying
• Driving and transport: taxis, limousines, ride-share companies, driving schools, auto service stations
• Housing: short-term rentals and rental apartment buildings
• Other: second-hand goods, pet shops, tobacco sales, special events and more

Zoning comes first: your business must be at a location where that use is allowed. Check zoning with your city before you sign a lease or start renovating.

Registrations that are not licences, but still required

• Business Number (BN): from the CRA, registered online only since November 3, 2025. See my start-a-business guide.
• GST/HST: you must register once your taxable sales go over $30,000 in a calendar quarter or over four consecutive quarters (CRA).
• Import-export account: if you import or export commercial goods, you need an import-export (RM) account linked to your Business Number. The Canada Border Services Agency now handles it through its CARM Client Portal (CBSA).

Keep them up to date

• Many city licences are renewed every year: put the renewal date in your calendar.
• Re-check BizPaL when you move, add a location or add a new product or service: a new activity can need a new licence.
• Keep copies of every licence and permit with your business records.

Questions people ask

Do I need a business licence in Canada?

It depends on your business type and location. There’s no single national business licence; your city, province or the federal government may each require one. Check with BizPaL.

Is a Business Number a business licence?

No. A Business Number identifies your business with the CRA for taxes. Licences and permits are separate approvals to operate.

Does a home-based business need a licence?

Sometimes. Some cities license certain home-based activities or limit them through zoning. Check your city’s rules and BizPaL for your address.

What happens if I operate without a required licence?

You can face fines, and your business can be shut down until it’s licensed. In Mississauga, operating without a valid business licence is against the City’s rules.

My own research and experience, not legal advice. Licence rules and fees change and differ by city and province: always confirm on the official pages linked above.

What next

Set up the rest of your business with my start-a-business guide, or follow every step in my Business guide.