Public Notice

City of Toronto Act, 2006 Public Notice

Update on the Business Licence and Permit Applications Action Plan and Other Outstanding Directives

Toronto City Council will be considering recommendations to adopt amendments to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing

It is proposed that the amendments be adopted at the City Council meeting to be held on April 22, 2026 or at a subsequent meeting. If adopted by City Council, the amendments to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapters will:

1.    City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing as follows:

a.    Amend Article XXIII, 545-282 and Article XXIV, 545-291 by deleting requirements pertaining to hours and days of operation.

b.    Amend Article XXIII, 545-285 and Article XXIV, 545-293 by:

A.   Deleting the requirement that the register of goods received be kept in the form of a book, and written in ink in a plain, legible hand; and

B.   Adding that the register shall be in a format satisfactory to the Executive Director of MLS.

c.    Amend Article XXIII, 545-286 to remove the requirement that information from the Second-Hand Goods Register book be submitted to the Executive Director.

d.    Amend Article XXIV, 545-293.1 by deleting the requirement that information from the Old Gold or Old Jewellery Register book be submitted to the Executive Director.

e.    Amend the definition of an Entertainment Establishment/Nightclub so that it reads:

A.   Premises used to provide amplified music for dancing or patron entertainment, and where the premises meets three or more of the following criteria:

1)    The premises offers or advertises bottle service, meaning the sale or service of liquor by the bottle;

2)    The operator, or an agent acting on behalf of the operator refers to or advertises the premises as a club, nightclub, disco, dance hall, dance club, or similar venue;

3)    The premises are equipped with a lighting system, sound system, or disc jockey booth greater in scope than one expected in an eating or drinking establishment;

4)    The premises has a stage, dance floor, or other area used for dancing or patron entertainment.

B.   Despite Subsection A, an entertainment establishment/nightclub shall not include an adult entertainment club.

2.    City Council repeal Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 832, Videotape Stores, Licensing.

3.    City Council direct that Recommendation 1 and Recommendation 2 come into effect on September 30, 2026.

The proposed amendments are outlined in the report titled “Update on the Business Licence and Permit Applications Action Plan and Other Outstanding Directives.” To view or obtain a copy of the report, visit the City's website at:

https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.EC27.1 

At its meeting to be held via video conference and in-person at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, on April 9, 2026 at 9:30 a.m., or as soon as possible thereafter, the Economic and Community Development Committee of Toronto City Council will hear from any person or by his or her counsel, agent, or solicitor, who wishes to speak to the matter.

The proposed amendments are subject to the decisions of the Economic and Community Development Committee and City Council. Consequently, the proposed amendments may be modified. Additional or other amendments to the above-noted By-law, including amendments not contemplated or considered in the proposal by Municipal Licensing and Standards, Economic Development and Culture Division and the Technology Services Division staff, may occur as a result of the decisions of the Committee and City Council.

To submit comments or make a presentation to the Economic and Community Development Committee on April 9, 2026, please contact the Committee no later than 12:00 p.m. on April 8, 2026.

Economic and Community Development Committee

Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West

10th Floor, West Tower, Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2

Telephone: 416-397-4579; Fax: 416-392-1879

Email: ecdc@toronto.ca 

To ask questions regarding the content of the report, please contact:

Joanna Hazelden, Director (A), Policy and Strategic Support

Municipal Licensing and Standards

Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West

16th Floor, West Tower, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Telephone: 416-392-9830

Email: joanna.hazelden@toronto.ca 

Any comments received after the Committee meeting will be forwarded to City Council.

While the staff report sets out proposed changes, the Committee and/or City Council may change these proposals and adopt additional or other amendments that differ from the recommendations set out in the report. The proposed amendments are subject to the decision of the Committee and the decision of City Council.  

If this matter is postponed at the Committee meeting or City Council meeting or considered at a subsequent Committee or City Council meeting, no additional notice will be provided other than the information on the subsequent Committee or City Council agenda. Please contact the above City officials if you require notice in these cases.

The Economic and Community Development Committee will make its final recommendations on April 9, 2026, which will be forwarded to City Council for its meeting on April 22, 2026.

Notice to people writing or making presentations to the Economic and Community Development Committee: The City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the City of Toronto Municipal Code authorize the City of Toronto to collect any personal information in your communication or presentation to City Council or its Committees.

The City collects this information to enable it to make informed decisions on the relevant issue(s). If you are submitting letters, faxes, e-mails, presentations, or other communications to the City, you should be aware that your name and the fact that you communicated with the City will become part of the public record and will appear on the City’s website. The City will also make your communication and any personal information in it - such as your postal address, telephone number, or e-mail address - available to the public, unless you expressly request the City to remove it.

Many Committee, Board, and Advisory Body meetings are broadcast live over the internet for the public to view. If you speak at the meeting you will appear in the video broadcast. Video broadcasts are archived and continue to be publicly available.

If you want to learn more about why and how the City collects your information, write to the

City Clerk’s Office, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto ON, M5H 2N2 or by calling 416-397-4579.

Dated at the City of Toronto on March 31, 2026.