Business licences
Kitchener business licence
Whether your Kitchener business needs a city licence, and what else you need from the province and CRA.
Does every Kitchener business need a licence?
No. Ontario municipalities license specific business categories, not every business. Kitchener licenses regulated business categories through its licensing office. Check the city's own list for your business type before you open.
Categories cities commonly license
- Food service, restaurants and food trucks
- Taxis, rideshare, tow trucks and driving schools
- Personal services: hair, nails, tattoo, body art
- Contractors and renovators (in some cities)
- Entertainment venues, short-term rentals, pet shops
Lists vary by city. Only the city's own by-law is authoritative.
What the city licence does not cover
- Registering your business name: Ontario registration
- Your CRA business number and HST: business number guide
- Provincial licences for regulated trades: Ontario licences
- Zoning and building permits, usually from the same city's planning department.