Business Permits and Licences

• Garage businesses to repair vehicles
• Used car lots
• Gasoline sales
• Lodging houses
• Hawker and peddler (including food trucks)
• Refreshment vehicles
• Trailer camps
• Kennels (for properties that house more than three dogs)

• All food premises (including restaurants, caterers, banquet halls, mobile premises)
• Special events where food is served
• Farmers markets
• Personal services settings (including hair salons, barber shops, nail and pedicure salons, tattoo parlours)
• Second level lodging homes
• Group homes
• Licensed day nurseries including before and after school programs. (Day nurseries are licensed by the Ministry of Education)
• Retirement homes (licensed by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Agency)   

If you are unsure if your business will require an inspection, please contact Niagara Region Public Health.

All business licencing, inspection and enforcement services have been transferred to the Niagara Region.

The Niagara Region issues licenses for different business types and occupations, including the following: 

• Taxicabs
• Tow trucks
• Limousines
• Sightseeing and shuttle vehicles (including horse drawn carriages)
• Salvage yards
• Scrap dealers
• Auto wrecking yards
• Second hand stores
• Second hand goods dealers
• Adult exotic entertainment parlours and dancers

If you are unsure your business will require a license, please contact the Niagara Region.

Please visit the City's Starting a Business page for a guide to business regulations, licenses and other considerations

Trailer camps

If you have a trailer park within the City of Port Colborne, you need to apply for a licence to operate. You must also contact Niagara Region Public Health and the Port Colborne Fire Department to arrange an inspection.

• Trailer Camp Licence Application

Lodging houses

If you own a Lodging House within the City of Port Colborne, you need to apply for a licence to operate. You must also contact Niagara Region Public Health at and the Port Colborne Fire Department to arrange an inspection.

• Lodging House Licence Application

Garages

If you own any of the following, you need to apply for a Garage licence from the City of Port Colborne.

• Motor vehicle repair shop, including a building or place where motor vehicles may be oiled, greased or washed, have their ignition adjusted, tires inflated or batteries charged, or where only minor or running repairs essential to the actual operation of motor vehicles are executed or performed
• Parking station, parking lot/building, or place where motor vehicles are hired or kept or used for hire
• Place where vehicles are stored or kept for sale
• Used/unfit motor vehicles on property (Bylaw Section 22 re: Uncertified vehicles; parts)
• Motor vehicle inspection station (MVIS)

• Garage Licence Application - New
• Garage Licence Application - Renewal

Gasoline sales

A garage licence is not required for businesses that only sell gas.

Hawkers, peddlers and refreshment vehicles

If you are hawker or peddler, refreshment vehicle, or chip stand/vending cart, you must apply for a licence to operate in the City of Port Colborne. In the application, you will find a summary of requirements for operating your business.

• Hawker or Peddlers /Refreshment Vehicle Licence Application

Kennels

If you operate a Kennel within the City of Port Colborne, you are required to have a kennel licence.

• To apply for a new kennel licence, contact our Licensing Clerk.
• To re-new your kennel licence, apply directly to the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society.