The City of Port Colborne requires Municipal business licences for trailer parks, public garages, lodging houses, hawkers and peddlers, refreshment vehicles and kennels. If you operate a second-hand goods business, salvage yard or transportation businesses, you need a licence from Niagara Region. 

Starting a home business?

If you are inquiring about a home business, please call our Planning Department for more information. 

How to apply

You can email or drop off your completed application to the Licensing Clerk at City Hall located at, 66 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne ON, L3K 3C8.

Please submit your application well before your proposed start date to allow enough time for processing and review.

Trailer parks

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.

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.

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)

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you require a Garage Licence from the City of Port Colborne.

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.

Kennels

If you operate a Kennel within the City of Port Colborne, you are required to have a licence. For more information on Kennel Licences, visit the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society for contact information.

Completed applications

Once the completed application and fee(s) are received, your application will be circulated to the following departments, if necessary for approval:

  • Building Division
  • By-law Enforcement Division
  • Fire and Emergency Services
  • Planning Department
  • Niagara Regional Public Health
  • Niagara Regional Police

BizPaL

Visit BizPaL if you have questions about other types of non-municipal permits your business may need.

BizPaL is an online service with information from federal and provincial governments. It will help you to figure out what permits, licences and other requirements you need to start your business.

Sign permits

Are you thinking of installing a new sign for your business? If so, visit our sign permit page for more information.

Building permits

Do you require a building permit? If so, visit our building permit page for more information.