Liquor Sales Licences

A Liquor Sales Licence may be issued to allow the sale and service of alcohol to the public for on-site consumption. Please refer to the Guide for First-Time Applicants for a Liquor Sales Licence, or visit the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for more information.

Application Process

When submitting a Liquor Sales Licence Application through the AGCO, the application process generally takes between 10 and 12 weeks from the time the application has been filed.

Step 1:

Submit a Liquor Sales Licence application through iAGCO with the following information:

• Application Fee;
• Personal Disclosure, please refer to AGCO, for more information;
• Floor Plans of the Premises;
• Calculation of Capacity; and
• Business Name Registration.

Step 2: Additional Documentation

To support your application, the following documentation is required and should be sent to AGCO as soon as possible.

Municipal Information Form

• Submit the completed form and the application fee of $60.00 to the Clerk’s office, in person or by mail. The City Clerk will sign, date and return the form to you for submission to the AGCO.

Agency Letters of Approval (“Compliance Letters”)

• Contact the Pickering City Development Department, for more information.
  Citydev@pickering.ca or 905.420.4617
• Contact Pickering Fire Services
  Fire@pickering.ca or 905.839.9968
• Contact Durham Region Public Health, for more information
  Ehl@durham.ca or 905-668-2020 or follow the steps outlined below.

Note: The below process for Durham Region Public Health is subject to change without notice. Please contact Ehl@durham.ca for more information.

If you are a new operator and new food premise:

1. Complete Durham Region Public Health’s food premises questionnaire and ensure AGCO license is checked on the form.
2. Submit the form to Durham Region Health Department via e-mail to ehl@durham.ca, by fax 905-666-1887 or mail to: 101 Consumers Drive, 2nd Floor, Whitby, ON, L1N 1C4
3. Durham Region Public Heath will arrange for an on-site inspection and if satisfactory, a Durham Region Health Department letter will be issued to the business to provide to AGCO

If you are existing food premise or new ownership of an existing food premise:

1. Submit your request via e-mail to ehl@durham.ca or contact, 905-668-2020, for more information.
2. Please note: Operator will have to provide the following information to our inspectors:
   • Legal Name of the business
   • Store front name (Operating As)
   • Site Address (including unit #)
   • Name of owner /operator
   • Number of indoor and # of outdoor seats
3. Durham Region Public Heath will arrange for an on-site inspection and if satisfactory, a Durham Region Health Department letter will be issued to the business to provide to AGCO

Applicable fees may apply.

Special Occasion Permits

A Special Occasion Permit is required to sell or serve alcohol at a Public Event under the Liqour Licence Act.

More information on how to apply to sell or serve alcohol at a public event can be found on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) website.

To be eligible for a Special Occasion Permit, Public Events which are not conducted by a registered charity or not for profit entity must be designated as an event of Municipal significance by the municipality in which the event is to take place.

How to apply for a Declaration of a Municipally Significant Event in the City of Pickering:

Applicants who wish to request that the City of Pickering deem their event to be of municipal significance for the purpose of applying for a Special Occasion Permit must submit a written letter with the following information to clerks@pickering.ca:

• Organization name
• Address
• Contact person
• Event date
• Explanation of why the event should be considered “significant”

Before the designation letter can be issued, applicants must pay the $60.00 (+HST) application fee. Payment can be made in person at the Clerk’s Office by credit, debit, or cheque payable to:

City Clerk
Legislative Services Division
City of Pickering
One The Esplanade
Pickering, ON  L1V 6K7

Submission Deadlines are based on estimated attendance:

• Under 5,000 attendees per day: Submit 45 days before the event
• 5,000 or more attendees per day: Submit 75 days before the event

Eligible Events:

• Events that benefit the entire community and are of significant community profile; 
• A community celebration of special importance that will benefit the entire community; or,
• Events where the public gather to participate in athletic, social, religious, cultural, recreational, educational programs or one with other community objectives.

Trade shows and other commercial events will not be designated as a municipally significant event and these proponents are encouraged to partner with a non-profit charitable organization or third party in order to obtain a Special Occasion Permit.

Please see Procedure ADM 180-001 Special Occasion Permits – Public Events of Municipal Significance for more detailed information regarding applying for a Declaration of Municipally Significant Event in the City of Pickering.

For more information, please contact the Clerk’s Office at 905.420.4611 or by email clerks@pickering.ca