LICENCE  
  
Chapter 501  
  
BUSINESS LICENCE FEES  
  
Article 1  
INTERPRETATION  
  
501.1.1 Application - defined  
501.1.2 Chapter - defined  
501.1.3 City - defined  
501.1.4 Council - defined  
501.1.5 Late fee - defined  
501.1.6 Manager of Licensing - defined  
501.1.7 Original fee - defined  
501.1.8 Person - defined  
501.1.9 Renewal fee - defined  
  
Article 2  
GENERAL PROVISIONS  
  
501.2.1 Fees - set out - Schedule ‘A’ - payment upon application  
501.2.2 Fees - Schedule ‘A’ - annual  
501.2.3 Refunds - formula - conditions  
501.2.4 No refund - conditions  
501.2.5 Fee - calculation - charitable organization - or affiliate  
501.2.6 Multiple fees - same location - fee reduction  
501.2.7 Inspection - Manager of Licensing - discretion  
  
Article 3  
VALIDITY  
  
501.3.1 Severability  
  
  
  
  
KITCHENER 501.1 MAY 2022  



 BUSINESS LICENCE FEES   
Article 4  
ENACTMENT  
  
501.4.1 Effective date  
  
SCHEDULE  
  
Schedule ‘A’ - Proposed Fees  
  
__________________________________________________  
  
  
WHEREAS it is deemed expedient to exercise the powers conferred on Council by the  
Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25.  
  
Article 1  
INTERPRETATION  
  
501.1.1 Application - defined  
“application” shall include an application for a licence or renewal of a licence on the form  
provided by the Manager of Licensing and where permitted by the Manager of Licensing  
shall also include a verbal request for renewal of a licence.  
  
501.1.2 Chapter - defined  
“Chapter” shall refer to a by-law of the City which has been incorporated into The City of  
Kitchener Municipal Code and assigned a chapter number therein unless inconsistent  
with the context in which the word is used.  
  
501.1.3 City - defined  
“City” means The Corporation of the City of Kitchener.  
  
501.1.4 Council - defined  
“Council” means the Council of The Corporation of the City of Kitchener.  
  
501.1.5 Late fee - defined  
“late fee” means the fee payable upon application by an applicant, who in the previous  
calendar year held a licence respecting the same business at the same location that is  
noted on the submitted application, where application is not made or the fee therefor is  
unpaid by March 15th of the current year. By-law 2004-262, 6 December, 2004.  
  
501.1.6 Manager of Licensing - defined  
“Manager of Licensing” means the Manager of Licensing appointed by Council of the City  
or in his/her absence the City Clerk appointed by Council of the City. By-law 2004-262, 6  
December, 2004; By-law 2006-227, 27 November, 2006.  
  
  
KITCHENER  501.2 MAY 2022  



 BUSINESS LICENCE FEES   
501.1.7 Original fee - defined  
“original fee” means the fee payable upon application by an applicant who has not in the  
previous calendar year held a licence respecting the same business at the same location  
that is noted on the submitted application.  
  
501.1.8 Person - defined  
“person” includes a corporation and a partnership and the heirs, executors, administrators  
and other legal representatives of a person to whom the context can apply according to  
law.  
  
501.1.9 Renewal fee - defined  
“renewal fee” means the fee payable upon application by an applicant, who in the previous  
calendar year held a licence respecting the same business at the same location that is  
noted on the submitted application, where application is made and the fee therefor is paid  
by March 15th of the current year.  
  
Article 2  
GENERAL PROVISIONS  
  
501.2.1 Fees - set out - Schedule ‘A’ - payment upon application  
Subject to Section 501.2.5 and Section 501.2.6, each person, applying for a licence in  
respect of a trade, occupation, calling or business, shall pay the fee set out in Schedule  
‘A’ hereto unless another fee is specifically prescribed in the Chapter respecting licensing  
of that particular trade, occupation, calling or business. Fees paid shall be returned to the  
applicant if the application for a licence is denied. By-law 2004-262, 6 December, 2004.  
  
501.2.2 Fees - Schedule ‘A’ - annual  
All licence fees set out in Schedule ‘A’ hereto are annual fees unless otherwise indicated.  
All licences set out in Schedule ‘A’ are subject upon change of location, to a fee of  
Seventy-Five Dollars ($75). By-law 2004-262, 6 December, 2004; By-law 2013-080, 10  
June, 2013.  
  
501.2.3 Refunds - formula - conditions  
Subject to Section 501.2.4, in those cases where a licence is surrendered by a person  
ceasing operation, and not due to Council’s revocation of said licence, the licence fee  
shall be partially refunded according to the following formula:  
(a) for a person ceasing operation from January 1st to March 31st in any year - for  
surrender - 75 per cent of the annual fee;  
(b) for a person ceasing operation from April 1st to June 30th in any year - for  
surrender - 50 per cent of the annual fee; and  
(c) for a person ceasing operation from July 1st to December 31st in any year - for  
surrender - no refund. By-law 2004-262, 6 December, 2004.  
  
501.2.4 No refund - conditions  
No refund shall be given for any licence for which the fee payable for the full year is One  
Hundred Dollars ($100) or less; nor for any licence for which a per diem fee is charged,  
KITCHENER  501.3 MAY 2022  



 BUSINESS LICENCE FEES   
nor for any licence issued in respect of a trade, occupation, business or undertaking which  
is normally operated on a seasonal or part-time basis nor for an auctioneer’s or permanent  
vendor’s licence.  
  
501.2.5 Fee - calculation - charitable organization - or affiliate  
Where an application is made for a licence by a recognized, registered bona fide  
charitable organization, the fee to be paid for such licence shall be the sum of 10 per cent  
of the fee that would otherwise be payable. In cases of doubt as to the application of this  
Section, the Manager of Licensing shall refer the application to Council for decision and  
Council’s decision shall be final and binding. By-law 2004-262, 6 December, 2004; By- 
law 2013-080, 10 June, 2013.  
  
501.2.6 Multiple fees - same location - fee reduction  
Where an applicant pays or is required to pay licensing fees for more than one licence  
with respect to the same business location and where an inspection under one licence  
application satisfies an inspection requirement of another licence application, Council  
hereby delegates authority to the Manager of Licensing, and directs the Manager of  
Licensing to:  
(a) refund to the applicant the portion of any licensing fee paid as necessary to ensure  
that the applicant only pays one time for each required inspection; or  
(b) to waive payment of the portion of any licensing fee payable as necessary to  
ensure that the applicant only pays one time for each required inspection.   
  
501.2.7 Inspection - Manager of Licensing - discretion  
The necessity of an inspection referred to in Section 501.2.6 will be in the sole discretion  
of the Manager of Licensing.  
  
Article 3  
VALIDITY  
  
501.3.1 Severability  
It is hereby declared that each and every of the foregoing Sections of this Chapter  
including the provisions of Schedule ‘A’ hereto and each licensing fee therein is severable  
and that, if any provisions of this Chapter should for any reason be declared invalid by  
any court, it is the intention and desire of Council that each and every of the then  
remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.  
  
Article 4  
ENACTMENT  
  
501.4.1 Effective date  
This Chapter comes into force and effect on January 1, 2005. By-law 2004-262, 6  
December, 2004.  
  
  
  
KITCHENER  501.4 MAY 2022  



 BUSINESS LICENCE FEES   
  
SCHEDULE  
  
Schedule ‘A’ – Fees  
  
2020 FEES  
 Original Renewal Late Fee  
Category Licence Fee  
Fee  
Alternative Massage Centre $426.00 $151.00 $313.00  
Complementary Health Care Exempt Exempt Exempt  
Auctioneer $102 $77 $102  
Beauty Salon $220 $128 $168  
Buskers $56 $56 $56  
Contractors $128 $77 $117  
Convenience Store $219 $128 $173  
Driving School $138 $77 $102  
Farmers’ Market - Stationary $230 $179 $214  
Farmers’ Market – Pop-up $128 N/A N/A  
Fireworks Vendor – Class ‘A’ $576 N/A N/A  
Fireworks Vendor – Class ‘B’ $233 $96 $218  
Fireworks Vendor – Class ‘C’ $466 $96 $218  
Food Shop – W/ Liquor Licence $316 $204 $245  
Food Shop – W/O Liquor Licence $281 $189 $235  
Food Truck $230 $128 $168  
Laundrette $230 $128 $168  
Lodging House $1,121 $910 $1030  
Mobile Business $230 $128 $168  
Motor Vehicle Facility $230 $128 $168  
Nightclub $296 $189 $235  
Old Gold $138 $77 $102  
Payday Loan Establishments $587 $383 $459  
Permanent Vendor $128 N/A N/A  
Pet Care Establishment $133 $77 $102  
Pet Shop $133 $77 $102  
Places of Amusement $184         $138 $179  
Pop-up Shop $128 N/A N/A  
Public Hall $316 $204 $245  
Refreshment Vehicle – Class A $230 $179 $214  
Refreshment Vehicle – Class B $168 $128 $168  
Refreshment Vehicle – Class C $189 $138 $179  
KITCHENER  501.5 MAY 2022  



 BUSINESS LICENCE FEES   
2020 FEES  
 Original Renewal Late Fee  
Category Licence Fee  
Fee  
Special Events $230 N/A N/A  
  
Street Vendors $128 $128 $128  
Temporary Vendors $102 N/A N/A  
Theatre $281 $189    $235  
  
  
  
This by-law comes into force and effect on January 1, 2022.  
  
By-law 2012-153, 19 November, 2012, Schedule ‘A’; By-law 2013-080, 10 June, 2013;  
By-law 2013-156, 9 December, 2013; By-law 2014-146, 15 December 2014; By-law  
2015-133, 14 December 2015, By-law 2016-121, 12 December 2016; By-law 2017-127,  
11 December 2017; By-law 2018-029, 19 March, 2018; By-law 2018-128, 17 December,  
2018; By-law 2019-135, 16 December, 2019; By-law 2021-105, 13 December, 2021.  
KITCHENER  501.6 MAY 2022