BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGISTRATION

Municipal Business Licenses
A general business license is not required from the City of St. Thomas, although the regulations listed below apply to a select few business operations.  Please check with the Licensing Department at 519-631-1680, extension 4112 to verify licensing regulations for your business.  The following business licenses are required in order to operate in the City of St. Thomas

SALE OF GOODS BY-LAW No. 23-2002
Governs the sale of goods by persons going from place to place or a particular place with goods or merchandise for sale on a retail basis.  Fees are $313.65.00 for each event, which includes up to six 6) continuous days within a calendar year or $1,150.00 for any and all such events within a calendar year.
Old gold, old jewellery and other precious metal buying events are included in this by-law.
Sale of Goods License - Application Form

SALE OF PERISHABLE GOODS BY-LAW No. 10-2003
Governs the sale of perishable goods by persons going from place to place or a particular place with perishable goods for sale on a retail basis.  Fees are $313.65.00 for each event, which includes up to six (6) continuous days within a calendar year or $1,150.00 for any and all such events within a calendar year.
Sale of Perishable Goods License - Application Form

PAWNBROKERS BY-LAW No. 66-94
Governs the operation of Pawnbroker businesses located in the City.  Every Pawnbroker shall give to the Corporation a security deposit in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2000.00), which is held for the duration of the Pawn Brokers business.  Fees are $100.00 per year.
Pawnbrokers Application Form

NON-RESIDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS BY-LAW No. 35-63
Governs Photographers who go from place to place or to a particular place within the limits of the City who are not residents of the City of St. Thomas.  This by-law does not apply to persons who take photographs for use in newspapers, magazines and periodicals or in television broadcasts or photographers on a specific assignment to local industries.  Fees are $150.00 per year.

MOBILE REFRESHMENT BY-LAW No. 9-92
Governs the operation of mobile food carts, trucks and wagons.  The 2013 license fees are noted below.
Mobile Refreshment License - Application Form

HOT DOG CARTS - $365.91 per year.  Three (3) hot dog carts are allowed to operate within the City.  If openings exist, applications are available from the Licensing Office.

CHIP WAGONS - $365.91 per year.  Two (2) chip wagons are allowed to operate within the City.
If openings exist, application forms are available from the Licensing Office.

ICE CREAM WAGONS - $62.73 per year.  Six  (6) ice cream bicycles are allowed to operate within the City. If openings exist, application forms are available from the Licensing Office.

MOBILE LUNCH TRUCK - $182.95 per year.  The By-law does not restrict the number of lunch trucks.  However, there are restrictions regarding location of operation.

MOTORIZED MOBILE ICE CREAM TRUCK - $182.95 per year.  The By-law does not restrict the number of ice cream trucks.  However, there are restrictions regarding vehicle safety features for vehicle, location, etc.  

LODGING HOUSE BY-LAW No. 123-88
Governs the operation of lodging houses and the keepers of lodging houses.  (Boarding Houses included)

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BY-LAW No. 7-2001
Governs the operation of adult entertainment parlors. 

Other Government Agencies You Should Contact