Oakville streamlines licensing rules to cut red tape and reduce costs for seven local business types

The Town is taking steps to make it easier and less costly to do business in Oakville. At its October 6 meeting, Council approved a recommendation from Municipal Enforcement Services (MES) staff to end the need for licensing seven business types and help reduce unnecessary red tape while ensuring public safety remains protected.

Auctioneers, billiard halls, bowling alleys, and dry cleaners/laundromats, as well as contractors for drain-laying, plumbing, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) will no longer need to obtain a Town-issued business licence to operate in Oakville. In evaluating these business types, MES staff found they presented minimal risks to public safety and health, and most are already regulated through other professional certifications, by-laws or permits. Staff’s review also found complaints to the Town about these seven business types were rare and, where needed, could be handled through other permits or regulations.

Business types were evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Health and safety risks;
• Consumer protection;
• Nuisance or community impact;
• Redundancy (e.g., whether regulation is already covered by other by-laws, programs or provincial/federal legislation);
• Whether certifications or other qualifications are required to work in the business;
• Enforcement history (e.g., the number of complaints and/or frequency of non-compliance issues); and
• Public benefit of licensing (e.g., does licensing help mitigate risks or enhance service quality).

By discontinuing the need for licensing of the seven business types, the Town will reduce administrative costs for businesses and the municipality. As well, the Town can focus resources on higher-risk industries where its oversight can offer the greatest public benefit. 

Next steps

Any businesses affected by the by-law change, and that have already paid licensing fees for 2025, will be refunded on a prorated basis up to a maximum of 10 months.

By-law 2015-075 will remain in effect until a new Business Licensing By-law is presented to Council, expected later this year. That by-law, if approved, will come into effect one year later to allow time for operational changes by MES staff. Ending licensing for the seven identified business types now means affected businesses will not have to wait to benefit from the Town’s streamlined rules.

For more information, read staff’s report or visit the Town’s Business Licence, Licensed Contractors, or Short Term Accommodation Licence pages.

Quote

“Streamlining processes for businesses and saving the Town administrative costs is a ‘win-win’. By cutting red tape, we help businesses do what they do best: serve their customers and create jobs. The Town's evidence-based approach in this decision ensures consumer and community protections remain in place where they matter most.” 
– Mayor Rob Burton