Liquor Licences

Permanent establishments and outdoor patios

If you are seeking a liquor licence for a permanent establishment in St. Catharines, you must complete the following steps and review the following requirements:

• Apply to the AGCO for a liquor licence.
• Apply for a Zoning Compliance letter from Planning and Building Services if you don't have a building permit for this address. The current fee can be found in the Rates and Fees Guide.
• Complete the City of St. Catharines Liquor Licence Application. The current fee can be found in the Rates and Fees Guide.
• Complete the Municipal Information Form obtained from the AGCO application package.
• Provide drawings which must include the following:
  • Site plan, floor plan and intended use, seating plan, occupant load, washroom calculations, all fixed millwork, and non-fixed elements greater than 1.0 square meters (i.e., pool table, arcade games) and/or equipment and exit calculations.  Drawings must be legible, dimensioned and to scale.
  • If the proposed occupancy load exceeds 30 seats, an architect will be required to be retained to undertake the general design and calculations required.
  • If there is a patio, site plan control may be required.
  • If there is a previous or current liquor licence on the premises, a copy is to be provided with applications.
• Submit your application fee payment along with your completed City of St. Catharines Liquor Licence Application Form, Municipal Information Form drawings as outlined above, and Zoning / Building compliance letter to Planning and Building Services. At this time you can also confirm and initiate the appropriate permits and approvals along with any associated fees.
• Contact Fire Services (905.688.5600 ext. 4224) and Niagara Region Public Health (905.688.3762) to schedule any inspections in accordance with AGCO requirements. There may be additional fees for inspections.
• Complete all other required AGCO documents and submit them to AGCO.

Temporary outdoor patios

Learn how to apply for temporary outdoor patios for your business if you have existing valid liquor and business licences.

New outdoor patios

Before a request is granted for a liquor licence for your business' new outdoor patio, you must provide to our Planning and Building Services in addition to your application:

• A structural drawing, stamped by a professional engineer, of the patio showing the deck, guard and any screening, if a building permit is required.
• A site plan showing the building, the patio, the parking area, the distance of the patio from the property lines and distance from the nearest residential dwellings.

Our Planning and Building Services staff will:

• Confirm if a site plan application and approval is required
• Coordinate municipal approvals confirming that your establishment meets fire code, building code and public health regulations
• Notify the AGCO once inspections and approvals are completed to the satisfaction of municipal authorities

Temporary Extensions

The AGCO gives consent for those with existing licences to temporarily extend the physical boundaries of their liquor licences. This includes extending licensed areas to adjacent areas for special events or occasions. 

• Apply to the AGCO for a Temporary Extension.
• Provide a letter to Planning and Building Services, located on the first floor of City Hall, detailing the event that is taking place, along with a detailed layout/site plan that includes any tents and tent sizes. Your letter must include the date, time and location of the event, in addition to details of any propane tanks being used or vendors attending.
• Tents of a specific size require a Temporary Building Structure Permit.
• We will advise if you need an Event Promoter Licence if you have vendors participating in your event.
• Submit your application fee.
• Contact Fire Services (905.688.5600 ext. 4224), Niagara Region Public Health and Police Services in accordance with AGCO requirements.
• Allow the City 30 days for processing the Special Occasion Permit on top of any AGCO timelines.

Our staff will:

• Circulate the detailed layout of the event to Fire Services, Building and Planning Services and Legal Services for review of applicant compliance
• Issue a Letter of Non-Objection to you upon subsequent approval

Special Occasion Permits

The AGCO gives consent for Special Occasion Permits. This permit is required if you wish to sell alcoholic beverages anywhere other than in a licensed establishment (such as a bar or restaurant) or a private place (such as a private office or home).

To obtain the permit, you must complete the following steps and review the following requirements:

• Apply to the AGCO for a Special Occasion Permit.
• Provide a letter to Planning and Building Services, located on the first floor of City Hall, detailing the event that is taking place, along with a detailed layout/site plan that includes any tents and tent sizes. Your letter must include the date, time and location of the event, in addition to details of any propane tanks being used or vendors attending.
• Tents of a specific size require a Temporary Building Structure Permit.
• We will advise if you need an Event Promoter Licence if you have vendors participating in your event.
• Submit your application fee.
• Contact Fire Services (905-688-5600 ext. 4224), Niagara Region Public Health and Police Services in accordance with AGCO requirements.
• Allow the City 30 days for processing the Special Occasion Permit on top of any AGCO timelines.

Our staff will:

• Circulate the detailed layout of the event to Fire Services, Building and Planning Services and Legal Services for review of applicant compliance
• Issue a Letter of Non-Objection to you upon subsequent approval

Designation of Municipal Significance

When applying for a Special Occasion Permit for a public event, you may be asked by the AGCO to obtain a designation of Municipal Significance. In this event, you must complete the following steps and review the following requirements:

• Review the Municipal Significance Application Process
• Provide an application letter detailing the event, including any requirements from the Municipal Significance Application Process, and a detailed layout/site plan to our Community, Recreation and Culture Services by emailing us at events@stcatharines.ca with the subject line: Request for Municipal Significance
• Be sure to include the date, time and location of the event, as well as additional event details and components such as:
  • Air supported structures
  • Food services
  • Live entertainment
  • Parking plans and information
  • Road closures, and traffic flow and direction
  • Security
  • Staging
  • Tents to be erected and their sizes
  • Washrooms
  • Waste management
• Submit your application fee.
• Obtain a Special Event Permit from our Community, Recreation and Culture Services if the event is taking place on City property
• Obtain a Certificate of Insurance if the event is taking place on City property
• A Temporary Building Structure Permit for your tents, if applicable.
• An Event Promoter Licence if you have vendors participating in your event
• Allow the City 30 days for processing the Special Occasion Permit on top of any AGCO timelines

Our Community, Recreation and Culture Services staff will:

• Circulate the event information to Fire Services, Engineering, Facilities and Environmental Services, Planning and Building Services, Financial Management Services and Legal and Clerks Services
• Issue a Letter of Letter of Municipal Significance to you upon subsequent approval