Managing your convenience store or grocery store licence

Once you have been issued a licence, it is your responsibility to operate your store and sell alcohol responsibly in accordance with the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019, the regulations, standards and requirements established by the Registrar and any conditions attached to your licence. Failure to do so may result in regulatory action such as a warning, monetary penalty, suspension, or revocation of your licence.

Small grocers may be eligible to receive a $2,250 rebate on their annual Grocery Store Licence fee.

Eligibility

You may be eligible if:

• you have an active Grocery Store Licence issued after June 17, 2024, and 
• your store, together with all related retail stores has annual worldwide revenue of less than $1 billion (CAD).

How to apply

You must have already applied and paid the full $3,250 annual fee for a Grocery Store Licence at the time of application. Once your licence is issued, you may apply for a “Small Grocer Fee Rebate Request” through the iAGCO portal or by using the button below. If you are eligible for the rebate, your licence fee will be partially refunded.

Rebates will be issued upon confirmation of eligibility that demonstrates the grocery store's total annual worldwide revenue (together with all related retail stores) is less than $1 billion (CAD).

The rebate application only needs to be submitted one-time per licence. If you hold more than one Grocery Store Licence, a separate request must be submitted for each one.

Apply for rebate

How long does it take?

Your rebate request can take up to four weeks to process, with potential extended processing times during periods of high demand. 

Once approved, you will receive an email confirmation, and your rebate will be credited back to the original payment method used for your Grocery Store Licence. Depending on your payment method, it may take an additional two to four weeks to receive your payment.
 

The AGCO will remind you by your preferred contact method (email or mail) 60 days before your licence expires. You must apply to renew your licence and submit the right fee before this expiry date. You must apply to renew your licence through the iAGCO portal.

If we have received your application and payment of fees by the expiry date of your licence, you may continue operating until you receive your renewed licence.

To renew your licence, the AGCO will need confirmation that:

• If you’ve changed owners, you’ve reported it to the AGCO (if you haven’t, you’ll need to apply for a licence transfer first)

Renew your licence

Your licence is issued for a specific convenience or grocery store location. You are responsible for the ongoing compliance with the requirements of the licence. A transfer of licence is required if a different person wishes to acquire the licence.

Transfer of licence to a different person

You can apply to transfer your licence to someone else provided that the regulatory requirements are met, subject to the approval of the AGCO. You’ll need to apply to transfer the licence to a different person. The following documents may be required:

• Personal Disclosure information for individuals associated with the business entity that have or will have decision-making authority and/or supervisory responsibility with respect to the sale of beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink beverages in the convenience store or the grocery stores including sole proprietors, partners in partnership, and officers and directors of a corporation.
• Business Name Registration

Transfer application

You are required to notify the AGCO of any changes to your business, including changes to the ownership and/or management. Further documentation may be required, depending on the situation. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• If a new individual(s) becomes associated with the business entity that has or will have decision-making authority and/or supervisory responsibility with respect to the sale of alcohol, you are required to notify the AGCO of the change in ownership structure, and new individuals must provide Personal Disclosure information.

If you decide to close your business or if you no longer want to sell alcohol, you must surrender your licence to the AGCO and submit a Voluntary Surrender of Licence through iAGCO.

Surrender your licence