Section 4: Permanent Modifications to Existing Licences

Permanent Changes to Existing Licensed Areas

Note: For temporary extension of a Liquor Sales Licence, see Section 5.

An application to the AGCO Registrar is required for the following types of changes:

1. Increasing capacity of an existing area.
2. Adding a new permanent licensed area (Indoor or Outdoor). 
3. Changing the boundaries from the original layout of an existing licensed area, that may or may not increase the capacity.
4. Adding walls that separate current licensed areas.
5. Converting an outdoor area to an indoor area and vice versa.

NOTE: IF THE CHANGE YOU ARE PROPOSING DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE LIST ABOVE, PLEASE CONTACT THE AGCO FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT IS REQUIRED.

An application is not required for the following types of changes:

1. Changes to decor.
2. Installing or relocating doors.
3. Installing windows.

You may not sell or serve liquor in the additional areas unless your licence is amended to include the proposed changes.

Note: If you wish to remove a licensed area(s) from the existing licence, you must submit an application for "Removal of Existing Licensed Areas" through your iAGCO account within thirty (30) days of the change. 

Required Information

As with a Liquor Sales Licence application, you will be required to provide:

• Fee(s)
• Floor plan(s)
• Municipal Information Form
• Agency Letters of Approval from Fire, Building, and Health departments 

Public Notice

The AGCO will determine, based on the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019, whether changes to existing licensed areas or additions that are not currently licensed require public notice. The AGCO will inform you whether your application requires public notice. See the Public Notice section earlier in this Guide for more information.

Tiered Seating

Permanently licensed tiered seating for sale, service and consumption of liquor

If you would like to have a permanently licensed tiered seating area in your premises, where the tiered seating is either fixed (e.g. attached) or temporary (e.g. bleachers that are moveable/expandable), you will need to apply to have the tiered seating area permanently licensed.

Notification requirement

Unless there is a specific condition, you will not be required to notify the AGCO when using your tiered seating once the area has been licensed.

Changes to the Premises Name

Licensees may only operate under the name that appears on their Liquor Sales Licence.

The AGCO must be notified if there is a legal name change to an Individual, Entity, or Business/Operating Name via the iAGCO portal.

The business trade (operating) name may have to be registered under the Business Names Act. Also note that corporations must file updated information with respect to officers and directors of a corporation with the Companies and Personal Property Security Branch on a regular basis.

For information and forms, please see the Ontario.ca Central Forms Repository. Forms must be forwarded to the Companies and Personal Property Security Branch for processing.