On June 29th, 2020 the Town of Newmarket passed a Business Licencing By-law requiring Pet Stores to obtain a licence to operate within the Town. 

Fees and Licence

The annual business licence fee for Pet Stores is $150.  Recognizing that the By-law was adopted on June 29th. 2020, the Town is prepared to reduce this fee by 50 percent.  Therefore you will only be required to pay $75 in 2020.

As a result of COVID-19, the Town of Newmarket has made changes to the application process in an effort to support local businesses.  

• First, the $50 application fee that is usually required to be submitted with any Business Licence application has been waived.  

• Second, the Town is offering a 90 day deferral of the $75 licence fee for any businesses that provide documentation to support financial hardship.

Completed Applications can be emailed to licensing@newmarket.ca

• All Pet Stores must be maintained in a sanitary, well-ventilated clean condition and free from odours
  
• All animals must be kept in sanitary, quarters, and at appropriate temperatures
  
• All cages must be appropriate sizes, be equipped with receptacles for food and water, etc.
  
• Food and fresh water must be provided daily as appropriate for animal
  
• All licensed pet stores must:
  
• provide to the purchasers of a cat or dog a health assessment from a licensed Veterinarian
  
• only permit cats or dogs in the store for the purposes of sale animals from municipal animal shelters, registered human societies, registered shelters, or a recognized animal rescue group
  
• provide all cats or dogs reasonable exercise
  
• not sell any animal until it has reached the normal age for weaning
  
• provide purchasers with all available information pertaining to the sale of the animal including a receipt showing the name and address of the vendor and purchaser, the date of sale, the sale price, the breed or crossbreed, sex, age, and description 
  
• maintain a registry of each dog or cat purchased which includes the date of purchase, description of the dog or cat, name, address, and contact information of the person from whom the animal was obtained
  

• Short term Rental Company Application
• Form 1 - Licensing Fees Agreement
  
• Short term Rental Operator Application
• Short term rental sign fact sheet
  

Summary of Regulations

The summary below is provided for convenience only and is not comprehensive. For the full regulations please see the Business License By-law. 

• No more than one short-term rental is permitted on a lot
• short term rentals may only be operated within one dwelling unit on a lot
• short term rentals must provide one off-street parking space for each bedroom, in addition to one off-street parking space for the permanent resident of the property
• each bedroom intended to be rented shall be clearly identified through the application process by providing a floor plan
• any changes to the number of bedrooms rented shall be updated through a licence amendment application

An operator (such as homeowner) of a short-term rental shall not:

• rent out any vehicle, tent or accessory building
• rent more than 3 bedrooms
• permit more than 6 overnight guests
• rent bedrooms that are not identified on the licence application

An operator (homeowner) of a short-term rental shall:

• post or display the business licence number on any marketing, advertising or promotions
  
• provide to each guest and the Town the telephone number of the person who is present or available to respond to concerns regarding these regulations
  
• market their business only on an approved platform
  

• apply for and obtain a licence
  
• execute an agreement with the Town governing the use, retention and disclosure of operator and guest information
  
• keep a record of each transaction for 3 years which shall include:

• name, address and licence number of the Operator
• number of nights the short term rental was rented
• nightly and total price charged
• whether the rental was an entire-unit rental or room rental
• provide the records referred to above to the Town on request 
  

On March 3, 2020 the Town of Newmarket passed a by-law requiring mobile businesses to obtain a license to operate within the Town.  Licenses will be required by business owners, not individual drivers (with the exception of driving school instructors). As of April 1, 2020 all applications for mobile business licensing are available. 

Completed applications can be emailed to licensing@newmarket.ca.

Mobile businesses include:

• Taxicab Companies
  
• Application
  
• Transportation Network Companies (e.g. Uber, Lyft)
  
• Application
  
• Tow Truck Companies
  
• Application
  
• Driving School Instructors
  
• Application
  
• Refreshment Vehicles (e.g. ice cream trucks, hot dog carts)
  
• Application
  
• Limousine Companies
  
• Application
  
• General Businesses
  
• Application
  

A mobile business is not:

• A stall at a farmer's market
• A business which uses a vehicle only as a way to transport its goods/services to a customer (e.g. a courier)
• Any other form of business that is restricted from regulation by a Municipality under the Municipal Act.

What's next for mobile businesses?

Applications for Mobile Business Licences are now available as of April 1, 2020. However, rules and regulations came into effect on March 2, 2020. Courtesy reminders will be provided during the implementation process to ensure all business owners are aware of the changes. 

Note for Driving School Instructors: if you obtained your license in September 2019, you will not be required to renew your license per the updated requirements until January 1, 2021.  You will still be required to comply with the new rules and regulations. 

What are the by-laws?

One new Mobile Business Licence By-Law 2020-07 will govern all mobile businesses, including the taxicabs, refreshment vehicles and driving instructors which were previously covered under individual by-laws. The Fees and Charges By-law outlines the annual licensing and renewal fees.

 The following by-laws have been repealed:

• Taxi By-law 2017-31
• Refreshment Vehicles By-law 2016-52
• Driving School Instructors By-law 2019-62