Municipal Licensing

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Municipal Licensing
Carolynn Reid Manager, Small Business Enterprise
Centre, March 2003
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Why do we need licensing?

• Designed for the good of the public
• Protection of the consumer

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A Municipal License is

• The official Municipal permission to carry on a
  business or occupation

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Building and Licensing Division Standards
Licensing Section

• Is responsible for the issuance and
  administration of Municipal Licenses

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and for the enforcement of

• The condition of a property (Property Standards)
• Legality of the use of a property (does the
  property conform to the Zoning By-Law)
• Accumulation of garbage and debris

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Continued

• Excessive growth of grass or weeds
• Excessive noise
• AND
• Establishment licenses
• Mobile licenses
• Trade licenses

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Types of licenses

• As revised August 1, 2001 the new Municipal
  By-Law 01-156 with respect to
• Establishment
• Mobile
• Trade

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Establishment license

• A license is required for the location of a
  business such as
• Restaurant
• Garage
• Video store
• Food shop
• Body rub parlor

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Application process

• Application completed by the individual owner,
  partner, signing officer or president
• Completed application plus required fees
• Additional information Character criteria

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Process continued

• Encouraged to obtain a zoning verification
  certificate prior
• Inspection by various departments
• Fire
• Health
• traffic

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Home Based Businesses

• Licensing
• Requirements

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Moblie licenses

• A yearly license is required by the individual of
  a business such as
• Cab driver
• Tow truck driver
• Adult entertainer

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Application process

• Submit application
• Processing fee
• AND
• Character criteria
• OR
• Driving record criteria
• Application from the cab broker

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Taxi inspections

• Regular or routine inspections
• Unannounced on-street inspections
• AND
• Taxi exams

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Trade licenses

• The licensing of Contractors Masters
• Building Repair
• Electric
• Plumbing
• Heating
• Ventilation and Air Conditioning
• Drain Laying

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Purpose

• Sets out the procedure to ensure the proper
  regulation of prescribed businesses/trades
• Protects to those members of the public who would
  be employing such businesses/trades

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Contractor license

• Grants legal permission to engage in the business
  of carrying out the trade
• Therefore, licenses the business

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Master license

• Is held by the person who is skilled in the trade
  and who is familiar with the laws, rules and
  regulations
• Therefore, licenses the person
• Owner/operators require both

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Application process

• Submit application
• Processing fee
• Insurance (public liability and property damage)
• Police clearance
• examination

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Examination covers

• General trade knowledge
• Related legislation-Ontario Acts
• Code rules
• Technical requirements
• Trade practices

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• City of Hamilton Building and Licensing Division
• 3rd floor
• Hamilton City Hall
• [phone]
• [phone]
• www.hamilton.ca

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Sources of Financing

• Grants
• Loans
• Youth Programs

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According to Statistics Canada

• 79 small firms (1-4 employees) that sought a
  loan or other type of credit in 2000 GOT IT!
• 43 requested operating credit instruments (new
  line or higher limits)
• 66 financing from banks
• 83 firms said they only approached 1 credit
  supplier
• 2 firms sought grants from government

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Grants

• www.cbsc.org search grants
• Minority sectors
• HRDC sponsored SEB Program

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Loans

• Canada Small Business Financing (CSBF) Program
• Up to 250,000 to help finance fixed assets
• Available through approved lenders
• Businesses for profit
• Excludes financing inventory, working capital or
  existing debt

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More loans

• Business Development Bank of Canada
• Co-Vision Loan Program
• Up to 100,000 for new businesses
• Provides training and counselling
• can be used for working capital, fixed assets
  or start-up costs
• Manufacturing, technology, tourism, service
  sectors ONLY

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And

• Other financial institutions
• Chartered banks
• Trust companies
• Shop around!

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City of Hamilton Open for Business Programs

• Policy
• To encourage new residential and commercial
  development in downtown Hamilton, the City of
  Hamilton initiated programs that have resulted in
  the refund of numerous building related fees, a
  moratorium on development charges, a refund of
  parkland dedication fees and no parking
  requirements

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Programs

• Community Property Improvement Loan Program
• Convert /Renovate to Residential Loan Program
• Gore Heritage 2000 Program/Core Heritage 2000
  Program
• Community Heritage Trust Fund

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Other Sources of Financing

• http//strategis.ic.gc.ca/sources
• Leasing
• Factoring
• Angel investors
• Venture capital

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Start-up reality

• Love money from family and/or friends
• Savings
• Go slow!

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Youth Programs

• Summer Company
• My Company
• http//www.hamiltonsmallbusiness.ca