second hand clothing hanging on rack

Licences for Buying and/or Selling Goods

The City’s review of the Business Licensing By-law has been completed and Business Licensing By-law 122-2024 is effective November 4, 2024. Details on the review along with the approved program enhancements are available in Report SF-24-06. Previous Temporary Licence Exemptions that were in place for select Peddler Licences (General Peddlers and Special Event Organizers) no longer apply. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Note: As of November 4, 2024, Auctioneers are no longer regulated by the City of Oshawa.

The City administers various licences for businesses that address health and safety issues and provide consumer protection.

View the class specific details for the following regulated business operations related to the buying and/or selling of goods:

Peddler
Special Event Organizer
Second Hand Dealer and Pawnbrokers
- Class “A” Second Hand/Pawn Shop
- Class “B” Salvage Second Hand Dealer

Peddler

A Peddler is a person who goes from place to place, or to a particular place, with goods, wares or merchandise for sale, or who carries and exposes samples, patterns or specimens of any goods, wares or merchandise that are to be delivered in the City afterwards.

If you wish to sell goods, wares or merchandise on a temporary basis, you will require a Peddler Licence. A Peddler Licence is valid for one (1) year and allows the licensee the ability to sell goods throughout the one (1) year term. Licensees are required to notify the City (fill out an application form) and provide details and documents for each sales date and location.

A Peddler Licence is not required if you are selling goods, wares or merchandise at a Special Event, such as at a festival, craft show or fair, and the event organizer has a Special Event Organizer Licence.

Fees for a Peddler Licence: $30 (no application fee applies to this licence)

Application Requirements

To apply for a Peddler Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Property Ownership or Land Use Authorization
- Property Ownership – if you are the property owner of the proposed vending location, please submit a document proving property ownership.
- Land Use Authorization – the lease, rental agreement or letter of authorization from the property owner of the proposed location for you to vend from the site.
Site Plan – a sketch, diagram or map of where you will be located, including parking spaces, entrances and exits, and other businesses nearby

Apply for a Peddler Licence or Submit Updated Sales Location/Date Information

Special Event Organizer

A Special Event Organizer is any person organizing an event involving multiple vendors at one (1) location exhibiting, offering for sale and/or distribution of goods, wares and/or merchandise to the general public on a temporary basis, and includes, but is not limited to trade shows and craft fairs. A Special Event Organizer Licence is valid for one (1) year and allows the licensee to organize multiple events throughout the term. Licensees are required to notify the City (fill out an application form) and provide details and documents for each organized special event.

A Special Event Organizer Licence covers all vendors of goods or wares (Peddler) for each licensed special event, but does not include food vendors. Food vendors must obtain their own Food Shop Licence to be able part of a special event. See the Food Licensing page or the Special Event page for more details.

Fees to apply for a Special Event Organizer Licence: $75 ($50 application fee plus $25 licence fee)

Application Requirements

To apply for a Special Event Organizer Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Business Name Registration (if applicable)
Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
Property Ownership or Land Use Authorization
- Property Ownership – if you are the property owner of the proposed vending location, please submit a document proving property ownership.
- Land Use Authorization – the lease, rental agreement or letter of authorization from the property owner of the proposed location for you to vend from the site.
Event Site Plan - Site plan sketch, diagram, or map of where you will be located, including parking spaces, entrances and exits, and other nearby businesses.
List of Vendors – the list of all vendors attending your Special Event
E. S. A. Generator Inspection (if applicable) - for any generators on site if the output is greater than 12 kilowatts and 240 volts.
Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence with the City of Oshawa named as Additional Insured.
If food will be sold at your Special Event, you (the Special Event Organizer) is required to fill out a Durham Region Health : Community Special Events and Farmers’ Markets: Vendor Application for approval from Durham Region Health Department for your all food vendors attending your Special Event

Apply for a Special Event Organizer Licence or Submit Updated Sales Location/Date Information

Second Hand Dealer and Pawnbroker

Class "A" Second Hand/Pawn Shop

A Second Hand Dealer is a person dealing in second hand goods, and a Pawnbroker is a person who carries on the business of taking by way of pawn or pledge any second hand good. A second hand good is a good acquired from a person who is not a manufacturer or wholesaler.

Fees for a new Class “A” Second Hand/Pawn Shop Licence: $500 ($50 application fee plus $450 new licence fee)

Fees to renew your current Class “A” Second Hand/Pawn Shop Licence: $325 ($50 application fee plus $275 renewal licence fee)

Application Requirements

To apply for a Class “A” Second Hand/Pawn Shop Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Business Name Registration
Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
Property Ownership or Lease of Premises for your place of business
Enhanced Floor Plan of Premises - Detailed site plan sketch or diagram of the interior of the premises, including all rooms (highlighting the required Holding Area), entrances and exits, and exterior including parking spaces and other businesses located nearby
Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence
Level 1 Criminal Record Check (C.R.C.) dated within thirty (30) days of your application. This is required every five (5) years.

To apply for a Class "A" Second Hand/Pawn Shop Licence email [email protected].

Class "B" Salvage Second Hand Dealer

A Salvage Second Hand Dealer is a person dealing in second hand goods exclusively to wreck, dismantle, and recycle such goods before their disposition.

Fees for a new Class “B” Salvage Second Hand Dealer Licence: $500 ($50 application fee plus $450 new license fee)

Fees to renew your current Class “B” Salvage Second Hand Dealer Licence: $450 ($50 application fee plus $400 renewal licence fee)

Application Requirements

To apply for a Salvage Second Hand Dealer Class “B” Salvage Second Hand Dealer Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Business Name Registration
Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
Property Ownership or Lease of Premises for your place of business
Enhanced Floor Plan of Premises - Detailed site plan sketch, diagram, or map of the interior of the premises, including all rooms, entrances and exits, and exterior including parking spaces other businesses located nearby.
Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence
Level 1 Criminal Record Check (C.R.C.) dated within thirty (30) days of your application. This is required every five (5) years.

To apply for a Class "B" Salvage Second Hand Dealer Licence email [email protected].

Licences previously issued under Repealed Business Licensing By-law 120-2005 are valid for the duration of licence term and are subject to the requirements, regulations and conditions found in By-law 120-2005. Any renewal of a licence after that term has expired is subject to the requirements, regulations and conditions of Business Licensing By-law 122-2024.