Payday Loan Establishment Licence

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. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].  

A Payday Loan Establishment is any premise where a licensee within the meaning of the Payday Loans Act, 2008 may operate a business according to a licence issued under that Act. All Payday Loan Establishments must provide educational material in accordance with the Act.

Applying for a New Payday Loan Establishment Licence

Any Payday Loan Establishment operating in Oshawa must be licensed by the City. Before applying for a new Payday Loan Establishment Licence, please contact Licensing Services to check the number of Payday Loan Establishments currently licensed to operate in Oshawa. If there are more than ten (10) currently licensed, a new Payday Loan Establishment Licence cannot be issued. 

Application Requirements

Fees for a new Payday Loan Establishment Licence: $200 ($50 application fee plus $150 annual licence fee).

To apply for a new Payday Loan Establishment Licence, you must submit the following documents:

• Business Name Registration or Franchise Agreement
• Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
• Property Ownership or Lease of Premises for your place of business
• Commercial General Liability Insurance with a limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence with the City of Oshawa named as Additional Insured
• A valid Provincial Payday Lender Licence

Apply for a new Payday Loan Establishment Licence 

Renewal Requirements

Fees to renew your Payday Loan Establishment Licence: $200 ($50 application fee plus $150 annual licence fee).

To renew your current Payday Loan Establishment Licence, you must submit the following documents: 

• Property Ownership or Lease of Premises for your place of business
• Commercial General Liability Insurance with a limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence with the City of Oshawa named as Additional Insured
• A valid Provincial Payday Lender Licence 

Renew Payday Loan Establishment Licence 

Business Licensing By-law 122-2024 states:

• There will be no more than ten (10) Payday Loan Establishments within the municipal boundary
• Up to two (2) Payday Loan Establishments are allowed per ward
• Payday Loan Establishments are prohibited from operating in the Downtown Urban Growth Centre as defined in the Oshawa Official Plan
• Payday Loan Establishments cannot be located within one-hundred fifty (150) metres of another licensed Payday Loan Establishment or elementary or secondary school

These restrictions do not apply to the already licensed Payday Loan Establishments that continue to operate at their current locations and maintain and renew their municipal licence annually.

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.