Business Licenses

A business licence is required to ensure that businesses deemed to require a licence follow the Municipality’s land use regulations, building, fire, and other community safety requirements. Business licensing is a way for the Municipality to provide some consumer protection and maintain a safe environment for the general public through inspections.

Those looking to obtain a Business Licence to be a Vendor, Mobile Food Vendor, or Public Market in Hastings Highlands are required to submit a completed application with the required inspections/approvals etc. and fees to the Municipality's Licensing Officer (Municipal Clerk).

Applications, resources and information can be found by licence type below:

• Vendor Business Licence (Goods, Wares, Merchandise)
• Mobile Food Vendor Licence (Food Truck, Cart, Stand etc.)
• Public Market Licence (Farmers' Market, Flea Market, Craft Market etc.)
• Door-to-Door Sales in Hastings Highlands

The Municipality permits Vendors, Mobile Food Vendors and Public Markets to operate on approved Municipal and Private Property once they’ve received a Business Licence.

Private Property

The Municipality’s Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw (CZBL) controls the use of land in Hastings Highlands. It states how land may be used and where structures and other buildings can be located.

Vendors and Mobile Food Vendors are permitted in the following zones:

• Urban Commercial (UC)
• Rural Commercial (RC)
• Recreational/Resort Commercial (RRC),
• Urban Industrial (UI) and Rural Industrial (RI)

Public Markets (Famers’/Flea/Craft Market) are permitted in the following zones:

• Urban Commercial (UC) and Rural Commercial (RC)

To determine if your property is zoned to permit Vendor, Mobile Food Vendor or Public Market Operations view the Municipality’s Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw, or to determine what your property is zoned - visit the Municipality’s website at www.hastingshighlands.ca and select the ‘Planning and Development’ tab under ‘Living Here’ and then ‘Zoning’

Municipal Property

• The Municipality has approved the following Municipal properties to be used by approved Vendors, subject to approval: 
  
  
  • Birds Creek Recreation Field - Outdoor Space Only
    Location: 160 South Baptiste Lake Rd, Bancroft, ON
    Permitted Vendor(s): One (1) Mobile Food Vendor (Refreshment Vehicle, Food Truck/Cart etc.)
    
    
  • Lake St. Peter Community Centre - Outdoor Space Only
    Location: 5 Boulter Lake Rd. Lake St. Peter, ON
    Permitted Vendors: One (1) Mobile Food Vendor (Refreshment Vehicle, Food Truck/Cart etc.).
    One (1) Vendor (Goods, Wares or Merchandise)
    
    
  • Vacant Lot - Downtown Maynooth (Formerly Maynooth Community Centre)
    Location: 33090 Hwy 62, Maynooth, ON
    Permitted Vendors: One (1) Mobile Food Vendors (Refreshment Vehicle, Food Truck/Cart etc.)
    One (1) Public Market permitted (space reserved)
    
    
• Applicants who want to operate on Municipal property are required to submit an application to obtain a ‘Permit to Operate on Municipal Property’: 
  • Permits are issued on a first-come, first-served bases and are subject to additional requirements, approval, fees etc. 
  • A lottery system will be conducted by the Licensing Officer if multiple applications are received (at the same tie) for any approved Municipal Property location. 

See the Municipality's User Fees Bylaw (2024-002) for a detailed list of fees and eligible timelines.

No, you do not require a Business Licence to have a Yard Sale or Garage Sale in Hastings Highlands. Section 5.22.1 of the Municipality's Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw 2004-035 restricts garage sales or yard sales to twice a year and for not more than 48 consecutive hours.