Resources & Links

To Assist in your Business Development

Municipal Governments in Niagara

Every municipality has specific regulations regarding business operation within their jurisdiction. The Niagara College Business Development Centre is a Delivery Agent for Funded Programs in business development, assisting new entrepreneurs in the Niagara region.

Areas of concern could include:

  • Licensing
  • Zoning
  • Building Permits
  • Fire Inspection

It is important that you check with your municipality, listed below alphabetically for the regulations affecting your business.

Fort Erie:
Town of Fort Erie
1 Municipal Centre Drive, Fort Erie, ON L2A 2S6
905-871-1600
www.forterie.on.ca

Grimsby
Town of Grimsby
160 Livingston Avenue, P.O. Box 159, Grimsby, ON L3M 4G3
905-95-9634
www.town.grimsby.on.ca

Lincoln
Town of Lincoln
4800 South Service Road, Beamsville, ON L0R 1B1
905-563-8205
www.lincoln.ca

Niagara Falls
City of Niagara Falls
4310 Queen Street, P.O. Box 1023, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X5
905-356-7521
www.niagarafalls.ca

Niagara-on-the-Lake
Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
1593 Four Mile Creek Road, P.O. Box 100, Virgil, ON L0S 1T0
905-468-3266
www.notl.org

Pelham
Town of Pelham
20 Pelham Town Square, P.O. Box 400, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0
905-892-2607
www.pelham.ca

Port Colborne
City of Port Colborne
66 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne, ON L3K 3C8
905-835-2901
www.portcolborne.ca

St. Catharines
City of St. Catharines
50 Church Street, P.O. Box 3012, St. Catharines, ON L2R 7C2
905-688-5601
www.stcatharines.ca

Thorold
City of Thorold
8 Carleton Street South, P.O. Box 1044, Thorold, ON L2V 4A7
905-227-6613
www.thorold.com

Wainfleet
Township of Wainfleet
19M Highway 3, P.O. Box 40, Wainfleet, ON L0S 1V0
905-899-3463
www.wainfleet.ca

Welland
City of Welland
411 East Main Street, Welland, ON L3B 3X4
905-735-1700
www.welland.ca

West Lincoln
Township of West Lincoln
318 Canborough Street, P.O. Box 400, Smithville, ON L0R 2A0
905-957-3346
www.westlincoln.com

 

Niagara Regional Government

Niagara Region Government Offices

2201 St. David's Road, P.O. Box 1042, Thorold, ON  L2V 4T7

Phone: 905-685-1571

www.niagararegion.ca

Niagara Economic Development Corporation
2201 St. David's Road, 3rd Floor, Campbell East
P.O. Box 1042, Thorold, ON, L2V 4T
905-685-1308
www.niagaracanada.com

Niagara Regional Police Service
For certain types of businesses―e.g. selling used goods, operating a taxi service, operating a limousine service or operating a tow truck―you must register with the Niagara Regional Police Service.
For a complete list, contact the NRP Licensing Department at 905-688-4111 ext. 4436
www.nrps.com

Public Health Department
For certain types of businesses, e.g. food service, tanning salons, accommodations, the Niagara Regional Public Health Department will want to inspect your equipment and premises.
For more information contact 905-356-1538
www.niagararegion.ca
 

Business Name Registration

The Business Names Act applies to all types of businesses that operate using a name other than the owner’s full name. Each registration will secure the name of a business for a five-year period. Registration cost is currently $60.00. To ensure that the name of the business is not already in use, you can perform a title search. The cost of each title search is $8.00.

You will be advised whether the name is currently in use and provided the addresses for any duplicates that may exist.

Note that this registration is required to open a business bank account and that registering your business name does NOT give you exclusive use of the name.

There are 3 ways to register your unincorporated business name:

Registering in Person

Government Information Centre
MTO Building
301 St. Paul Street 1st Floor, St. Catharines, ON L2R 7R4
905-704-2111

Niagara Falls Area Small Business Enterprise Centre
City Hall, 4310 Queen Street
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X5
905-356-7521, ext. 5001

Registering on the Internet

You must have VISA or MasterCard. The registration fee is $60.00. The registration is sent to you via regular mail, which takes approximately 2 weeks. Name searches are not available on-line.
www.ontario.ca/en/services_for_business/index.htm