Liquor Licences

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) processes and issues Liquor Licences. Applications for this licence must be submitted through the AGCO website and are fully managed by the AGCO.

While not administered by the Municipality, the application process does require the involvement the Municipality of Highlands East and details about this can be found below.

Types of Licences

There are two primary types of licences that you may need to contact the Municipality about: 

1. Special Occasion Permits are temporary and are generally used for special events such as a cash bar at a wedding.
2. Liquor Sales Licences are permanent and are generally for restaurant type businesses to serve alcohol to patrons.

In addition to Special Occasion Permits and Liquor Sales Licences there also are:

• Temporary Liquor Licence Applications for Temporary Patios on Private Lands
• Changes or Additions to Existing Licences
• Temporary Extensions

Information for all of the above can be found on the AGCO website.

Special Occasion Permit

A Special Occasion Permit (SOP) allows for the sale and service of alcohol on special occasions, such as cash bars at weddings or private receptions, as well as larger scale events that are open to the public, like charity fundraisers.

A SOP is required any time alcohol is offered for sale anywhere other than in a licensed establishment (such as a bar or restaurant) or a private place (such as a private office or home).

We recommend consulting the AGCO's Special Occasion Permit Guide for full details on the permit and process.

Notification Letters

As part of the AGCO’s application process, applicants are required to provide a notification letter to the following Highlands East departments (as well as other local authorities such as the Police and Public Health Unit): 

• Clerks Department
• Building Department
• Fire Department

Your notification letter should indicate that it is for a Special Occasions Permit for alcohol and also needs to include the following information:

• the address/location of the event
• the date(s) and time(s) of the event
• the number of guests expected
• the purpose/event type (e.g. wedding)
• where on the property the alcohol will be served

How to apply for a Special Occasion Permit

1. Get and complete an application form from the AGCO website or pick up a form at any LCBO location.
2. Provide notification letters to required departments and organizations.
3. Submit your completed application form to the AGCO. You must submit any applications for outdoor events at least 30 days in advance and any applications for indoor events at least 10 days in advance.
4. Notify the Municipality of your special event by sending us your special occasion permit once you have received it. You can email your permit to municipalclerk@highlandseast.ca.
5. You will also be responsible for independently notifying the Lakelands Public Health with the same information above.

All this information, and more, is available from the AGCO website's Special Occasion Permits page and in their Special Occasion Permit Guide.

Liquor Sales Licence

As part of the AGCO’s application process, applicants are required to have a registered business, and provide, along with their application, entity and personal disclosures, a signature form, floor plans for the location you want to licence, a completed Municipal Information Form approved by the Clerks Department as well as Agency Letter of Approval Forms from the Building Department, Fire Department and other non-municipal entities such as the Lakelands Public Health Unit. 

We recommend consulting the AGCO's Liquor Sales Licence Guide for full details and steps on the licensing process.

How to apply for a Liquor Sales Licence

1. Register your business. The business name must be registered through the Ontario Business Registry.
2. Prepare for your application as outlined on the AGCO's Apply for a Liquor Sales Licence page by completing signature forms, preparing floor plans and disclosures.
3. Complete the AGCO's Municipal Information Form.
4. Obtain your Agency Letter of Approval from Lakelands Public Health.
   Our By-laws require us to review your Agency Letter of Approval from the Health Unit, please make sure it is included in your submission to us.
5. Submit your document package to Municipal staff by emailing municipalclerk@highlandseast.ca or send by mail to: Municipality of Highlands East
   PO Box 295
   Wilberforce, ON K0L3C0

   Once you have submitted your documents, Municipal Staff will review and, if approved, provide Agency Letters of Approval from the Building Department and Fire Department. The Municipal Clerk will officially sign off on the Municipal Information Form and will return it and all Agency Letters of Approval.

6. Once you receive your signed documents back from the Municipality, you can proceed with the online Liquor Sales Licence application using the iACGO portal.