Developers who propose to operate establishments where alcoholic beverages will be served must first obtain approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is a Provincial agency, established February 23, 1998 under the Alcohol and Gaming Regulation and Public Protection Act, 1996. The Act gave the AGCO responsibility for the administration of the Liquor Licence Act and the Gaming Control Act, 1992.

liquor sales licences,
brew on premise facility licences,
liquor delivery service,
manufacturers' licences
and manufacturer's representative licences.

Depending on the application type, you should allow for four to eight weeks for an application to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that when they submit an application to the AGCO it is complete which includes all required supporting documentation and appropriate licensing fees. Licensing fees are non refundable.

The AGCO is also responsible for overseeing the administration of Special Occasion Permits (SOPs). SOPs are required for occasional events such as weddings and receptions where beverage alcohol will be served and/or sold. Permit applications must be submitted to a Liquor Control Board of Ontario permit-issuing store 30 days before the event takes place; except for indoor reception events that only require 10 days.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario is responsible for the retail sale of beverage alcohol at Ontario government stores.