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Public Health Notification of Business Opening, Reopening & Renovation

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Halton Region Public Health aims to protect the safety and health of all businesses and any residents or visitors to these premises.
 
This page includes instructions for business owners or operators who are required to notify Halton Region Public Health when they are planning to open to the public, reopen (seasonal), undergo renovations or change in operation and/or services provided to the public. Businesses requiring inspection by Public Health, e.g., for licensing purposes, are also encouraged to notify Public Health in this manner.
 

Notifying Public Health

The 7 business categories on this page are required or recommended to notify Halton Region Public Health whenever they open or reopen their premises to the public or undertake renovations. You can quickly and easily notify Public Health or request an inspection using our online notification form. Employers of international agricultural workers and owners/operators of group homes are also encouraged to use this online notification if they require an inspection by Public Health.

By completing the online notification form, you are fulfilling your responsibility as a business owner/operator to inform Public Health of any opening/reopening or changes to your business. Public Health reviews all completed forms and will follow up with the owner/operator within 2 business days. Depending on the specifics of the opening, reopening or renovations, a public health inspector may be required to visit your premises. 

If you are unable to submit this online form, please call 311 and ask to speak with a Public Health Inspector.

Notify Public Health online now

 

Food premises

A food premises is where food is manufactured, processed, prepared, stored, handled, displayed, distributed, transported, sold or offered for sale. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • restaurants
  • take-outs
  • supermarkets
  • bakeries
  • convenience stores
  • banquet facilities
  • community/rental kitchens
  • cafeterias
  • food caterers
  • child care centres
  • food banks
  • home-based food businesses
  • mobile food premises (e.g., food truck, hot dog cart, refreshment vehicles)

When to notify Public Health

The owner or operator of a food premises is required by O. Reg. 493/17: Food Premises (external link) to notify Public Health in the situations below. The online notification form can be used to meet this requirement.

Situation When to submit the form
Opening a new business to the public Recommended at least 14 days before opening
Undergoing renovations Recommended at least 14 days before submitting a building permit application
Change in business ownership Recommended at least 14 days upon ownership change

For more information on food safety, please visit our Food Safety for Business webpage.

For more information on making renovations to your business, please visit our Construction and Renovation Information for Food Premises Operators webpage.

 

Personal service settings (PSS)

Personal service settings refer to settings in which aesthetic services are delivered, such as (but not limited to):

  • aesthetics
  • body piercing and earlobe piercing
  • body modification
  • electrolysis and hair removal
  • hairdressing and barbering
  • manicure and pedicure
  • microdermabrasion
  • micropigmentation
  • tattooing and tattoo removal

When to notify Public Health

The owner or operator of a personal service setting is required by O. Reg. 136/18: Personal Service Settings (external link) to notify Public Health in the situations below. The online notification form can be used to meet this requirement.

Situation When to submit the form
Opening a new business to the public 14 days before opening
Commencement of new PSS services 14 days before offering service
Undergoing renovations 14 days before commencing reconstruction or renovations
 

Recreational water facilities

Recreational water facilities are Class A pools (e.g., recreational camp pool, community centre pool) and Class B pools (e.g., apartment pool, hotel pool), spas, backyard pools/spas open to the public, splash pads and wading pools as defined in Ontario Regulation 565/90 (external link).

When to notify Public Health

The owner or operator of a recreational water facility is required by Ontario Regulation 565/90 (external link) to notify Public Health in the situations below. The online notification form can be used to meet this requirement.

Situation When to submit the form
Opening a new facility to the public At least 14 days before opening to the public
Reopening a facility after a closure of more than 4 weeks (e.g., seasonal) At least 14 days before reopening to the public
Reopening a facility after construction or alteration At least 14 days before opening to the public
Operating a Class B pool as a Class A pool Prior to operating as a Class A pool

Important reminder: You may be asked to provide your building permit number to a Halton Region public health inspector.

For more information on recreational water facilities, please visit our Safe Water Program webpage.

 

Recreational camps

Recreational camps are defined as camps for recreational activities on a site in which sleeping and eating facilities are provided for temporary occupancy, with or without charge, for five or more persons who are under 18 years of age or persons who have special needs (Ontario Regulation 503/17 (external link)).

When to notify Public Health

The owner or operator of a recreational camp is required by Ontario Regulation 503/17 (external link) to notify Public Health in the situations below. The online notification form can be used to meet this requirement.

Situation When to submit the form
Opening a new camp At least 14 days before opening
Reopening a camp (e.g., seasonal) At least 14 days before reopening
Changing operator contact information or location of the camp Within 14 days after the change is made
Closing or abandoning camp Prior to the closing or abandonment
 

Small drinking water systems

A small drinking water system can be a privately or publicly owned or operated drinking water system that provides non-municipal drinking water to the public such as food service premises, non-residential public facilities, or seasonal trailer parks or campgrounds, as defined in Ontario Regulation 319/08 (external link).

When to notify Public Health

The owner or operator of a small drinking water system is required by Ontario Regulation 319/08 (external link) to notify Public Health in the situations below. The online notification form can be used to meet this requirement.

Situation When to submit the form
Constructing or installing a system Prior to supplying water to users
Reopening after a system has not been supplying water for more than 60 days (e.g., seasonal) Prior to supplying water to users
Altering or extending a system Prior to supplying water to users
When a system that has been subject to the provisions of Ontario Regulation 170/03 (external link) stops being subject to that regulation On the first day when the system stops being subject to Ontario Regulation 170/03 (external link)
Any change in an operator designated under Ontario Regulation 319/08 (external link), including name or address When any change in a designated operator occurs
Where a water sample is required to be tested for a parameter in Ontario Regulation 319/08 (external link), the identity of the laboratory where the sample will be tested must be provided Prior to the sampling

Important reminder: You are also required to complete either the Laboratory Services Notification (LSN) (external link) or Notice to Operate or Reopen (external link). You may also be required to provide your building permit number to a Halton Region public health inspector.

For more information on small drinking water systems, please visit our Small Drinking Water Systems webpage.

 

Tobacco/vapour product retailers (including specialty vape stores and tobacconists)

A tobacco product retailer is any establishment that sells tobacco products and whose sale, display, and promotion is regulated by the Smoke-free Ontario Act, 2017 (external link) and its regulations. This includes tobacconists, which are retail establishments that meet the definition in the Smoke-free Ontario Act, 2017 (external link) and its regulations, and must register as a tobacconist with Halton Region Public Health.

A vapour product retailer is any establishment that sells vapour products or vapour product accessories, and whose sale, display, and promotion is regulated by the Smoke-free Ontario Act, 2017 (external link)and its regulations. This includes specialty vape stores, which are retail establishments that meet the definition in the Smoke-free Ontario Act, 2017 (external link) and its regulations, and must register as a specialty vape store with Halton Region Public Health.

When to notify Public Health

All tobacco or vapour product retailers are asked to complete the online notification form under the below listed circumstances. Additionally, the owner or operator of a tobacconist or specialty vape store is required by Ontario Regulation 268/18 (external link) to register with Public Health by completing the Application for Registration as a Tobacconist (external link) or Application for Registration as a Specialty Vape Store (external link).

Situation When to submit the form
Opening a new business to the public Recommended at least 14 days before opening
Existing tobacconist or specialty vape store Resubmit applicable forms once every 12 months before December 31
Change in business ownership Upon ownership change

For more information on tobacco or vapour product retailers, please visit our Smoke-Free Ontario Act webpage.

 

Tanning Services or Ultraviolet Light Treatments for Tanning (Tanning Beds)

Tanning bed businesses offer tanning services or treatments involving the application of ultraviolet light for tanning as defined in the Skin Cancer Prevention Act (Tanning Beds), 2013 (external link).  

When to notify Public Health

The owner or operator of tanning beds is required by the Skin Cancer Prevention Act (Tanning Beds), 2013 (external link) to notify Public Health in the situations below. The online notification form can be used to meet this requirement.

Situation When to submit the form
Commencement of tanning services
or treatments
Recommended at least 14 days before offering
services or treatments
 

Resources: Business licences and building permits

For more information on business licences or building permits, please contact your local municipality:

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