Municipal Regulations & Information

There are a number of Town of Ajax departments that you may need to contact regarding the operation of your business. Below is a list of departments to check with prior to starting your business. Visit the respective links or call the Town’s main number at (905) 683-4550 and ask for the appropriate department. For additional information on Municipal Requirements to Start a Business visit the Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre website.

Bylaw

Most businesses in Ajax do not require a licence from the Town of Ajax Bylaw Services for their operation. Examples of licences issued by the Town, required by some small businesses, include the following:

 Refreshment Vehicles (e.g. ice cream trucks)
 Food Establishments with an Outside Patio
 Taxi Industry
 Second Hand Goods Shop
 Salvage Yards
 Pet Shops

Note that additional licences may be required for other types of business such as liquor or health. For more information, view the Regional Regulations and Information section and Provincial and Federal Regulations and Information section.

Most businesses within Ajax should be aware of the Town's Bylaws that may have an impact on how a business operates. Below is a list of Bylaws that businesses commonly encounter:

 Signage
 Noise
 Parking
 Garbage  

Zoning

When choosing a location for your business it is important to determine in advance that the building, land or establishment where you will be operating is appropriately zoned. The Zoning Bylaw implements the policies of the Town of Ajax Official Plan relating the use of land throughout the Town. There are three types of employment zones that apply to businesses: Prestige Employment (PE), General Employment (GE) and Heavy Employment (HE).

Home Based Businesses
The definition of a home based business according to the Town's Zoning Bylaw is, an accessory use within part of a dwelling unit for a lawful occupation or business activity that results in a product or service and which is clearly secondary to the main use of the dwelling unit. Home based businesses are permitted in all residential zones. There are six rules that a home based business must follow:

 Not more than one employee, in addition to the residents of the dwelling unit, is engaged in the business and working in the dwelling;
 The use is restricted to the dwelling unit and shall not be conducted in whole or in part in any accessory building;
 Not more than the lesser of 25% of the gross floor area or 45 square metres of floor area of the dwelling unit is used for the purpose of the home based business;
 There is no outdoor storage or display of material or equipment;
 Only the sale of goods assembled, crafted or produced on the lot is permitted; and,
 The use is clearly secondary to the residential use and does not change the residential character of the dwelling or the lot.

Building Approvals

Prior to installing or erecting a sign for your business or making renovations to your business premise, check with the Building Approvals Section for any required building permits. The Building Approvals Section is responsible for issuing permits for signs on buildings and the ground. When installing a new sign or changing an existing sign to a new one, a building permit is required.

Change of use is another instance in which some small businesses require a permit. For example, when a business use changes from industrial to office or retail to restaurant, a change of use permit is required. A change of use may have an impact on a property's characteristics such as the required number of parking spaces and washroom facilities.   

Fire and Emergency Services

As part of the building, zoning and bylaw requirements, a business may require a fire safety inspection from Fire and Emergency Services. The following functions are performed by the Fire Prevention and Public Safety Division of Fire and Emergency Services that have an impact on most small businesses:

 Conduct inspections of occupancies under the Ontario Fire Code and take necessary action to ensure that compliance is achieved.
 Conduct inspections under the Ontario Building Code that are applicable to Fire Safety Matters and take necessary action to ensure that compliance is achieved.
 Conduct reviews and approvals of site plans and architectural plans in order to ensure that all matters related to Fire Safety are addressed and compliance with applicable legislation is achieved.
 Provide comprehensive public fire safety education and training to the general public in order to take an aggressive lead in the reduction of injuries and deaths due to fire within the Town of Ajax. 

Town of Ajax Pandemic Plan

Use the Town's Pandemic Plan as a guide to help you prepare your own business pandemic response plan.

Property Taxes

The Town of Ajax Finance department is responsible for the collection of property taxes. Most business owners are interested in finding out the assessment value of their property and understanding rebates on property taxes for business vacancies. The Town uses the assessment value to calculate property taxes. For information on assessment values visit the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation's website and for information on business vacancy rebates, clawback percentages and tax rates visit the Tax Billing and Collection section of the Finance department.

Utilities

Most small businesses use utilities as part of their everyday operation. Estimating the cost of utilities helps businesses to better plan their future cash flow. For the latest rates on electricity, gas and water and sewage costs visit the Utilities section of the Town's website.