Who is eligible
You may be eligible for a licence if your business meets these legal requirements. Please see the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA) and its regulations for full details.
| Requirement | Convenience store licence | Grocery store licence |
|---|---|---|
Retail floor space indoor space that is fully enclosed by walls in which products or services are offered for sale to the public. This does not include outdoor space. (See Additional eligibility information for help on how to calculate retail floor space.) | Any store with 4,000 square feet or less of retail floor space should apply for a Convenience Store Licence. As an example, a small grocery store with less than 4,000 square feet of retail floor space should apply for the convenience store licence. | Any store with more than 4,000 square feet of retail floor space should apply for a Grocery Store Licence. As an example, a large convenience store or a qualifying big box retail store with more than 4,000 square feet of retail floor space should apply for the grocery store licence. |
| Amount of retail floor space dedicated to selling food | At least half of your retail floor space is used for food products (excluding prepared food products that may be consumed on site). | At least 10,000 square feet OR half of your retail floor space is dedicated to food products (excluding prepared food products that may be consumed on site). |
| Food variety | You sell a variety of at least five of the following types of food products: canned foods, frozen foods, dry goods, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, meat or meat alternatives, dairy or dairy alternatives, non-alcoholic beverages, baked goods and snack foods. | You sell a variety of each of the types of food products: canned foods, frozen foods, dry goods, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, meat or meat alternatives, dairy or dairy alternatives, non-alcoholic beverages, baked goods and snack foods. |
| Not a pharmacy | Your store does not primarily identify to the public as a pharmacy. A pharmacy can be located inside the store. | Your store does not primarily identify to the public as a pharmacy. A pharmacy can be located inside the store. |
For full eligibility requirements, see the Convenience Store Licence Obligation Guide and/or the Grocery Store Licence Obligation Guide.
Who is not eligible
You are not eligible for a licence if, for example:
- Your store is primarily identified to the public as a pharmacy as defined under the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act.
- The retail floor space isn’t fully enclosed by walls (such as kiosks, stands or stalls).
- You do not meet the food product requirements.
- Your store is located within a First Nations community that has decided not to allow alcohol retail stores.
Additional eligibility information
How to calculate the retail floor space
You can find out the retail floor space by measuring the length and width of the space and multiplying these values (area = length x width).
Example:
30 feet long x 60 feet wide = 1800 square feet
Spaces where products or services aren’t offered to the public, such as storage rooms or washrooms, should be removed from the calculation. You can do this by measuring the non-usable space(s) and subtracting it from the total.
Example:
Main sales area: 30 feet long x 60 feet wide = 1800 square feet
Storage room: 5 feet long x 5 feet wide = 25 square feet
Net retail floor space: 1800 square feet - 25 square feet = 1775 square feet
You can calculate spaces with irregular shapes by breaking up the area into smaller boxes, calculating the area of each box, and adding up all the areas.
The image below is an example of how to calculate retail floor space.
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First Nations
A First Nation has the authority to decide whether retail stores are allowed within their community. If a First Nation decides that alcohol retail stores should not be allowed, the Band Council may pass a resolution and send it to the AGCO. We will not issue any licences within these communities.
If your store is located within a First Nations community, follow these steps before you apply:
- First, check the list of First Nations communities that have decided not to allow alcohol retail stores. Please do not apply if your store is located within one of the First Nations communities on the list. We cannot process applications for store located within these communities.
- Next, obtain a resolution from your Band Council indicating their approval for your store to be licensed.
Once you have applied, an Eligibility Officer will reach out to you to ensure we have all the required information to process your application.
Please refer to Regulation 746/21 under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA) for full details.
Learn more about alcohol retail stores within First Nations communities.
