Amusement Permit: arcade, movie, bowling
The following types of amusement establishments require a licence to operate in the City of Vaughan:
Class A - arcade: his licence is required for any business where there are three or more amusement machines (such as arcade, video games, pinball machines or other similar machines) available for public use.
Class B - theatre: This licence is required for any business where movies are shown to the public, not including video stores.
Class C - bowling alley: This licence is required to operate a business where there are any bowling lanes for public use.
Apply for a Vaughan licence or check whether a business or event has one!
Other options to apply
In person or by mail
In person or by mail to:
By-Law and Compliance, Licensing & Permit Services
Vaughan City Hall, Level 100
2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
Vaughan, ON L6A 1T1
Via drop box
Via the drop-boxes located at the entrances of Vaughan City Hall.
By e-mail to bylaw.licensing@vaughan.ca, along with scanned copies of required documentation.
Please ensure the application or e-mail indicates a contact phone number for staff to collect payment.
If submitting your application by mail or via the drop-box, please enclose payment in the form of a cheque made payable to the City of Vaughan. If submitting your application via e-mail, please ensure the application or accompanying message indicate a contact name and phone number for our staff to collect payment.
Application forms
If you are applying in-person, by mail, drop-box or email, complete the following form for submission:
Place of Amusement Application (PDF)
Otherwise, you can apply online on the Licensing Portal.
Notes about zoning
- To apply for a new licence, a Zoning Clearance, issued within the last 365 days, is required to be submitted with the application form above.
- You can apply for a Zoning Clearance online here.
Fees
Class A - arcade
| Fee | 2025 | 2026 |
| Initial fee | $ 341 +$13 per machine | $ 352 + $14 per machine |
| Renewal fee | $ 288 + $13 per machine | $ 297 + $14 per machine |
Class B - theatre
| Fee | 2025 | 2026 |
| Initial fee | $ 604 | $ 623 |
| Renewal fee | $ 510 | $ 526 |
Class C - bowling alley
| Fee | 2025 | 2026 |
| Initial fee | $ 595 | $ 613 |
| Renewal fee | $ 501 | $ 517 |