Alcohol Licensing
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is responsible for administering the Liquor Licence Act (LLA) that covers most aspects of Ontario's beverage alcohol laws. These laws provide the regulatory requirements for responsible sale and service of beverage alcohol in the province.
The LLA and its regulations provide the Registrar of Alcohol and Gaming authority for regulating and licensing of the following: liquor sales licences, ferment on premise facility licences, liquor delivery service, manufacturer's licences and manufacturer's representative licences.
Through its Liquor Enforcement Branch, the AGCO works independently and in partnership with local police services to conduct Liquor Licence Act inspections and investigations at licensed premises, monitor liquor licensed premises for compliance with the Liquor Licence Act and investigate complaints/breaches of the LLA.
The AGCO is also responsible for overseeing the administration of Special Occasion Permits (SOPs). The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), which is responsible for the retail sale of beverage alcohol at Ontario government stores, issues SOPs on behalf of the AGCO. 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.