Notifying Public Health
Six business categories are required or recommended to notify Halton Region Public Health whenever they open or reopen their premises to the public or undertake renovations:
New! Online Notification
To make it simpler and easier for businesses to notify Public Health, we have launched a new online notification form. If you are unable to submit this online form, please contact 311 and ask to speak to a Public Health Inspector.
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.
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.
Resources: Business licences and building permits
For more information on business licences or building permits, please contact your local municipality:
Are you opening, reopening or renovating your business?
Quickly and easily notify Public Health. Use our new online notification form.
A Public Health Inspector will review your submission, contact you and may schedule an inspection.