Business Licenses

The Licensing and By-law Services team in Halton Hills regulates and monitors business operators to ensure compliance with local by-laws, providing consumer protection. They also oversee the transition of tow truck licensing to provincial oversight under the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA), which sets industry standards and customer protection measures. Additionally, the team proactively identifies unlicensed operators and enforces by-laws related to business operations.

Business Licenses

The Licensing and By-law Services team provides a layer of protection for consumers by regulating and monitoring business operators to ensure they are meeting all the standards of governing by-laws while operating in the Town of Halton Hills. Following the issuance of the license, the Licensing and By-law Services team begins monitoring businesses, enforcing the Town's by-laws and taking action relating to citizen queries or complaints. In addition to regulating licensed businesses, the Licensing and By-law Services team acts on a pro-active basis throughout the Town to identify unlicensed operators. Holding a valid Town of Halton Hills business license is imperative to ensure businesses comply with by-law regulations and limitations.

Tow Truck Licensing

Effective January 1, 2024, oversight of towing and vehicle storage moved to the Province so the Town will no longer provide tow truck driver and brokerage licences.

Effective July 2024, Tow drivers must hold a TSSEA certificate to continue operating in the province.

The Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA) establishes a provincial oversight framework for the towing and vehicle storage sector. The Act requires tow operators, tow truck drivers, and vehicle storage operators to have a provincial certificate to operate.

More on Tow Trucks

Provincial vs. Municipal Oversight

Provincial Oversight

Sector licensing and oversight:

Customer protection and industry standards established through new provincial legislation, including:
- certificate eligibility criteria
- prohibited industry practices
- robust Director authority to cancel certificates
Online portal
Responsibility for compliance in newly established office and staff

Municipal Oversight

Amendments do not prevent municipalities from:

Establishing and maintaining a tow rotation
Developing and administering by-laws related to parking, and towing from a parking lot
Developing and administering by-laws related to fencing, signage or other physical requirements of a premises

Read the Letter to Towing Stakeholders from the province of Ontario.

For more information, please visit the Province of Ontario's towing and vehicle storage requirements webpage.

Towing and Vehicle Storage Q & A

1. How are towing and vehicle storage rates determined?

Maximum rates for towing services are determined, individually, by tow operators and maximum rates for vehicle storage services are determined, individually, by vehicle storage operators. These rates are submitted by the operator and published by the Ministry.

Operational costs, such as those related to administration, labour, fuel, tolls, and property and equipment maintenance, should be a consideration in determining the rates for towing and vehicle storage services.  The Director of Towing and Vehicle Storage Standards has authority to reject unreasonable rates and require that lower rates be submitted.

2. Are there any restrictions on charging for tow and vehicle storage services?

Operators cannot charge for a service unless it appears on their maximum rate schedule and must not charge more than their published maximum rate for any service. Operators cannot charge a person a higher rate if a lower rate has already been arranged with an authorized person.

Operators are not permitted to charge for:

fuel surcharges
an amount arising from any towing service that takes longer than usual because of defects associated with the tow truck or inefficiencies caused by the actions of the tow operator or tow truck driver.
an amount for services, including equipment and resources used to provide a service, that are unnecessary for a towing service being provided.
transporting the driver and any passengers of a towed motor vehicle in the tow truck to the destination of the tow or other drop-off location.
allowing the driver or any passenger of a towed motor vehicle to have access to it while providing towing services.
changing the destination of a tow, other than an amount related to the change in distance that a motor vehicle is towed if the destination is changed.
vehicle storage services after an authorized person has made a good faith attempt to retrieve the vehicle.
providing access to or release of a stored motor vehicle when the vehicle storage yard facility is open for business.

3. Can an operator charge less than their published rate?

Yes, operators may charge less than their published maximum rate.

4. What if operational costs for tow or vehicle storage operators increase?

Operators are free to adjust their rates filed with the Ministry to reflect changing operational costs.  Aside from a 30-day holding period occurring when rates are updated by an operator, there is no restriction as to the number of times an operator may update their rates.

5. Is charging for the cost of lien searches prohibited?

Lien search costs are not considered “administrative services” related to either towing services or vehicle storage services. Charging for lien search costs is not prohibited by the TSSEA.

6. How would a customer use the maximum rate schedule?

Customers must receive a copy of an operator’s maximum rate schedule before consenting to a tow; customers should review the schedule before signing a contract to tow.

Customers will be able review and compare all operators current maximum rate schedules on the ministry’s portal launching in late March 2024. Also, operators must post their current maximum rate schedule at their premises and on any website or social media they use.

7. Who can I contact for more information or if I have any questions about the changes affecting the tow sector?

For more information about Ontario’s requirements for the towing sector and operating commercial vehicles, the following reference materials are available to you:

Members of the public are also welcomed to submit inquiries to towing@ontario.ca

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