Business Licensing for Taxis

Taxicabs are defined as motor vehicles used for transportation of passengers from place to place, and has a taxicab meter to measure time and distance for the purpose of calculating a fare.

By-law No. 2021-57 licences, regulates and governs taxicabs, taxicab brokers and taxicab drivers that provide services to all persons within Niagara.

Licence application or renewal

Apply online for a business licence or renewal. Renewals must be submitted at least 30 days before the licence expires.

Apply or renew a licence

Requirements and fees

  • Broker

    Licence requirements

    • If the applicant is a corporation, all current articles of incorporation for the corporation
    • All current legal documents showing the registered business name of the applicant, if applicable
    • The full legal names and signatures of all persons having signing authority for the applicant corporation, if applicable, including a letter outlining the number of signatures required for financial and administrative functions
    • The full legal names of all taxicab vehicle licensees and taxicab driver licensees who currently use or will use the applicant as their taxicab broker
    • A criminal and judicial matters check for the applicant or any officer or director of the applicant, obtained within 60 days from the date of application, which shall be reviewed in accordance with the criteria in Schedule "A" to the by-law
    • A certificate of insurance identifying and confirming the following minimum insurance requirements, as applicable:
      • Commercial General Liability Insurance for all services and operations to a limit of not less than $5 million per occurrence

    Fees for taxi broker

    • Initial - $155
    • Renewal - $155
    • Transfer - $155

    Licensed taxi brokers

    • 4500 Taxi (1993)
    • A Premier Taxi
    • A1 Niagara River Taxi
    • Brock Q Taxi
    • Central Taxi
    • Century Enterprise
    • Elite Taxi
    • Falls Livery and Taxi
    • Grand Taxi
    • Niagara Falls Taxi
    • Niagara-on-the-Lake Taxi
    • Port Taxi
    • St. Catharines Taxi
  • Driver

    Licence requirements

    • Two pieces of government issued identification. One piece of ID must be photo identification.
    • If born outside of Canada, confirmation that applicant is legally entitled to work in Canada, such as a Canadian passport, permanent resident card, work permit (no social insurance cards)
    • Unrestricted Class G Ontario driver's licence
    • Ministry of Transportation three-year uncertified driver's abstract obtained within 30 days
    • Criminal record and judicial matters check obtained within 60 days
    • Letter of employment from licensed broker, including confirmation of driver training
    • Colour photograph (headshot, blank background, no hats or glasses) taken within six months

    Fees for taxi driver

    • Initial - $60
    • Renewal - $40

    Renew within 30 days of expiry.

  • Vehicle

    Licence requirements

    • All current legal documents, including:
      • Articles of incorporation
      • Legal names, including government photo identification and addresses for all directors and officers with signing authority
    • If born outside of Canada, confirmation that applicant is legally entitled to work in Canada
    • Letter outlining number of signatures required for financial and administrative items
    • Criminal record and judicial matters check obtained within 60 days
    • Certificate of Insurance confirming $2 million liability and indemnifying Niagara Region
    • Confirmation of O.E.F. 6A - Permission to carry passengers (if application)
    • Vehicle ownership
    • If leased, a copy of the lease agreement, including an authorization for the leased motor vehicle to be used as a taxicab
    • If the taxicab plate is leased to another taxicab vehicle licensee, details of the lease arrangement are required
    • If propane or natural gas, an inspection certificate within 30 days
    • Letter of employment from licensed broker, if applicable
    • Based on the year appearing on the motor vehicle permit or ownership as issued by the Ministry of Transportation, if the vehicle is:
      • Less than two years of age and has less than 20,000 kilometres on its odometer, a safety is not required
      • Between two and seven years of age or has more than 20,000 kilometres on the odometer, a valid motor vehicle inspection certificate, issued not less than 36 days from the date submitted to the licensing officer, confirming the vehicle has passed the applicable safety inspection, is required annually
      • Greater than seven years of age, or has more than 140,000 kilometres on the odometer, a valid motor vehicle inspection certificate issued not less than 36 days from the date submitted to the licensing officer, confirming the vehicle has passed the applicable safety inspection, is required every six months

    Fees for taxi vehicles

    • Initial vehicle plate - $1,350 (No new vehicle plates are being issued)
    • Renewal vehicle plate - $270
    • Vehicle plate - $270 (extra plate existing licence; no new vehicle plates are being issued)
    • Initial spare plate - $650
    • Renewal spare plate - $310
    • Transfer vehicle plate - $1,350
    • Replacement vehicle plate - $12
    • Replacement vehicle - $105
    • Vehicle plate non-use status (relevant renewal rate will apply upon reactivation)

Taxicab meter tariffs

Meter rates are maximums and may be discounted at the discretion of the licensed taxicab broker. Contract or flat rates may be charged as long as the meter rate is not exceeded.

Meters must be activated for all trips. No surcharges for accessible services or other fees may be charged.

  • Initial drop rate - $3.80
  • Distance rate - $0.32 per 100 metres
  • Wait time rate - $31 per hour
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