Personal Services & Wellness · 5 min read · Last updated
Toronto licenses holistic wellness twice over: the premises where services are offered needs a Holistic Centre licence, and each practitioner working inside needs a licence of their own. This guide covers the centre side — who holds the premises licence, what the application involves, and how it fits together with practitioner licensing.
The City of Toronto lists this under its “Business” category: “Any premises in which holistic services are provided or offered.”
Who needs this licence?
Any premises in which holistic services are provided or offered needs the Holistic Centre licence — and the licence belongs to the owner or operator of the location, not to the individual practitioners. Wellness studios offering reiki, aromatherapy, reflexology and similar non-medical therapies are the typical holders.
The centre licence never substitutes for practitioner licensing: everyone providing holistic services inside must hold their own Holistic Practitioner licence. The category also excludes provincially regulated health professionals — a clinic of registered massage therapists is not a holistic centre in licensing terms.
What documents do you need?
- Two pieces of government-issued identification for the applicant, one with a photo
- Corporate documents or business name registration for the operating entity
- Proof of the premises — the signed lease or the deed
- Items on the City's supporting-documents checklist for the category
Because this is a premises licence, the proof-of-premises document does real work here — have the full signed lease ready, not a summary page.
Zoning and premises requirements
The address must be zoned to permit the use. Holistic centres usually sit comfortably in commercial zones, but confirm the specific unit before leasing, particularly in mixed-use buildings. If the concept shares space with another business — a gym, a salon — check that both uses are permitted at the address and separately licensed where required.
Inspections and approvals
Municipal Licensing & Standards inspects holistic centres for licensing compliance, and a recurring focus is who is working: operators are expected to ensure that every practitioner on the premises holds a valid Holistic Practitioner licence. Keep copies of practitioner licences on file and current — it is the simplest inspection-proofing there is.
How much does it cost?
Expect an application fee and an annual renewal fee for the centre licence, set in the City's licensing fee schedule and confirmed when you apply. Practitioner licences carry their own separate fees, paid by the individuals or by the business as you choose to arrange it.
How to apply
Apply to Municipal Licensing & Standards through the City's online Business Licence & Permit portal — available since January 2026 — or in person. If you are opening with a roster of practitioners, coordinate their individual applications alongside the centre's so the whole operation is licensed on opening day.
Permits2Go's workspace keeps the centre package and the practitioner packages organized side by side.
Renewals and staying compliant
The centre licence renews annually. Alongside your own renewal, track your practitioners' renewals — an expired practitioner licence inside a licensed centre is still a compliance problem.
Report ownership, corporate and address changes to the City as they happen; a move means a new application for the new premises.
Quick quiz: test what you learned
Three questions, all answered in this guide. Click an answer to check it.
1. Who holds the Holistic Centre licence?
It is a premises licence held by the owner or operator; practitioners hold their own separate licences.
2. Does a Holistic Centre licence cover the practitioners working inside?
Toronto licenses the premises and the individuals separately; the centre licence never extends to the people providing services.
3. Which of these would NOT operate under Toronto's holistic licensing categories?
Registered massage therapists are governed provincially through their college; the holistic categories cover non-regulated therapies like reiki, aromatherapy and reflexology.
Skip the paperwork
Tell Permits2Go about your business and it assembles the licence application for you — document checklists, e-signatures and a guided workspace for Toronto, with more cities on the way.
This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Licensing requirements, by-laws and fees change and vary by municipality — always confirm the current rules with the City before you apply.