Retail & Shops · 6 min read · Last updated
Cash-for-gold counters, estate gold buyers and refining intermediaries operate under a licence of their own in Toronto: the Jewellery Buyers & Precious Metal Shops licence covers anyone buying, selling or dealing in old gold and precious metals for smelting and recovery. Like the rest of the second-hand family, it runs on traceability. Here's how the category works.
The City of Toronto lists this under its “Business” category: “Any person who buys, sells, or deals in old gold and other precious metals for the purpose of smelting and recovering the same metals and jewellery.”
Who needs this licence?
The licence applies to any person who buys, sells or deals in old gold and other precious metals for the purpose of smelting and recovering those metals and jewellery. Storefront gold buyers, dealers running buying events and businesses that aggregate scrap gold for refiners all fit the definition.
A jeweller selling new pieces is outside the category — the trigger is dealing in old gold and precious metals for smelting and recovery. A business that also trades general used goods, or lends against valuables, should look at the Second Hand Shop and Pawn Shop categories for those activities.
What documents do you need?
- Two pieces of government-issued identification, at least one with a photo
- Corporate documents or business name registration for the entity
- Proof of the premises for a storefront operation — the signed lease or the deed
- Items on the City's supporting-documents checklist for the category
Zoning and premises requirements
Premises-based buyers need a location zoned for the use — typically routine for retail units, but verify the address before committing. If the model includes buying events at hotels or temporary locations, talk to Municipal Licensing & Standards about how the licence applies to the way you actually operate before booking venues.
Inspections and approvals
Precious metals are compact, valuable and easy to move — which is precisely why the category exists and why records are its core obligation. Expect to document what you buy, from whom, and what becomes of it, and to make those records available for inspection; the tracing framework can involve police review of records.
Municipal Licensing & Standards inspects for licensing compliance alongside the record obligations.
How much does it cost?
An application fee and an annual renewal fee apply, set in the City's licensing fee schedule, confirmed during your application and paid to the City directly.
How to apply
File with Municipal Licensing & Standards through the City's online Business Licence & Permit portal — accepting applications since January 2026 — or in person. The package is the standard set: identification, business registration, proof of premises for a storefront, plus the category checklist.
Permits2Go assembles the file so the application lands complete the first time.
Renewals and staying compliant
Renew annually before expiry, keep the record systems live between renewals, and report changes — ownership, corporate structure, address — to the City as they happen.
Quick quiz: test what you learned
Three questions, all answered in this guide. Click an answer to check it.
1. What activity triggers the Jewellery Buyers & Precious Metal Shops licence?
The category is about dealing in old gold and precious metals for smelting and recovery — new-jewellery retail and repair services fall outside it.
2. Why do precious-metal buyers carry strong record-keeping obligations?
Traceability is the policy backbone of Toronto's second-hand-type licences, and precious metals are among the easiest goods to move — hence the records.
3. Which business most likely needs this licence?
Buying old gold for smelting and recovery is the defining activity; selling new or costume jewellery does not trigger the category.
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.