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A Special
Occasion Permit (SOP) is required if you are planning
to sell or serve liquor
at special occasions, such as weddings, charity fundraisers
and receptions. SOPs are available for any type of
location other than a residence, but common areas of
multiple unit residential buildings are not disqualified.
It is unnecessary to obtain an SOP if an event is already
being conducted under the authority of a caterer’s
endorsement.
Special Occasion Permits are
issued from select Liquor Control Board of Ontario
(“LCBO”) stores
located throughout the province.
Liquor Sales Licensed
Establishments and SOPs
A Special Occasion Permit may be
issued for an event at a licensed establishment. The
applicant and the event type would need to meet the
legislated criteria, the liquor used for the event
would have to be purchased under the authority of the
SOP and not from the licence holder, and the conditions
applied to the licence of that particular establishment
would continue to apply under the SOP.
The holder of a Liquor Sales Licence may apply for
an SOP for such events as staff parties, family parties
and private receptions, provided the event is not advertised
to the general public, limited to invited guests and
there is no intention to gain or profit from the event.
An applicant in the process
of acquiring a Liquor Sales Licence may also apply
for one (1) SOP to host
a “grand opening” event while waiting to
receive their Liquor Sales Licence.
Private Places
A “private place” is
defined as an indoor place to which the public is not
ordinarily invited or permitted and is not available
for rent to the public for occasional use, but does
not include a residence. A company’s private
boardroom is an example of a “private place”.
An SOP is not required for a function at a "private place" if there is no sale of alcohol and the event is held only for invited guests.
However, if liquor is being sold in
a “private place”,
an SOP is always required unless the event is already
being held under the authority a caterer’s endorsement.
Classes
of SOPs back
There are three classes of
Special Occasion Permits available:
| 1. |
Sale:
A Sale special occasion permit is
issued when money is collected directly for beverage
alcohol through an admission charge to the event,
when tickets for beverage alcohol are sold to people
attending the event, or when there is any pre-collection
of money for the beverage alcohol. A levy fee is
also charged when you purchase your products at
liquor, beer or wine stores because you are reselling
the beverage alcohol at the event. Sale Permit
fee is $75.00 per day.
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| 2. |
No
Sale: A No Sale special occasion
permit is issued when beverage alcohol is served
without charge or when there is no money collected
for beverage alcohol – either directly or
indirectly – from guests. No Sale Permit
fee is $25.00 per day.
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| 3. |
Auctions:
An Auction permit allows beverage
alcohol to be auctioned. Applicants must be a
registered charity, an executor of an estate,
or a Sheriff in the conduct of duty. Auctioned
beverage alcohol cannot be served or consumed
on the event premises. Auction Permit fee is
$75.00 per day. |
Types
of Events Eligible for SOPs back
Application
Process back
Permit applications must be submitted
to a LCBO permit issuing store 30 days before the event
takes place except for indoor reception events which
require only 10 days notice.
For outdoor events, the permit holder
must at least 21 days prior to the event, write to
the
local municipality, police, and fire and health departments
informing them of the event. The building department
must be notified as well if a tent or marquee is used.
The licensed area must be clearly defined and separated
from
the unlicensed area by a 36” (0.9 metres) high separation.
Once a Special Occasion Permit is
issued, all liquor for the event must be purchased
with
the SOP at the LCBO, The Beer Store or any Winery,
Brewery or Distillery Store. One exception is the
service of
homemade wine or beer for religious events (see FAQs).
Effective August 29, 2002, manufacturers are permitted
to donate liquor to eligible charitable organizations
holding a valid fundraising event SOP. All liquor
donated must be processed as a regular retail sale
under the
permit number and a receipt must be retained by the
permit holder and be available at the event. For more
information regarding donating liquor products, click
on Liquor
Licence Act Regulatory Changes FAQs or contact the
AGCO at 416-326-8700 or toll free 1-800-522-2876.
All receipts of liquor purchases under
the permit must be available at the event. You must
also post your permit at the bar area during your function.
If it is a sale event, the levy receipt must be posted
as well.
For more detailed information about
Special Occasion Permits, download our "Application
for a Special Occasion Permit and Instruction Sheet".
You can download the special occasion
permit application located below or obtain a form from
any LCBO store. The completed application, with appropriate
alcohol
licensing fees, may be mailed or hand-delivered
to a designated LCBO
permit issuing store in the municipality where the
special event will be held.
Application Form
back
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