Entertainment permit types for your business

Ongoing entertainment

A permit is required for a “brick-and-mortar” business to host entertainment on the premises on an ongoing basis, like a venue, nightclub, bar, restaurant, gallery, or other business establishment. This could be for an indoor or outdoor space. 

Entertainment includes any of the following:

• Musician
• Band
• DJ
• Theater performance
• Dance performance
• Comedy show
• Karaoke
• Fashion show
• Poetry reading

See how the code defines entertainment. 

Ready to start applying? Follow the steps to apply for an entertainment business permit.

Types of permits

1. JAM or "Just Add Music" Permit - outdoor spaces only

Permit program ends March 31, 2023.

During the pandemic emergency, the JAM permit allows a business to host entertainment or amplified sound at an outdoor space. This could be on a ongoing basis or on specific dates. The permit is free.
 

2. Place of Entertainment (POE) Permit

This permit allows you to have entertainment on an ongoing basis and:

• Where entertainment is a primary use for the business, like a live music venue, nightclub, concert hall, or special event venue
• Where patrons or members are admitted
• Entertainment may be provided at an indoor or outdoor premises
• Indoor live performances may occur until 2 a.m. daily, unless otherwise required by the Entertainment Commission

3. Limited Live Performance (LLP) Permit

This permit allows a business establishment to host entertainment on an ongoing basis and:

• Where entertainment is not the primary use for the business, like a restaurant with a piano player or any other live performer.
• Entertainment may be provided at an indoor or outdoor premises
• Performances must end by 10:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. daily, subject to zoning rules
• Where the area of space occupied by the performers is no greater than 200 square feet

4. Extended Hours Premises (EHP) Permit

This permit allows patrons or members to stay at a location:

• between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and
• allows food or beverage to be served, or entertainment to be provided, during those hours on that premises. 

An EHP permit is often used by a late-night restaurant, or a Place of Entertainment that wants to have entertainment go past 2 a.m. on an ongoing basis, if zoning allows.

5. Fixed Place Outdoor Amplified Sound Permit

This permit allows a premises to have outdoor amplified sound with no live performer on an ongoing basis.

Examples are pre-recorded music, like a song playlist or a TV set, on a patio or parklet.

6. Billiard Parlor Permit

This permit is required for a premises where patrons are charged to use 1 or more pool (or billiard) tables on an ongoing basis.

7. Mechanical Amusement Device Permit

This permit is required for a premises where patrons are charged to use more than one mechanical game on an ongoing basis. Examples are arcade games, like a pinball machine or video game.

Special Cases

You don’t need an entertainment permit for:

• Indoor pre-recorded music that doesn’t involve a live performer, like a song playlist or a jukebox.
   
• An unamplified solo performer that’s performing indoors at a business.