Agency Letter of Approval (ALA) and Municipal Information Form (MIF)

Establishments that serve or sell alcohol for on-site consumption, include (but are not limited to) restaurants, bars, breweries, cafes, distilleries, and retirement homes require a Liquor Sales Licence issued by the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

A completed ALA and MIF are required to be provided to the AGCO when applying for a Liquor Sales Licence. The required form is to be signed by the City of Ottawa Office of the City Clerk. City Council, By-law and Regulatory Services, Right of Way and Ottawa Police Service are subsequently notified of the proposed Liquor Sales Licence.   

For Building Code Services, an ALA application, specific documents and plans must be submitted.    More information is available at Food Premise business licenses. 

Before you begin

For Building Code Services purposes, a site plan and floor plan must be submitted with the ALA and MIF application, to facilitate the review of Ontario Building Code (OBC) and City of Ottawa Zoning By-Law requirements.  

For more information:  

Business Information Officer   

For food establishments in particular, the City of Ottawa has resources to assist business owners who are starting to plan and operate a new food establishment. A Business Information Officer (BIO) acts as a single point of contact to get all the information needed to apply for the required  licences and permits, including a Liquor Sales Licence.   

Contact bio1stop@ottawa.ca for further details.  

What you need

An ALA application and MIF must be submitted via My ServiceOttawa. A legible site plan and floor plan drawn to scale are to be included. Professional involvement requirements vary based on application scope. Plans shall include the following:   

  • Site Plan (only required where exterior space is part of ALA application)  
  • Floor Plan (interior and/or exterior)  
  • Occupant Load Calculations (capacity)   

The Ontario Building Code outlines the minimum requirements for various elements (e.g., minimum  washroom requirements) and can be found on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website.  

Cost

Approximate Cost  

Refer to Applicable Fees  

Note that the ALA application is also circulated to Ottawa Fire  Services and Ottawa Public Health. Separate fees may apply.  

   

Apply

Online Submissions  

ALA and MIF applications can now be submitted online using the new Building, Planning and Land Development online application and permitting portal available through My ServiceOttawa. The new Land Management System (LMS) is a digital technology providing access to online permits and applications for Building Code Services.  

Applying for applications and access to the customer portal requires a My ServiceOttawa (MySO) account set-up and registration with the new Building, Planning and Land Development system.  

Do you currently have a My ServiceOttawa account?  

  • No - Please proceed to My ServiceOttawa login page and select the green ‘create an account’ button. Assistance   is available for creating your account.  
  • Yes - Please login to your My ServiceOttawa   account and complete the system registration by selecting the Building, planning and land development service widget.  
  • Please refer to the My ServiceOttawa’s help   page for assistance on how to manage your account. Several user guides   have been developed to provide
  • information on how to use the new system. You may find out more about the new Building, Planning and Land Development online application and permitting system by visiting the Engage Ottawa   page.  

Please note that payment must accompany all applications. Additional costs for photocopies may apply.  

In Person  

There are various methods for submitting applications. 

Required inspections

Once an ALA application is received, a building official will be assigned, and their contact information will be provided to the client via email. When ready, the client is to arrange for an inspection with Building Code Services. Inspections can be booked via the online customer portal or by contacting the Building Inspector to schedule your inspections.   

The building official will:   

    • Confirm the layout matches the plan submitted
    • Complete calculations for interior/exterior occupant loads 
    • Identify the most restrictive occupant load limiter  
    • Review number of toilets/sinks, number of exits, exit width 
    • Identify any deficiencies and request a re-inspection, where necessary  
    • Determine whether renovations or change of use has occurred that requires a building permit 
    • Review septic system capacity to determine occupant load where applicable 

The building official will bring a copy of the submitted site plan and floor plan to site at time of inspection. To ensure the availability of a building official, inspections should be scheduled 48 hours in advance.   

Other Inspections  

In addition to Building Code Services service area, other service areas involved in inspecting the establishment as outlined in the  Agency Letter of Approval - Application Reference Guide.