• Stouffville’s Business Registration Program launches Jan. 1, 2026, as a voluntary, no-fee initiative.
  • The program will not licence businesses, instead focusing on economic development, and no inspections or regulatory oversight will be involved.
  • Registered businesses will gain visibility through a Town-run directory and access to additional municipal resources.
  • Participants will also receive a new business guide covering local by-laws and existing operational requirements.
  • The Town chose a voluntary model to avoid fee disincentives, enforcement requirements, and confusion with traditional licensing.
  • In-person office hours will offer registration support and direct access to Town Staff for interested local business owners.
  • Online registration is now open and can be completed through the program’s website.

 

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will roll out a new Business Registration Program on Jan. 1. Tailored to brick-and-mortar businesses operating across the municipality, the program has been positioned as a voluntary economic development tool rather than a traditional licensing system.

Registration is designed to give the Town a clearer, more accurate picture of the local business community, while offering participating businesses greater visibility and access to new municipal resources. Registration is optional, free of charge, and will not result in inspections, fines, or regulatory oversight.

Staff say the initiative will improve how the municipality tracks and communicates with local businesses, particularly during emergencies, construction disruptions, and major community events. By creating a centralized registry, the Town hopes to strengthen relationships with business owners and better align economic planning with on-the-ground realities.

Participating businesses will be listed in a Town-managed online directory intended to promote local shops and services to residents and visitors. Registrants will also receive targeted updates and direct access to a forthcoming business guide, a Staff report explains, which will outline key by-laws, zoning considerations, fire regulations, and other practical requirements for operating a business in Stouffville.

Businesses will self-report their information, though the Town has stated entries found to contain false or misleading information may be removed. Registration will not provide any form of business licence, nor will the program replace or alter existing permit or approval requirements under provincial or municipal law.

While earlier Council direction and Staff analysis explored a mandatory, fee-based model, the Town ultimately opted for a voluntary pilot approach running through the end of 2026. Staff warned that mandatory participation could blur the line between registration and licensing, creating expectations of enforcement and oversight the Town is not prepared to deliver.

By keeping the program optional and free, Stouffville aims to build trust, encourage early buy-in, and collect meaningful economic data without creating new barriers. The information gathered through the pilot will also help inform future decisions surrounding business support programs, and it could improve the Town’s ability to access and analyze regional employment data and identify emerging sector trends.

To support the launch next month, Town Staff will host office hours where business owners can ask questions and receive help completing the registration process. The sessions will be held at 19 on the Park on Monday, Jan. 12, from noon to 3 p.m., and Tuesday, Jan. 13, from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

For those ready to get started, online registration can now be completed through the Town’s Business Registration Program webpage.