Special Occasion Permit

The AGCO permit required to sell or serve alcohol at an event in an unlicensed location in Ontario.

How it works in practice

An SOP is the AGCO’s way of letting alcohol be served somewhere that does not hold a liquor licence: a backyard, a Distillery District loft, a park, a church hall or a tent. Licensed venues, which includes most hotels and restaurants, do not need one; their licence already covers your event.

The permit holder carries the responsibility. Liquor must be bought from the LCBO, The Beer Store or a winery under the permit, and the receipts kept on site. The permit is posted at the bar. Everyone serving must be Smart Serve certified. Service hours run from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., with last call at 1:45.

In Ontario and the GTA

Public events also need municipal notification, often a council resolution declaring the event of municipal significance. In Toronto, Mississauga and the Halton towns that can take longer than the AGCO deadline, so start with the municipality. Parks, tents and outdoor sites bring their own permits, and a COI with liquor liability is commonly required.

How to handle it

1. Confirm whether the venue is licensed. If it is, you do not need an SOP; use the venue’s bar.
2. Decide private or public based on who attends and whether drinks are sold.
3. For public events, contact the municipality first about notification.
4. Apply through the AGCO well ahead of the minimum deadline.
5. Buy alcohol from the permitted sources under the permit and keep receipts.
6. Hire Smart Serve-certified bartenders and collect their certificate numbers.
7. Post the permit at the bar and keep receipts on site.

Use the bar alcohol calculator to size the order before the LCBO run.