Business By-Law Review

• 105 engaged participants completed the survey
• Locations of respondents:
  • 27 Southwest Kingston (K7M)
  • 25 Central-East Kingston (K7K)
  • 22 Central-South Kingston (K7L)
  • 16 Northwest Kingston (K7P)
  • 9 Rural Kingston (K0H)
  • 6 Other (K0K, K7N, K8P)

Figure 1: Respondents’ postal codes.

• 789 aware participants visited the project page to learn more about the Business By-law review
• 16 participants engaged with the City for the first time via Get Involved Kingston

What we heard

The following is a summary of survey responses and themes identified by staff. A full breakdown of survey responses and verbatim text comments can be seen below in Exhibit A.

Summary of Survey Responses

Confidence in Business Licensing

Most respondents stated that they agree (37 per cent ) or strongly agree (35 per cent) that they “feel confident knowing a business is licensed and regulated.” Only 11 per cent of respondents said they disagree with this statement.

Figure 2: Answers to Question 1 (“As a consumer, I feel confident knowing a business is licensed and regulated”).

Opinion on regulation of new businesses

A majority of respondents feel positively about the regulation of new business categories. 61 per cent of respondents feel positively about regulating Scrap Metal Dealers, 79 per cent feel positively about regulating Vapour Product Retail Establishments and 77 per cent feel positively about regulating Commercial Kitchens.

Figure 3: Responses to Question 2, asking for participants’ opinions on regulating Scrap Metal Dealers, Vapour Product Retail Establishments and Commercial Kitchens.

Respondent demographics and understanding of business regulations

32 per cent of respondents stated that they owned a business and 68 per cent of respondents do not. Of those who responded that they owned a business, they listed the following types of businesses:

• 53 per cent “other” (responses include childcare services, rental services, equipment sales, professional services, entertainment companies and more)
• 14 per cent "retail"
• 10 per cent "salon"
• 10 per cent "food service premises"
• 8 per cent "lodging house"
• 5 per cent "tobacco sales"

When asked how informed they were on business regulations, most respondents agreed that they were aware of applicable regulations (91 per cent “agree”), City departments to contact (79 per cent “agree”) and requirements for applying or renewing a business licence (71 per cent “agree”).

Ideas Tool: Text Comments

Three comments were made using the “Ideas” tool. The responses focused not on what types of businesses respondents felt should be regulated, but general comments about regulation and licensing of street performers (2 comments) and sidewalk patios (1 comment). Verbatim text comments can be seen below in Exhibit A.

Next Steps

The results from this public engagement will be considered in a report that will be brought to City Council in Q1 2025.

If you require information in an alternate format of this engagement report, please call 613-546-0000. We will work with you to understand your specific information and accessibility needs and to provide for them within a reasonable timeframe.

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Exhibit A: Survey Responses and Text Comments

Question 1: As a consumer, I feel confident knowing a business is licensed and regulated.

• 37 respondents selected “Strongly agree”
• 39 respondents selected “Agree”
• 18 respondents selected “Neither agree nor disagree”
• 10 respondents selected “Disagree”
• 1 respondent selected “Strongly disagree”

Question 2: Please let us know your opinion on regulation the following businesses.

• What is your opinion on the impact of regulating Scrap Metal Dealers in Kingston?
  • 37 respondents selected “Very positive”
  • 28 respondents selected “Somewhat positive”
  • 29 respondents selected “Neutral”
  • 9 respondents selected “Somewhat negative”
  • 2 respondents selected “Very negative”
• What is your opinion on the impact of regulating Vapour Product Retail Establishments in Kingston?
  • 66 respondents selected “Very positive”
  • 17 respondents selected “Somewhat positive”
  • 10 respondents selected “Neutral”
  • 8 respondents selected “Somewhat negative”
  • 4 respondents selected “Very negative”
• What is your opinion on the impact of regulating Commercial Kitchens in Kingston?
  • 53 respondents selected “Very positive”
  • 28 respondents selected “Somewhat positive”
  • 18 respondents selected “Neutral”
  • 3 respondents selected “Somewhat negative”
  • 3 respondents selected “Very negative”

Question 3: Do you own a business in Kingston?

• 34 respondents selected “Yes"
• 71 respondents selected “No”

Question 4: What type of business do you own? Please select all the apply.

• 4 respondents selected “Food Service Premises"
• 3 respondents selected “Lodging House”
• 5 respondents selected “Retail”
• 4 respondents selected “Salon”
• 2 respondents selected “Tobacco Sales”
• 0 respondents selected “Adult Entertainment Establishments”
• 0 respondents selected “Adult Entertainment Attendant”
• 0 respondents selected “Adult Goods Establishment”
• 0 respondents selected “Amusement Arcade”
• 0 respondents selected “Auctioneer”
• 0 respondents selected “Automative Repair”
• 0 respondents selected “Billiard Tables”
• 0 respondents selected “Gasoline Sales"
• 0 respondents selected “Hawker/Peddler”
• 0 respondents selected “Meat and Fish Sales”
• 0 respondents selected “Pawnbroker”
• 0 respondents selected “Payday Loan Establishment”
• 0 respondents selected “Pet Store”
• 0 respondents selected “Plumbing Services”
• 0 respondents selected “Refreshment Vehicle”
• 0 respondents selected “Temporary Sales (Specific Day Sales)”
• 0 respondents selected “Street Performer”
• 0 respondents selected “Theatre”
• 20 respondents selected “Other”
  • Childcare
  • Consulting Company
  • NA
  • Multi residential
  • Fire Suppression and Detection
  • This survey should be open to non business owners
  • Tattoo Studio (considered a salon)
  • Energy generation
  • Holiday lighting
  • Photographer
  • Creative agency
  • Insurance sales
  • Entertainment and leisure
  • Distribution
  • Medical Equipment sales, service and rental
  • Event planning
  • Janitorial Cleaning service
  • Healthcare
  • Online board game rental

Question 5: The next few questions will help us understand how informed you are about business regulations in Kingston. Please rate your agreement, or disagreement, with the following statements.

• I am aware of all applicable regulations and requirements relating to my business operations.
  • 21 respondents selected “Definitely agree”
  • 10 respondents selected “Somewhat agree”
  • 2 respondents selected “Neither agree nor disagree”
  • 1 respondents selected “Somewhat Disagree”
  • 0 respondents selected “Definitely disagree”
• I know which City departments to contact for information about business licensing.
  • 15 respondents selected “Definitely agree”
  • 12 respondents selected “Somewhat agree”
  • 5 respondents selected “Neither agree nor disagree”
  • 2 respondents selected “Somewhat disagree”
  • 0 respondents selected “Definitely disagree”
• I know what is required of me to apply to or renew my municipal license.
  • 16 respondents selected “Definitely agree”
  • 8 respondents selected “Somewhat agree”
  • 6 respondents selected “Neither agree nor disagree”
  • 3 respondents selected “Somewhat disagree”
  • 1 respondents selected “Definitely disagree”

Ideas Tool: Are there any other types of businesses or trades that you feel should be regulated?

• Kingston downtown is generally a depressing place to be. No joy or life except for very busy not satisfying promenades for tourist. Need to make it much easier for musicians to play downtown, Anything that adds joy and a touch of class would be wonderful on a daily basis. It is to difficult for musicians to obtain a license to play downtown.
• Sidewalk patios for food service premises create risks for pedestrians when customer line-ups force pedestrians into street traffic. A prime example at the SE corner of Clarence and Ontario has forced pedestrians, including the elderly with walkers, off the sidewalk where Ontario St vehicles turn onto Clarence St towards the water, while other vehicles are exiting Clarence St. The situation is most dangerous between 11:30 and 2:00 pm, 4:00 and 9:00 pm, and on weekends. The solution is to either expand the sidewalk area or restrict the area of sidewalk can be used for reception desks, restaurant tables, and customer line-ups.
• Street performers do not respect the rules restricting the use of electronic amplification and the hours during which they may perform. In Market Square and Confederation Park, many buskers use electronic keyboards and amplifiers to attract tourists, even beyond the regulated hours under the noise bylaw for the downtown (11 pm). Many play for 6-8 hours at a stretch, with a repertoire that lasts less than an hour. This means that other users of the park who wish to relax there, patrons of outdoor patios of local restaurants and local residents are subjected to a monotonous repetition of excessive noise from late March through to early November. Noise bylaw enforcement would be an asset for local merchants, tourist industries and downtown residents.