What is a registered office address for an Ontario corporation?
Every Ontario corporation must have a registered office address in Ontario. This is the official address where legal documents — including court documents, government correspondence, and notices from creditors — can be delivered to the corporation. It must be a physical street address in Ontario; a PO box alone does not qualify.
Your registered office address is listed on the public Ontario Business Registry. This means it is visible to anyone who searches your corporation. Many business owners use their lawyer's office or a registered agent service as their registered office address to keep their home address off the public record and to ensure documents are reliably received and forwarded.
If you change your registered office address, you are required to file a notice of change with the Ontario Business Registry (or include the change in your next annual return filing, depending on the timing). Failing to update your address means you may miss important legal notices, which can have serious consequences — for example, missing a court document can result in a judgment against your corporation without you even knowing a lawsuit was filed.
Your registered office address is distinct from your business operating address; they can be the same or different.
Key takeaways
- Every Ontario corporation must maintain a registered office address in Ontario.
- The address is public and must be a physical street address (not a PO box).
- Many owners use a lawyer's address to keep personal addresses off public records.
- Address changes must be filed with the Ontario Business Registry.