Starting a food business in Duncan

Business licence

Every business operating in Duncan needs a licence — non-profits, home-based and out-of-town businesses included — and any food-related business must have an inspection completed and approved by Island Health. There is no separate home-based fee; the general category applies.

Fee: "an annual fee of $100.00" ($125.00 if paid after 29 February; $50.00 for new licences issued after 1 July)

Running it from home

Duncan allows up to two home-based businesses per dwelling, with no clause specific to food, and you may sell only goods directly associated with the business and produced on the property. Odours, vapours and heat may not cross the parcel line, and in a multi-unit building no customers or employees may come to the premises.

• 40% of the dwelling up to 50 m², or 40% of an accessory building up to 50 m² — no more than 70 m² combined (s. 3.18.2).
• One non-resident employee and one business vehicle (s. 3.18.2).
• Only goods directly associated with the business and produced on the parcel may be sold; no outdoor storage (s. 3.18.3).
• No odours, vapours, heat, glare, electrical interference or recurring vibration crossing a parcel line (s. 3.18.3).
• Multi-unit buildings: no clients, patrons, customers or employees on the premises as part of regular business, and no sign (s. 3.18.4).
• The City says there are limits on customers attending the residence; the zoning table gives no number for single-unit homes.

Markets and events

A special event permit application costs $50.00, or nothing for a non-profit society. Each food truck needs its own licence ($200.00 on private property, $500.00 on City property), $2 million liability insurance naming the City and proof of Island Health compliance, and may not operate within 50 m of a permanent food service, 100 m of an elementary school or 150 m of a special event without permission.

Mobile businesses

Duncan’s Inter-Community licence covers all participating Vancouver Island municipalities; its new bylaw No. 3261 (in effect January 1, 2026) excludes mobile food vending — food carts, trailers and trucks. Separately, for a mobile business, a Duncan business licence automatically authorizes operations in Lake Cowichan, North Cowichan and Ladysmith under a Cowichan-area intermunicipal agreement.

Fee: "$170 for all participating municipalities"