Health approvals

Temporary Food Service Permit

The permit to prepare and serve food at a fair, festival, fundraiser or other public event — or to cook, reheat or give samples of Higher-risk foodFood that bacteria can grow in, or produce toxins in, unless it is kept cold or hot — meat, fish, dairy, eggs, cut fruit, most cooked meals. The law calls it “potentially hazardous food”. It must come from an approved kitchen, never a home one.All terms in the glossary at a farmers’ market. Anything prepared ahead must come from an Approved kitchenA kitchen Island Health has approved to make food for sale: its plans were approved before it was built, and it holds an operating permit or approval. A home kitchen is not one, unless it is a separate kitchen that went through the same approval.All terms in the glossary; home-prepared food is not allowed.

Who issues it
Island Health
Cost
No permit fee if you operate 14 days or fewer in the April–March year. Island Health charges a $50 administration fee for applications, or date changes, received less than 14 days before the event.
How long
Apply at least 14 days ahead. Island Health issues them for at most 14 days per calendar year per applicant.
Forms and pages

Do you need it?

You need it if

  • You prepare and serve food to eat right away at a public event — a fair, festival, sports day or fundraiser — for no more than 14 days a year.
  • You cook, reheat, hot-hold or assemble food at a farmers’ market, or give out samples of a higher-risk food.

You don’t need it if

  • It’s a private event: a family function, a workplace BBQ, or a club or society serving its own members and invited guests with volunteers.
  • Everything you sell is a food that isn’t potentially hazardous.
  • You’re a permitted food truck working within your permit’s conditions — carry proof of it.
Where this comes from

Sources

How to get it

  1. 1

    Ask the organizer how they collect forms

    Event coordinators often gather every vendor’s application and send them in as one package. You can also send yours yourself.

  2. 2

    Fill in the Temporary Food Service Application

    List the menu with ingredients, how each item is prepared, and the approved kitchen anything is prepared in beforehand — home-prepared food isn’t allowed. Describe how you’ll transport, cook and keep food hot or cold, your thermometers, handwashing, dishwashing, sanitizer, water and wastewater, and list your equipment.

  3. 3

    Draw your booth

    A scale drawing of the setup: equipment, utensil storage, handwashing and dishwashing stations, wastewater and garbage, and the flooring and overhead cover (a tent, for example).

  4. 4

    Attach FOODSAFE

    One certified person must be at the booth at all times — attach copies of certificates. For several days, or a complicated or higher-risk menu, attach a full food safety and Sanitation planYour written routine for cleaning and sanitizing, pest control and garbage: what is cleaned, how, how often and with what. BC requires one from every food premises, alongside a food safety plan.All terms in the glossary too.

  5. 5

    Send it at least 14 days ahead

    To the local office (below). Later than that costs a $50 administration fee and may not be reviewed in time; under two business days before the event, it may be refused.

  6. 6

    Keep the approval with you

    Don’t serve until you have the permit or written approval, and keep a copy at the event.

Where this comes from

Sources

Where to send it: Island Health offices

Applications go to the Environmental Public Health office for your area. Island Health’s form says to return it to the nearest office; it doesn’t say whether email is accepted, but every office publishes an email address — ask when you first get in touch.

Island Health Environmental Public Health offices and the areas they serve
AreaOfficeEmail
Greater Victoria, the West Shore and SookeVictoria (Gateway Village), 250-519-3401gateway_office@islandhealth.ca
Cowichan Valley, Saanich Peninsula and the Southern Gulf IslandsDuncan, 250-737-2010HPES.Duncan@islandhealth.ca
Nanaimo, Oceanside and Alberni-ClayoquotNanaimo (250-755-6215), Parksville or Port AlberniHPES.Nanaimo@, HPES.Parksville@ or HPES.PortAlberni@islandhealth.ca
Comox Valley, Strathcona and the North IslandComox Valley (250-331-8518), Campbell River (250-850-2111) or Port HardyHPES.Courtenay@, HPES.CampbellRiver@ or HPES.PortHardy@islandhealth.ca
Island Health lists the Saanich Peninsula — Sidney, North Saanich, Central Saanich — under its Duncan office, not Victoria.
Where this comes from

Sources

Once you have it

  • Island Health issues temporary permits for at most 14 days per calendar year per applicant. Beyond that you need a regular Operating permitIsland Health’s permit to run a restaurant, café, food truck or other food service business. You get it after the pre-opening inspection, pay its fee each year, and post it where customers can see it.All terms in the glossary.
  • Changing your service dates less than 14 days before the event also costs the $50 fee.
  • Selling at a market all season? You can send your form during the season.
Where this comes from

Sources

What comes next

Special event permit, if you serve alcoholLiquor and Cannabis Regulation BranchYour own approval in a shared or rented kitchenIsland HealthHealth operating permitIsland Health

Which businesses need it

Caterers & personal chefsFor serving at public eventsFarmers’ market vendorsOnly for cooking or sampling higher-risk food on siteFestival, event & fundraiser foodServing food at festivals, fairs, sports events or fundraisers.

The rules behind this page

Last checked 9 October 2026. We check this guide regularly against Island Health, provincial and municipal sources, but regulations and laws change often and we can’t guarantee it is complete or current. Confirm with Island Health and your municipality before you apply, build or sell.

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