Municipal

Where a food truck may park and sell

No Island municipality lets a food truck sell from any public street. Private land is allowed almost everywhere if it is zoned for restaurant or commercial use and the owner agrees in writing. Public land means designated sites: Saanich’s seven parks, Nanaimo’s parks and three streets (street sites are first come, first served), parks in Courtenay and Comox, Campbell River’s seven City sites, Langford Station and Parksville’s park pad. Victoria, Esquimalt and Colwood allow public land only at permitted events, and CRD regional parks need a park use permit.

Who issues it
Your municipality
Cost
Examples: Saanich parks $27.75 a day or $1,030 a year; Nanaimo’s licence for public sites $365.
Forms and pages

Do you need it?

You need it if

  • You want to sell from a food truck on public land — a park or a designated street site.

You don’t need it if

  • You sell on private land zoned for restaurant or commercial use, with the owner’s written agreement.
Where this comes from

Sources

How to get it

  1. 1

    Get your truck’s approvals first

    Island Health, the fire inspection, $2 million liability insurance naming the municipality, and your Business licenceYour municipality’s permission to do business there, renewed each year in most towns. It is separate from Island Health’s permits and from zoning: you usually need all three.All terms in the glossary.

  2. 2

    Saanich parks: email an application

    To mobilevendors@saanich.ca, from 8 a.m. up to 14 days before the two-week block you want; $27.75 a day or $1,030 a year.

  3. 3

    Nanaimo: book once licensed

    Bookings for the next month open at 8 a.m. on the 1st, after your licence and documents are approved.

Where this comes from

Sources

Once you have it

  • Nanaimo needs a new application every year; Saanich’s rates rise in January 2027.
Where this comes from

Sources

Which businesses need it

Food trucks & cartsSelling from a truck, trailer or cart.Festival, event & fundraiser foodFor events on municipal land

The rules behind this page

Last checked 5 November 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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