Selling food at festivals and events on Vancouver Island

1. 1

   Temporary Food Service Permit

   Island Health

   To prepare and serve food at a fair, festival or other event — including sampling or cooking higher-risk food at a market. Home-prepared food is not allowed.

   Cost:

   No permit fee if you operate 14 days or fewer in a fiscal year (April–March); a $50 administration fee for applications received less than 14 days before the event.

   Time:

   Apply at least 14 days ahead. Covers at most 14 days per calendar year.

2. 2

   Your own approval in a shared or rented kitchen

   Island Health

   For food prepared ahead

   Renting time in someone else’s approved kitchen doesn’t put you under their permit — permits are personal and not transferable. Island Health tells kitchen owners that every renter must contact them “for necessary approval”. Island Health publishes no separate commissary process, so call your local office before you start.

3. 3

   FOODSAFE Level 1

   BC FOODSAFE Secretariat

   One certified person on site

   Required by law of every operator of a food service establishment, and of at least one person on shift when the operator is away. Island Health asks for the certificate with a permit application.

   Cost:

   $69 online (Open School BC) or $115 by distance education; classroom fees vary by provider. Valid 5 years.

4. 4

   Special event permit (liquor)

   Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch

   Only if you serve alcohol

   Needed to sell or serve alcohol at an event outside a licensed venue; a private party at home needs no permit, but you can’t sell liquor there. The liquor must be bought in BC from an authorised store or maker, drink prices are capped unless the event raises money for charity, and events on public land need that government’s written permission. Servers need Special Event Server training or Serving It Right at any size of event; the permit holder and managers need Serving It Right if 500 or more people attend.

   Cost:

   $100 per day and location for a public event; $25 for a private one.

   Time:

   Apply 4 to 6 weeks ahead; events that don’t need police or LCRB review are approved automatically.

5. 5

   Where a food truck may park and sell

   Your municipality

   For events on municipal land

   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.

   Cost:

   Examples: Saanich parks $27.75 a day or $1,030 a year; Nanaimo’s licence for public sites $365.

Rules where you are

Business licences, zoning and home-business rules differ by municipality.

• City of Victoria
• District of Saanich
• City of Langford
• Township of Esquimalt
• District of Oak Bay
• City of Colwood
• Town of Sidney
• City of Nanaimo
• City of Duncan
• Municipality of North Cowichan
• City of Courtenay
• City of Campbell River