Special Event Licences

Food Sales

If you are participating in a special event in Oshawa and selling food, you will need either a Short Term Food Shop Licence or Temporary Refreshment Vehicle Licence. For example, if you are selling food (including prepackaged foods) at a booth/table at a festival/craft show/fair, you will need a Short Term Food Shop Licence. If you are preparing and selling food from a food truck or trailer, you will need a Temporary Refreshment Vehicle Licence. 

If you are unsure if a Food Licence is required, you can email [email protected] with a description of the event and what you will be selling. Licensing Services will let you know the type of licence you will need.

Short Term Food Shop Licence

Fees:

• $75 application fee – if you have a valid Oshawa Food Shop Licence, you do not need to pay this fee
• $30 per day you are vending at the event location

To apply for a Short Term Food Shop Licence, you must submit the following documents:

• Durham Region Health “Community Special Events and Farmers’ Markets Vendor Application Form” 
• If you are cooking/warming/heating, refrigerating or using a generator or electrical source at the event:
  • Picture of your fire extinguisher that will be at the event
  • Picture of the manufacture date of your fire extinguisher
  • Fire extinguisher maintenance record tag or documentation from the service contractor

Apply for a Short Term Food Shop Licence 

Temporary Refreshment Vehicle Licence

Fees:

• $75 application fee
• $95 licence fee – up to five (5) days at the same location

To apply for a Temporary Refreshment Vehicle Licence, you must submit the following documents:

• Business Name Registration/Master Business Licence
• Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
• Vehicle or trailer ownership
• Photograph of the vehicle or trailer
• Commercial General Liability Insurance Certificate with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence
• Durham Region Health “Community Special Events and Farmers’ Markets Vendor Application Form” 
• Vehicle Safety Standards Certificate (if applicable)
• Vehicle insurance certificate (if applicable)
• Picture of the on board fire extinguisher
• Propane Certificate T.S.S.A. (if applicable)
• Fire suppression system inspection record dated within six (6) months; also known as N.F.P.A. 96 Commercial Cooking Suppression System (if applicable)

Apply for a Temporary Refreshment Vehicle Licence 

Peddling Goods

If you are selling your goods and wares at an event, you will require a Peddler Licence. The type of licence depends on your vendor attendance. Peddler Licence applications must be submitted at least thirty (30) days before the event.

Peddler Class A – General Peddler

A General Peddler is a person who goes from place to place, or to a particular place, with goods, wares or merchandise for sale, or who carries and exposes samples, patterns or specimens of any goods, wares or merchandise that are to be delivered in the City afterwards.

Fees:

• $75 application fee
• Days vending:
  • One (1) to two (2) days - $100
  • Three (3) to five (5) days - $200
  • More than five (5) days - $30 per day

To apply for a Peddler Class A - General Peddler Licence, you must submit the following documents:

• Written authorization from property owner/manager to vend from the site
• Site plan detailing the location of where you will be set up 

Apply for a Peddler Class A - General Peddler Licence 

Peddler Class B – Special Event Organizer

A Special Event Organizer is any person organizing an event involving multiple vendors at one location exhibiting, offering for sale, and/or distributing of, temporarily, goods, wares, and/or merchandise to the general public. A few examples of events are craft shows, trade shows, and flea markets. 

This licence does not include food sales. If you have food vendors participating in your event, each food vendor will need to apply for a Short Term Food Shop Licence. 

Fees:

• $475 ($75 application fee plus $400 licence fee)

To apply for a Peddler Class B - Special Event Organizer Licence, you must submit the following documents:

• Proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence with the City of Oshawa named as Additional Insured 
• Written authorization from property owner/manager to vend from the site
• A proposed list of vendors participating in the event
• Site plan detailing the location of all participating vendors
• If food will be sold at the event: Durham Region Health Coordinator/Organizer Application Form

Apply for a Peddler Class B - Special Event Organizer Licence 

Peddler Class C – Seasonal Sales

This licence is for a person who goes to a particular place to vend goods for one (1) period of up to three (3) months in each twelve (12)-month period selling goods that include but are not limited to: gardening products and Christmas trees.

Fees:

• $325 ($75 application fee plus $250 licence fee for one (1) to three (3) months of vending)

To apply for a Peddler Class C - Seasonal Sales Licence, you must submit the following documents:

• Written authorization from property owner/manager to vend from the site
• Site plan detailing the location of all participating vendors

Apply for a Peddler Class C - Seasonal Sales Licence 

Carnival

A licence for an exhibition, display, event or amusement show which may include the operation of one (1) or more Amusement Devices or midway style attractions.

Fees:

• $75 application fee
• $120 licensing fee per day that the Carnival is operating

To apply for a Carnival Licence, you must submit the following documents:

• Carnival Licence Application form
• Proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence with the City of Oshawa named as Additional Insured 
• T.S.S.A. licence for the inflatable company
• T.S.S.A. device permits for each inflatable used at your event
• Written approval from community members within a one hundred metre (100 m) radius of the event