Special Event Licences

Food Sales

If you are participating in a special event in Oshawa and selling non-prepackaged foods (i.e. you will be heating, cooking, or preparing the food on site) at a booth/table at a festival/craft show/fair, you will need a Short Term Food Shop Licence.

Under the current Temporary Licence Exemptions, you will not have to pay the Short Term Food Shop Licence fees if you have a valid Oshawa Food Shop Licence or Home Occupation Food Shop Licence. If you do have to pay for your Short Term Food Shop Licence, you would only pay the associated fees once for your first event and you'll be able to participate in other events in Oshawa for the one (1) year term of your Short Term Food Shop Licence or until these temporary exemptions have ended. However you will still need to submit a licence application and all required documents for each event you participate in even if you do not have to pay. 

If you are preparing and selling food from a food truck or trailer, you will need a Temporary Refreshment Vehicle Licence. This licence is only valid for one (1) special event at one (1) location.

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 plus $30 per day you are vending at the event location for your first event
• If you have a valid Oshawa Food Shop Licence or Home Occupation Food Shop Licence, you do not need to pay these fees

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.

Under the current Temporary Licence Exemptions, you will only have to pay the Peddler Class A (General Peddler) and Class B (Special Event Organizer) licence fees for the first event you participate in. You will then be able to participate in other special events in Oshawa without additional fees, but you will still need to submit an application and all required documents for each 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:

• $100 ($75 application fee plus $25 licence fee)

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 (1) 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:

• $100 ($75 application fee plus $25 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:

• $100 ($75 application fee plus $25 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

Licences to Serve and/or Sell Alcohol

All Special Occasion Permits (S.O.P.) must be completed on the A.G.C.O.'s online portal. For help to determine which type of S.O.P. you require, please see the A.G.C.O.'s Special Occasion Permit Application Guide or contact the A.G.C.O. at 416-326-8700.

Public Events require the municipality to deem the event an event of municipal significance.

For Public Events, please submit the following to the Licensing Services Office:

• Event of Municipal Significance Application form
• Fee: $50

When your application is submitted to Licensing Services, we will review your application and provide you with a letter of Municipal Significance. you will then submit that letter to the A.G.C.O.

If your S.O.P. event will take place on City property, please review our Municipal Alcohol Policy. This policy lists which City-owned or operated facilities, parks, and lands allow S.O.P. events. It also outlines the procedures, rules, and responsibilities for applicants who host S.O.P. events on City property. 

Licensing Approvals

As part of the licensing process, we may contact the following agencies to provide approval for business licence applications:

• Licensing & Standards (Zoning) 
• Municipal Law Enforcement Services 
• Durham Regional Health Department
• Durham Regional Police 
• Fire Services 
• Building Services 
• Planning Services