Variety of food in take away boxes

Street Food Vending

Refreshment Vehicles operating within the City of Oshawa must be licensed and must meet various operating standards depending on the type of vehicle.

Refreshment Vehicle/Street Food Vendors

A refreshment vehicle is defined as a vehicle from which food is prepared, offered, sold or otherwise made available for consumption by persons. A refreshment vehicle, commonly known as a “Street Food Vendor,” is a technical term defined in the City's Business Licensing By-law.

Types of Refreshment Vehicles/Street Food Vendors

Refreshment Vehicles/Street Food Vendors can take a variety of forms. Ice cream trucks, hot dog carts, ice cream bikes, chip trucks, and other food trucks are examples of the different types of Refreshment Vehicles/Street Food Vendors.

Oshawa currently defines four classes of refreshment vehicles in the Business Licensing By-law.

Vehicle	Description	Example
Hot Dog Cart	A mobile refreshment vehicle that operates or is licensed to operate at one location for no less than three hours and not to exceed nine hours on any day.	Hot dog cart
Mobile Refreshment Vehicle	A refreshment vehicle that is propelled by means other than an on-board motor or engine.	Ice cream bikes, coffee bikes, trailers
Motorized Refreshment Vehicle	A mobile refreshment vehicle that is self-propelled using an on-board motor or engine.	Food trucks, ice cream trucks
Stationary Refreshment Vehicle	A refreshment vehicle operated from one lot but does not include a Hot Dog Cart.	“Chip Trucks” as seen on various private property lots in Oshawa.

Licence requirements and standards

There are various application requirements for refreshment vehicle licences, including things such as:

Providing vehicle information
Meeting insurance requirements
Providing supporting documentation related to proposed lot location (Stationary Refreshment Vehicles only)

Operating standards vary depending on the type of refreshment vehicle.

Highlights of operating standards that apply to all refreshment vehicles include:

Various health and safety standards
The maintenance of insurance
Waste removal requirements

Highlights of the additional operating standards related to Stationary Refreshment Vehicles include:

Prohibition from operating on highways
Location limitations related to timing and property owner consent

Highlights of the additional operating standards for Mobile Refreshment Vehicles include:

Restrictions on the location where on-street vending is permitted
- Different standards apply to residential and non-residential areas
- Distance requirements from restaurants, parks and special events
- Prohibition in the Downtown area except for certain sections of three specific Downtown streets
Restrictions on the length of time on-street vending is permitted
- Vending is permitted from certain City roads for up to five hours
Additional health and safety requirements

Highlights of the additional operating standards for Motorized Mobile Refreshment Vehicles include:

Prohibition from operating on sidewalks
Additional health and safety requirements

Please review Schedule "L" of the Business Licensing By-law to learn more and to find a complete list of requirements and standards.

For more information on applying for your Refreshment Vehicle Licence, please visit the Business Licensing and Permits page.

Frequently asked questions

Are Mobile/Motorized Refreshment Vehicles permitted in parks, or near schools and recreation centres?

The consent of all property owners is required in order to operate on a lot. If the City or a school were to permit a specific location, the Mobile/Motorized Refreshment Vehicle would be able to operate there. If written consent has not been provided from the City/school for a particular location, the vendor would not be permitted to operate there.

Mobile/Motorized Refreshment Vehicles are prohibited from operating within 100 m of a park and/or school; nevertheless, they are exempt from the 100 m proximity requirement if they are operating on a highway closed under a special event permit and/or at a park where a special event is being held; and, if the Mobile/Motorized Refreshment Vehicle has obtained written consent from the special event permit holder. Additionally, Refreshment Vehicles are exempt from this distance requirement if the property owner or the school administration, as applicable, has given written permission for the Refreshment Vehicle to operate on the property.

Are Mobile/Motorized Refreshment Vehicles permitted to operate near residential areas?

Mobile/Motorized Refreshment Vehicles, such as ice cream trucks, are permitted to roam through residential areas for up to ten minutes. These ten minutes extend if people within the queue have not been served. Refreshment Vehicles must obey all parking restrictions.

Mobile/Motorized Refreshment Vehicles are prohibited from operating within residential areas between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Mobile/Motorized Refreshment Vehicles are only permitted to operate on highways abutting residential zones for a longer period if the highway is closed due to a permitted special event and the Mobile/Motorized Refreshment Vehicle has written consent from the special event permit holder.

Are there proximity restrictions for businesses?

Cannot operate within 20 m of a restaurant or bar unless participating in a special event where the City has issued a permit
Cannot operate within 100 m of any park or school unless the refreshment vehicle has obtained written consent from the property owner or the school administration to vend on the property

Cannot operate within 100 m of any special special event unless the special event permit holder has provided written consent

Cannot operate on any lot without the consent of the property owner

Can Mobile Refreshment Vehicles operate in the downtown core?

Refreshment Vehicles are only permitted on three streets outlined on the Downtown Refreshment Vehicle Map:

Bagot St.
Metcalf St.
a portion of Richmond St. E.

They must ensure the parking meter is paid for the duration of the time they are occupying per space. Refreshment Vehicles must obey all other parking restrictions.