Variety of food in take away boxes

Food Licences

View the Temporary Licence Exemptions for Food Shop Licences and Short Term Food Shop Licences

The City Of Oshawa has several food related licences that depend on your business type. The two (2) main categories of Food Licences are Food Shops and Refreshment Vehicles.

For food vendors participating in a special event in Oshawa, you will need a Short Term Food Shop Licence or Temporary Refreshment Vehicle Licence. Visit our Special Event Licences webpage for more information.

Food Shop

A Food Shop is any place where food items for human consumption are made for sale, offered for sale, stored or sold. This includes a home-based food business as well. This does not include a Refreshment Vehicle or Bed and Breakfast establishment.

A few examples of businesses that require a Food Shop Licence are: restaurants, take-out restaurants, cafes, bakeries, convenience stores, and supermarkets. If you are unsure whether your business needs a Food Shop Licence, you can email [email protected] with a description of your business and products you will be selling and we will advise you accordingly.

Under the current Temporary Licence Exemptions, you do not need a Food Shop Licence if you are only selling prepackaged foods (e.g. bags of chips, bottles of pop, packaged candy, etc.). However if you are preparing, heating, or cooking food (e.g. cooking and serving food in a restaurant, heating food at a hot counter in a supermarket or convenience store, preparing and packaging sandwiches, etc.) you will still require a Food Shop Licence.

Food Shop Licence

Fees:

$225 ($75 annual application fee plus $150 annual licence fee)

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

Business Name Registration or Franchise Agreement
Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
Copy of ownership or lease for your place of business
Proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence

Apply for a new Food Shop Licence

To renew your current Food Shop Licence, you must submit the following document:

Proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence

Renew your Food Shop Licence

Accessory to Food Shop Licence

An Accessory to Food Shop refers to any outdoor place adjacent to your business where food stuffs intended for immediate consumption are made for sale, offered for sale, stored or sold. For example, a barbecue in front of a restaurant or on a patio would be considered an Accessory to Food Shop.

To apply for an Accessory to Food Shop Licence, you must have a valid Food Shop Licence. If you are applying for a new Food Shop Licence, you can apply for an Accessory to Food Shop Licence at the same time.

There are no fees for this annual licence.

To apply for a new Accessory to Food Shop Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance Certificate with a liability limit of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence
Site plan sketch/diagram of where your Accessory to Food Shop set up will be located, including parking spaces, entrances and exits, and other businesses located nearby

Apply for a new Accessory to Food Shop Licence

To renew your current Accessory to Food Shop Licence, you must submit the following document:

Proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence

Renew your Accessory to Food Shop Licence

Home Occupation Food Shop Licence

A Home Occupation Food Shop is any dwelling unit where food items intended for human consumption are made for sale, offered for sale, stored or sold. A Home Occupation Food Shop Licence is a two (2) year licence.

Fees for a two (2) year licence:

$225 ($75 application fee plus $150 licence fee)

To apply for a new Home Occupation Food Shop Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Business Name Registration/Master Business Licence
Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
Floor plan of the area of the home dedicated to the Home Occupation Food Shop, complete with room measurements (this can be hand drawn)
Durham Region Health Inspection Report (if applicable)

Apply or renew a Home Occupation Food Shop Licence

Frequently Asked Questions about Food Shop Licences

How long does it take to get a Food Shop Licence?

A new Food Shop Licence takes about two (2) to four (4) weeks to issue. However this is dependent on the inspections and approvals required from various departments.

What inspections are required?

Approvals from Oshawa Fire Services (O.F.S.), Property Standards, and Durham Region Health (D.R.H.) are required before your Food Shop Licence can be issued. Once you submit your application, we will contact these departments to let them know that your business needs these inspections.

O.F.S. ensures your business is compliant with the Fire Code and our Property Standards Officers check for compliance with the City’s Property Standards By-law. D.R.H. inspects your facilities in order to issue you a Green Dine Safe Pass.

What if my business is being renovated or under construction?

If you are doing renovations or construction on your business, you may need a building permit. You can visit the Building Services webpage for more information. If you need a business sign installed, please visit the Sign Permits webpage.

If you have an active building permit, your Food Shop Licence cannot be issued until it is closed.

Where can I open up my Food Shop business?

To check the zoning for your proposed business location, you can contact Planning Services and visit their Zoning webpage.

Can I transfer my Food Shop Licence?

Business licences issued by the City of Oshawa, including Food Shop Licences, cannot be transferred to a new owner or to another location. If you are selling your business, the new owner will have to apply for a new Food Shop Licence. If you are moving your Food Shop business to a different location, you will have to apply for a new Food Shop Licence.

Refreshment Vehicles

A Refreshment Vehicle is defined as a vehicle or trailer from which food is prepared, offered, sold or otherwise made available for consumption by people. Refreshment Vehicles operating within the City of Oshawa must be licensed and must meet various operating standards depending on the type of vehicle.

The City of Oshawa currently defines four (4) classes of Refreshment Vehicles.

Vehicle	Description	Example
Hot Dog Cart	A mobile refreshment vehicle that operates or is licensed to operate at one (1) location for no less than three (3) hours and not to exceed nine (9) 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.

Mobile Refreshment Vehicle Licence

Fees:

$300 ($75 annual application fee plus $225 annual licence fee)

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

Business Name Registration
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
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 new Mobile Refreshment Vehicle Licence

To renew your current Mobile Refreshment Vehicle Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Vehicle or trailer ownership
Commercial General Liability Insurance Certificate with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence
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)

Renew you Mobile Refreshment Vehicle Licence

Stationary Refreshment Vehicle Licence

Fees:

$300 ($75 annual application fee plus $225 annual licence fee)

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

Business Name Registration
Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
Lease agreement or letter of authorization from the property owner of the proposed location of the Refreshment Vehicle
Map of the property showing where your Stationary Refreshment Vehicle will operate and parking spaces
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
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 new Stationary Refreshment Vehicle Licence

To renew your current Stationary Refreshment Vehicle Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Commercial General Liability Insurance Certificate with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence
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)

Renew you Stationary Refreshment Vehicle Licence

Frequently Asked Questions about Refreshment Vehicles

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 one hundred metres (100 m) of a park and/or school; nevertheless, they are exempt from the one hundred metres (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 operating near businesses?

Cannot operate within twenty metres (20 m) of a restaurant or bar unless participating in a special event where the City has issued a permit
Cannot operate within one hundred metres (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 one hundred metres (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 (3) streets outlined on the Downtown Refreshment Vehicle Map:

Bagot Street
Metcalf Street
a portion of Richmond Street East

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.

Can I have a Mobile and Stationary Refreshment Vehicle Licence for the same Refreshment Vehicle?

No, a Refreshment Vehicle cannot have a Mobile and Stationary Refreshment Vehicle Licence at the same time. A Refreshment Vehicle must either be mobile or stationary.

Food Licences for Special Events

View the Temporary Licence Exemptions for Food Shop Licences and Short Term Food Shop Licences

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.

For other types of special event licences, you can visit our Special Event Licences webpage for more information.

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:

Durham Region Health “Community Special Events and Farmers’ Markets Vendor Application Form”
Business Name Registration
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
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