How to get a food truck permit in BC: steps and costs

What to take away

Health authority approval comes first, before any municipal street vending permit.
Vancouver and Victoria each issue a separate business licence and street vending permit, with fees that differ.
First-year fees usually land between CAD 1,600 and 3,200 for health approval, city licence, fire inspection and insurance. Treat that range as planning only.
The process takes about six to ten weeks when the floor plan and commissary letter are complete.
The most common refusal is a vague commissary agreement; the fix is a signed letter that states hours and access.

British Columbia's food truck permit process runs through five regional health authorities first, then through the city where you park. Start with the provincial BC business permits and licences page to confirm which authority covers your city.

What you need before starting

You need a to-scale floor plan showing equipment, sinks, refrigeration and propane storage. Include a menu, an equipment schedule with make and model, and a sanitation plan for handwashing, dishwashing and waste. Each regional health authority checks similar items; a summary appears in health units check.

A commissary letter is the document most applicants miss. It must name the kitchen, state storage and cleaning hours, and be signed by the owner. British Columbia requires a commissary for food preparation, storage and wastewater disposal unless you can prove full onboard capacity. Keep the letter current; health authorities call the kitchen to confirm. The federal food safety information sets a baseline, but provincial inspectors enforce the truck-specific rules.

The sequence

Prepare the floor plan and sanitation plan. Draw dimensions in centimetres and label sinks, handwash basin, cooler and cooking line. Missing labels cause delays.
Submit the health approval application to your regional health authority. In Vancouver, that is Vancouver Coastal Health; in Victoria, it is Island Health. Pay the permit fee, often between CAD 150 and 400. This range is illustrative; the authority sets the exact fee.
Book the truck inspection. The inspector checks cold holding at 4°C or below, hot holding at 60°C or above, and handwash water at 38°C. Fix any reading before the inspector leaves; a failed reading means a reinspection fee.
Apply for a municipal business licence and street vending permit. Vancouver charges a yearly street food vending permit, usually between CAD 1,000 and 2,000 for a new truck. Victoria's business licence and vending permit together often run CAD 300 to 600 per year. Confirm current fees with each city.
Complete a fire inspection if you use propane or a generator. Plan for CAD 100 to 200. If you hire staff, register with WorkSafeBC before opening; details appear in WorkSafeBC or WSIB cover.

For planning only, a first-year BC food truck permit package tends to land between CAD 1,600 and 3,200. That includes health approval, one municipal licence, fire inspection and basic liability insurance. Ask each authority for the current fee schedule before you pay.

Where judgement replaces the recipe

A checklist cannot tell you whether to park at one spot all day or move between two high-footfall corners. You decide based on foot traffic, parking rules and nearby competition. Vancouver's by-law sets street vending zones, while Victoria's program assigns specific spots; read the Street vending by-laws before choosing.

Judgement also applies to your commissary. If your truck has enough onboard water capacity and wastewater storage, an inspector may still want a commissary for dry storage and dishwashing. Ask the inspector during the pre-application call; do not assume the rule from another province applies.

How to tell it is right

You know the permit is done when two records match. The health authority approval letter shows a valid permit number, and the municipal licence lookup displays your business as 'issued'. If either record is missing, the process is not complete. That is the main measurable test.

Use this checklist before you open:

Health approval letter shows a valid permit number and expiry date.
Municipal business licence appears as 'issued' in the city's online registry.
Fire inspection report is signed and dated.
WorkSafeBC account is active if you have employees.

Check the posted decal on the truck window as a final visible check. The decal should match the plate number on your approval letter.

Fixing it when it is not

The most common failure is a commissary letter that says the kitchen is available but gives no hours, address or signed access. Health authorities reject that because they cannot verify where the truck will clean. The recovery is specific: call the assigned inspector within two business days, ask what is missing, then send a signed letter on the kitchen's letterhead with days, hours and storage space. Most authorities allow a resubmission within 30 days before a new fee applies.

If the floor plan is rejected, redraw it to scale with dimensions and sink labels, then resubmit through the same portal. Check commissary requirements so the letter matches the city's exact format.

Common questions

How long does a BC food truck permit take? Usually six to ten weeks when the documents are complete. A missing or vague commissary letter adds one to three weeks.

Can I use a Vancouver permit in Victoria? No. Municipal licences are not portable. You need a separate business licence and street vending permit in each city where you park.

Do I need health approval before the city licence? Yes. Most BC municipalities ask for the health authority approval letter before they issue a street vending permit, so submit health approval first.

What if my truck uses propane? Book a fire inspection from the local fire department. A signed fire inspection report becomes part of the permit package before you open.