Start a food business in Canada
Explore provincial and territorial rules for selling homemade food, catering, meal prep and private chef services. Find forms, training and kitchen requirements.
Research checked:
Choose your province or territory
- Ontario
Home food businesses fall under provincial food-premises rules and public health inspection. Low-risk-only kitchens get specific exemptions — but you still notify, and you can still be inspected.
- Alberta
Qualifying low-risk home-prepared foods can be sold straight to consumers — from home, online, by mail order, and at markets or special events.
- British Columbia
BC’s lower-risk home-food route is for qualifying temporary food markets. It doesn’t cover selling from home or to shops.
- Saskatchewan
The September 2026 fact sheet lets you sell qualifying low-risk foods from home — with required training and strict labels.
- Manitoba
Regular food prep from a home kitchen isn’t allowed. The exception is qualifying non-hazardous foods at farmers’ markets, flea markets, craft sales or bake sales.
- Quebec
Making meals in your home kitchen needs a restaurant permit. You can handle up to 100 kg of food a month, sold direct to consumers only.
- New Brunswick
Non-hazardous foods made at home for sale only at a public market don’t need a food-premises licence.
- Nova Scotia
Qualifying low-risk home-baked goods can be sold without a provincial food permit.
- Prince Edward Island
Since October 2024, prepackaged low-risk home food can be sold at farmers’ markets and special events without a licence or routine inspection.
- Newfoundland and Labrador
The province publishes home-food preparation guidance with a one-time registration form.
- Yukon
Listed non-hazardous home foods can be sold at events without a permit. Farm-gate guidance also covers home-made jams, jellies and baked goods.
- Northwest Territories
Commercial food handling at home isn’t covered by the private-residence exemption. Home food processors apply for a permit.
- Nunavut
Since May 2024, qualifying low-risk homemade food can be sold directly or at community markets and bake sales without a permit.
Food safety certificates and business permissions
A Food Handler Certificate or Food Safety Certificate proves training. A food premises permit or licence authorizes an operation where required. Home food registration or notification is a separate step. Requirements depend on your location, products and kitchen.
Cottage food laws in Canada
Cottage food laws usually describe rules for selling certain foods prepared at home. Canadian provinces and territories use terms such as home-based food businesses and low-risk home-prepared foods. There is no single Canadian cottage food law.
Catering, meal prep and private chefs
Start with your province or territory, then choose the business guide. Food prepared in your home, an approved commercial kitchen or a client’s kitchen can follow different requirements. A low-risk home-food exemption does not automatically cover cooked meals or catering.
Four different things people mix up
A certificate does not let you open. Each of these is its own step, and you may need more than one.
- Food safety certificate
Proves you passed training. It does not approve your kitchen or business.
- Food premises permit
Authorizes a specific operation, where one is required.
- Notification or registration
Telling the health authority you are operating. A separate process.
- Business licence
Your city’s home-occupation or business approval. Also separate.
Federal rules to check in Canada
The details depend on your product and selling method. Check the applicable requirements and exemptions.
- Labels
Check common name, ingredients and allergens, net quantity, business identity, dates, storage and language. A Nutrition Facts exemption is not a blanket labelling exemption.
- Selling across borders
Shipping to another province or country? Check CFIA's tools first. Not every online home seller needs a federal licence.
- GST/HST
The general small-supplier test counts worldwide taxable supplies, including zero-rated sales and applicable associates, over one quarter or four consecutive quarters. It is not $30,000 of profit.
Your startup checklist
Completing this list does not establish government approval.
Write down your menu: ingredients, fillings, packaging, storage and shelf life.
Find your home-food exemption or approved-kitchen route.
List every way you will sell: markets, online, pickup, delivery, shops and shipping.
Check city zoning, home occupation and business licensing.
Contact your inspector and complete required notifications, applications and inspections.
Book accepted training where it is required.
Register your business name where needed and check your tax obligations.
Check insurance and landlord or condo permission.
Set up cleaning, storage, water, supplier, allergen and transport procedures.
Keep records of approvals, training, recipes and suppliers.