Selling homemade food in British Columbia
Learn how to sell homemade food in British Columbia: kitchen requirements, permits, food safety training, official forms and permitted sales channels.
Research checked:
Home food rules in British Columbia
Lower-risk foods at temporary food markets only. BC’s lower-risk home-food route is for qualifying temporary food markets. It doesn’t cover selling from home or to shops.
Sales channels for qualifying home foods
Anything outside temporary markets means asking your regional health authority.
- Markets and events
Allowed under the qualifying home-food route
- Home pickup
Not allowed under the qualifying home-food route
- Delivery
Not allowed under the qualifying home-food route
- Online orders
Not allowed under the qualifying home-food route
- Retail and wholesale
Not allowed under the qualifying home-food route
Permits and kitchen approval
Apply through your regional health authority with floor plans, food safety and sanitation plans, and training. FOODSAFE Level 1 or equivalent is required.
Your steps in this location
- Stick to the lower-risk list Required
Suitable breads, cookies, fruit pies and specified preserves, subject to recipe conditions.
- Package and keep it clean Required
Package to prevent contamination, keep pets out while preparing, and clean and sanitize equipment.
- No application before market sales Exempt for qualifying operations
Listed lower-risk vendors don’t need to apply to the health authority first.
- Take MarketSafe or similar Recommended
Strongly recommended, not mandatory, for this route.
Forms and official resources
Local requirements
- Fraser Health
Publishes an Application for Health Approval and food-service package. Regional example, not province-wide.
Confirm before selling
Ask the health authority about unlisted products, higher-risk foods or any other sales channel.
More business guides for British Columbia
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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.