Selling homemade food in Manitoba
Learn how to sell homemade food in Manitoba: kitchen requirements, permits, food safety training, official forms and permitted sales channels.
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Home food rules in Manitoba
Non-hazardous foods at markets, bake sales and craft sales. 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.
Sales channels for qualifying home foods
A food-handler certificate alone isn’t enough to sell from home.
- 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
Rent an inspected commercial kitchen and apply for your own permit — the owner’s permit doesn’t cover you.
Your steps in this location
- Confirm your food qualifies Confirm locally
Review the non-hazardous food exception with your inspector and market organizer.
- Use the permitted market or sale setting Required
The home-food exception is for farmers markets, flea markets, craft sales or bake sales. It does not establish permission for online orders or home pickup.
- Check the market guidelines Confirm locally
Confirm packaging, handling and event requirements for your products.
- Plan an approved kitchen for other foods Confirm locally
Meals, catering and wider selling channels generally need an inspected commercial kitchen and your own permit.
Forms and official resources
Local requirements
Confirm before selling
The market exception doesn’t cover online orders or home pickup. Check each market’s rules for each product.
More business guides for Manitoba
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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.