Mobile Food Vending

Mobile food vendors must be approved in order to be eligible to participate in events and festivals taking place on City property. Approved vendors are identified on the Approved Mobile Food Vendor List for Events and Festivals.

To be on the Approved Mobile Food Vendor List for Events and Festivals, vendors must submit the following documents to vending@edmonton.ca:

Valid City of Edmonton Food Truck/Food Cart business license, and
Valid Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Note: The approved vendor list identifies individual vending units by business name and AHS placard numbers, along with a contact phone number. For first-time applications only, vendors must also submit for EACH vending unit they operate:
- Alberta Health Services placard number, for example EDM-1234,
- A contact phone number, and
- 4 photos of the vending unit - one clear photo of each full side of the vending unit. The vehicle license plate (if applicable) and AHS placard (sticker) must each be clearly visible in the photos.
  *Note: It can take up to 5 business days for a mobile food vendor to initially be placed onto the Approved List, and up to 3 business days to refresh or update documents to maintain approved status.

Vendors are responsible to manage their documents and to submit updated valid copies to vending@edmonton.ca in order to stay on the approved vendor list. The City does not monitor for document expiry or notify vendors. The “Approved Until” date on the approved vendor list reflects the vendor’s next document expiration date. Once that date has been reached and the document on file has expired, the vendor is automatically removed from the list. Vendors should submit updated valid documents at least three (3) business days in advance of the “Approved Until” date.

City of Edmonton Business License

All mobile food vendors must hold a valid City of Edmonton business license (Food Trucks/Food Cart category). The business license must be publicly displayed with the vending unit.

To be on the Approved Mobile Food Vendor List for Events and Festivals, vendors must submit a valid City of Edmonton business license (Food Truck/Food Cart category) to vending@edmonton.ca.

You can apply for a business licence application online. Please note, business licensing is not managed by the Vending program; we cannot process or review business licence applications. Business licence applications are only accepted if submitted online.

Certificate of Insurance (COI)

Do mobile food vendors need Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance?

For general roaming (streets, parks, sidewalks): CGL insurance is not required, but it is highly recommended.
To participate in events and festivals: CGL insurance is required.

To be on the Approved Mobile Food Vendor List for Events and Festivals, vendors must submit a valid Certificate of Insurance (COI) to vending@edmonton.ca, as follows:

Must include not less than $2,000,000.00 (two-million dollars) coverage against bodily injury, personal injury, products and completed operations, and property damage including loss of use thereof
Must include Automobile and/or Non-owned Automobile Liability Insurance on all vehicles owned, operated or licensed in the use or operation of mobile food vending in an amount no less than $2,000,000.00 (two-million dollars)
Must specifically include “The City of Edmonton” as Additional Insured
The Certificate of Insurance must be endorsed to provide the City of Edmonton with a 30-day advance written notice of cancellation

**Note that only a valid COI is acceptable, as described above. The City does not accept policy documents, policy applications, binder documents, insurance letters or payment receipts as proof of acceptable insurance. On the COI, “certificate holder” is not the same as “Additional Insured”.

Vehicle Registration

Vehicle registration is a provincial requirement. Documents must be kept on hand with the vending unit, but are not submitted to the City.

Commercial Vehicle Registration is typically required for Food Trucks. Trailers and tow vehicles are registered separately.

Registering a vehicle in Alberta
Registering a commercial vehicle

AHS Food Handling Permit

Food Handling Permits are a provincial requirement and are issued by Alberta Health Services (AHS). A valid AHS placard (sticker) must be clearly visible on the vending unit. A valid AHS Food Handling Permit, showing the matching placard number (e.g. EDM-1234) must be kept on hand with the vending unit but is not submitted to the City.

AHS has specific definitions for Mobile Food Vending Units. The AHS Food Handling Permit Application must be submitted to AHS for review and approval.

Contact 780-735-1763 or foodpermits.edmontonzone@ahs.ca.

Safety & Fire Declaration Forms

Mobile food vendors must comply with provincial STANDATA requirements for food trucks/food carts. Vendors must have valid documentation on hand demonstrating compliance with the requirements, such as completed inspection declaration forms or inspection reports. These documents are not submitted to the City.

For easy documentation of compliance, the City of Edmonton has developed inspection declaration forms. These forms are completed by certified third-party inspectors and are valid for one year from the date of inspection. Inspectors approve a mobile food vending unit is compliant with specific regulations applicable to that unit. It is recommended that vendors make use of the City’s declaration forms. Inspection technical reports can be difficult to read and understand.

Electrical Requirements Declaration Form
Fire Safety Requirements Declaration Form
Plumbing and Gas Requirements Declaration Form
Ventilation Requirements Declaration Form

Not all requirements will apply to all vending units, depending on the setup, or if certain systems have not been installed. Third-party inspectors will be able to assess which requirements are applicable.

Phone	311
TTY	711

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