Street Vending

The City encourages street vending as a means to bring together community and enhance liveliness to Vancouver's streets. By way of sidewalk kiosks, or mobile units, street vending can bring people together, and create another outlet for the public to have the convenience of street level products.

Street Food Vending

Applications are now closed for 2012.

A panel of judges have been arranged to determine the successful applicants for this category. Judges will be looking for, but not limited to, experience, readiness, quality and diversity of food, business plan, overall menu, and environmental and/or sustainability considerations. Successful applicants will be notified of the resulting status of their application(s).

• 2012 Street Vending Information Package
• 2012 Vendor Location List and Requirements
• Vancouver Coastal Health - Mobile Food Premises Guideline ( 18 kb)

Non Food Vending

• 2012 Non Food Vending Lottery Locations and Information

Mobile Food Vending

Interested in mobile street vending? Please view Information for Mobile Food Vending Permits

Special Event Vending

There are numerous special events throughout the calendar year in Vancouver that provide opportunities for vending. Mobile Special Event Vending Permits are available for individuals who are not involved directly with an event, but would like to sell novelty items around the boundary of an event. On a case by case basis, Mobile Special Event Permits are issued at City recognised events when the product wishing to be sold, coincides with the event itself.

Please note, if you are interested in vending within the boundaries of an event, you are required to approach the event organiser.

Additional information:

• The City of Vancouver makes no guarantee as to the economic viability of any vending location.
• It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure their product is approvable prior to application.
• It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the location(s) applied for are not within 60 metres of the entrance to a fixed address business that has a similar food product, food theme, or concept.

Contact information

General enquiries:


Phone within Vancouver: 3-1-1
Phone outside of Vancouver: 604.873.7000
TTY Service: 604.873.7193            
Fax: 604.873.7255                          

In person:
Fifth Floor, 507 West Broadway

E-mail:  alan.rockett@vancouver.ca