Women sitting in front of a food truck

Stationary and mobile food vending in parks

The Vancouver Park Board runs the annual Summer Food Truck Program from May to October. Each spring we issue a request for proposals to sell food at select parks and beaches.

Learn about the vending sites and apply with your proposal. You need a vending permit to sell food at our parks and beaches.

Mobile food vending season

The Park Board is accepting requests for expression of interest for the 2020 season. 

If you are interested in a site that does not currently have a permitted vendor please contact mark.halyk@vancouver.ca with your proposal.

2020 key dates

Date Event
March 16 Issue request for proposals
April 19 at 4pm

Application deadline
April 26 Successful applicants chosen and contacted
May 11

Permits issued and payment due
May 18 - October 12 Operational season

Apply with your proposal

Prepare the required documents

  1. Include a 400-word explanation of how you'll bring unique and complementary food offerings to the site
    • We seek creative, quality, and culturally-diverse menu offerings.
  2. Provide your menu for customers, including the name, description, and selling price with taxes
    • Show which foods or products are:
      • Made from scratch
      • Local
      • Whole, unprocessed, or fresh
      • Organic
      • Fair trade or sustainably harvested
  3. Provide proposed operating days and hours
  4. Copy of your current Health Permit and any health inspection reports from the last year (if you already operate)
  5. Copy of your current Food Safe Certificate Level 1
    • We prefer applications with Food Safe Certificate Level 2.
  6. A Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Plan (HACCP) for primary menu items
  7. Documentation with details of your commissary facility with a confirmed or tentative lease agreement. The location must be approved by Vancouver Coastal Health as a food preparation facility.
  8. Copy of your existing vending unit schematic, drawn to scale and showing equipment details.
    • Include interior drawings to scale, exterior dimensions of length and width, and a separate water system diagram.
    • Show how your unit is powered (there is no power available on-site).
  9. Current photo of your vending unit
  10. Waste management plan of how you'll collect, remove, and dispose of all garbage, recyclables, and compostable materials
    • Show how you'll use recyclable or compostable containers and utensils, and how you'll cut packaging.
  11. Other sustainability or waste-management initiatives
  12. Where possible indicate your primary local producers such as farms, manufacturers and bakeries
  13. Details on the ownership of the company and qualifications of individuals operating the site
  14. Other business details (where you currently operate, history, and relevant qualifications)
  15. Plan to start operations by May 18, 2020

Mail the required documents 

Mark Halyk
Food and Beverage Operations
Vancouver Park Board Administration Office
2099 Beach Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4

 Please provide 1 copy of all documents.

View application procedures  (1.6 MB)

Vending sites

  • Stanley Park Info Booth (truck or cart)
  • Queen Elizabeth Park adjacent to Bloedel Conservatory (truck or cart)
  • Kits Beach Sites (cart)
  • English Bay Beach Sites (cart)
  • Roaming Seawall/Stanley Park Vending (mobile bike or push cart)
  • 2nd Beach Concession (complimentary food item truck, cart, or stand)
  • 3rd Beach Concession (complimentary food item truck, cart, or stand)

 Generators aren't allowed at beach sites.

View a map of the sites (1.5 MB)

We will consider other sites like Victory Square, Creekside in Olympic Village, David Lam Park, Spanish Banks, Vanier Park, Yaletown Park, and more. Let us know in your proposal and we'll check if it's possible.

Key evaluation criteria

Due to the limited number of sites, we choose vendors based on the following criteria.

  • Suitability of the vending unit to the site (size restrictions)
  • Health permitting and food safety requirements
  • Proposed flat fee structure
  • Readiness to be operational by May 18
  • Uniqueness of your menu items and how they complement the existing park food offerings
  • Sustainability in your operation
  • Overall appeal and quality of your menu items
  • Health and nutritional aspect of your meal

Street and sidewalk vending

Sidewalk activities

There are a number of opportunities for kiosks, carts, and other retail businesses on City sidewalks.