How to get a vendor’s licence

If you want to sell food or handmade crafts anywhere in the municipality, you need to have a vendor’s licence.

There are three different kinds of vendor’s licences in Halifax:

 1. Food service vehicle or stand site licence.

This is a licence to vend food products at a specific site.

• A Food Service Vehicle means any vehicle, as defined in the Motor Vehicle Act, used for the display, storing, transportation, or sale of food and non-alcoholic beverages by a vendor. Your vehicle must be licensed and registered pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Act.
• A stand is means any table, showcase, bench rack, pushcart, wagon or any other wheeled vehicle or device which is used for the display, storage, transportation or sale of food, non – alcoholic beverages or other merchandise by vendor.

2. Bicycle wagon licence, which allows you to vend from a non-motorized bicycle wagon.

3. Artisan stand licence.

This is a licence to vend handmade crafts at a specific site. For the purposes of this licence, an artisan means a:

•  painter
•  photographer
•  silversmith
•  weaver
•  jeweller
•  candle maker
•  leather worker
•  another like artisan who resides in Nova Scotia and manufactures their own products or vends handmade products made within Nova Scotia

What do I need to apply?

Food service licence

To apply for a food service licence (both types listed above) in Halifax, you will need to provide the following documents along with your application form:

•  Criminal Record Report (dated within 30 days of the date of application)
•  photograph of the stand, mobile canteen, or bicycle wagon
•  a copy of your photo identification
•  written consent from the owner (if you are not the owner of the vehicle or stand)
•  copy of valid Health Permit
•  proof of insurance for $2,000,000 coverage naming Halifax Regional Municipality as additionally insured

Artisan Stand licence

To apply for an artisan stand licence, you need to provide the follow documents with your application form:
 

•  several photographs of the crafts if more than one type of craft being sold
•  a copy of your photo identification
•  the price list for all items sold
•  a statement to the effect that the applicant made or manufactured the handcraft, or the handcrafts are made within Nova Scotia

Ready to apply?

If you are ready to apply, complete the vending application [PDF]  and return it with all supporting documentation to a Municipal Customer Service Centre.

•  Scotia Square, 5201 Duke St., Halifax, NS, B3J 1N9
•  Bayer's Road, 7071 Bayers Rd, 2nd Floor Towers, Halifax, NS, B3L 4P3
•  Alderney Gate, 40 Alderney Dr, Dartmouth, NS, B2Y 2N5
•  Acadia Centre, 636 Sackville Dr, Lower Sackville, NS, B4C 2S3

Service hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, closed on statutory holidays.

The applicant/license holder shall be familiar with and abide by all vending regulations in accordance with By-Law C-501. In accordance with Section 39 of By-Law C-501, a site license may not be permitted to operate during a Festival or Special Event approved by the HRM.