Food Premises License Information

A food premises is any place where food is manufactured, processed, prepared, packaged, stored, handled, distributed, transported, served, offered for sale or sold, or sold in a food vending machine. Examples include restaurants, dining rooms, cafes, take-outs, convenience stores, grocery stores, and retail bakeries. 

You will need a food premises license if you operate a food premises and/or you prepare high-risk food and/or serve unpackaged food at locations including a farmers’ market, craft fair, special event, or fundraising event.

There is an exemption for food premises owned, operated or leased by religious organizations, service clubs (rotary or lions club), and non-profit organizations where low risk food (like sweets, muffins, loaves, etc.) is prepared or served by the group.
You will need a Class 4 license if your organization is preparing high risk food such as sandwiches, meat dishes, casseroles, or hosting large fundraising dinners.

Class 1A – $150

• This is a food premises where food is primarily consumed on the premises, there are more than 25 seats available for patrons, or the operation is primarily a supermarket, restaurant, dining room, or retail bakery.
  This includes restaurants, licensed premises, dining rooms, supermarkets, and retail bakeries.

Class 1B – $75

• This is a food premises where food is primarily consumed on the premises and there are 1 to 25 seats available for patrons.
  This includes restaurants, licensed premises, cafes, and recreational facility canteens or other similar food premises where food is primarily consumed on the property/premises.

Class 2 – $55

• This is a food premises where food is primarily consumed off the premises.
  This includes take-out or similar food premises where food is primarily consumed off the property/premises, convenience/grocery stores, special event or farmers market organizer, special event or farmers market vendor, mobile units, retail meat outlets, brewery, winery, or distillery.

Class 3A – $37.50

• This is a food vendor who provides food services at one temporary event per year.

Class 3B – $55

• This is a food vendor who provides food service at more than one temporary event per year, or, the organizer of a temporary event where food service is available to the public.

Class 4 – No fee

• This is a community organization where food is processed, prepared, packaged, handled, served, or offered for sale or sold; OR an institution where food is serviced primarily for consumption by clients of that institution and the food service is primarily non-commercial.
  This includes banquet facilities/church halls, school cafeteria or canteen (non-profit), and hospitals.
  • A Class 4 food premises license does not need to be renewed yearly.