Selling at a market stall in Victoria: where to apply and how to get started

1. Choose your route first, then find where to apply

A business licence is not a stall permit. Being accepted by an organizer does not automatically replace any health, fire or site approvals you need. On the other hand, individual vendors at certain qualifying markets do have a specific exemption from the city licence, so check first instead of paying for the same thing twice. Each part is explained below.

2. Want to sell in 2027? What you can do now

As of November 1, 2026, apart from the few items named below, the websites of Greater Victoria's markets and the three municipalities had not yet posted their 2027 plans. So "the 2027 process" can only be described in two groups: what the official sites have already written, which we report as written; and what they have not, which we estimate from how things worked in 2026 and mark "not verified". Estimated dates are only a reminder of when to go back and check the website. Do not treat them as deadlines.

The order of steps is the same as in 2026, just with later dates: decide on your products and where you will make them, pick two or three markets, ask about the stall, licence and health rules separately, and spend money only after you have the requirements. Section 8 has all six steps.

What is already written for 2027 (checked on November 1, 2026)

2027 timing estimated from how things worked in 2026 (not verified)

The official links for each of these are in sections 3, 4 and 5 below.

3. First check whether these markets take your kind of product

These are the pages of different organizers. There is no single "Victoria market stall application centre". On these sites, you will often see "Vendor" (a stallholder), "Apply" (send an application) and "Waitlist" (the list of people waiting for a spot). A form on a website does not mean there is still space on the date you want.

Bastion Square: winter market and Christmas Village are posted; 2027 summer is coming soon

Checked on November 1: the organizer's page had three 2026 application links. The 2026 Winter Market runs from November 12 to December 24, Thursday to Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. The 2026 Christmas Village has a title saying November 28 to 29 but text saying November 29 to 30, so the page contradicts itself. The third is the 2026 summer market, which ended on October 11. The 2027 application button says "coming soon" and has no link yet, so do not use the old summer form to apply for next year.

Have these ready: photos of your products, a description of what you sell, your contact details and the dates you want. If you are approved, you usually bring your own tent, weights, table and chairs. The dates on this market's website and on its application forms often do not match, so before you pay, ask the organizer to confirm in writing your approved dates, opening hours, fees and cancellation rules, and only then buy your stock.

Victoria Farmers Market at Moss Street: check the product categories first

The organizer now uses the name Victoria Farmers Market at Moss Street. Start at Sell at the Market, then look under your category: crafts, food and beverages, or farm products. The market values things you make, bake or grow yourself. Ordinary products bought wholesale, imported goods and resold goods are not accepted at all.

Checked on November 1: the craft category still said it is no longer taking applications for 2026 and to check back next year. The jury meets every spring and may ask follow-up questions or ask you to bring samples for an in-person review, so 2027 applications will most likely not open until early in the year; the organizer has not given a date. The food page still has two forms, an application form and an ingredient form, and you must send both. For higher-risk food, contact Island Health first. Applications are reviewed, so sending them does not mean spaces are still open. The holiday market, on December 12 to 13, 2026 at the Fairfield Gonzales community centre, is by invitation only, for regular-season vendors ranked by attendance; filling in the regular application does not book you a Christmas stall.

The 2026 rules give you an idea of the budget: the annual membership fee is $31.50 including tax ($30 plus GST). A regular stall is $42 per market day plus GST, a corner stall is $48 plus GST, and a half stall (5 feet wide) is $21 plus GST. Reserved vendors get 20% off stall fees, but missed days are not refunded or made up. Anyone who did not come last regular season, or came fewer than four times, counts as a new vendor and goes through the full review. If you want to start small, ask whether half stalls are allowed for your season and products, but do not assume one will be available. These are this market's own fees, not a city-wide rate. Contact: info@victoriafarmersmarket.ca.

Inner Harbour and Ogden Point: know which harbour program you need

Harbour sites are run as separate programs. Seeing an empty spot on the dock does not mean you can set up there. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) manages the harbour in Greater Victoria, and the city's Street Vendors page also says the Lower Causeway is under GVHA. Go to its Become a Vendor page and choose the category that fits, such as artists, general market or food trucks.

Checked on November 1: Artists on the Causeway says 2026/2027 applications are "now open". Artists from 2025 choose "renewal", only a few new artists are taken, and it also accepts street performers for the Lower Causeway. Market on the Pier, at the Ogden Point cruise terminal, is still marked 2026; there is no application fee, and you tick the dates you want on the form. The annual food vendor program is still marked 2026, and the page says that completing the form "does not guarantee your acceptance into the program". Ship Point market is run by West Coast Markets. Its 2026 dates (June 12 to September 27, Friday to Sunday) are over, but the page still shows buy buttons at $135 to $150 per market day. The 2027 dates are not posted, and a payment button does not mean you can sell there now.

James Bay Community Market: apply by February 8 for priority (how it worked in 2026)

This is the Saturday market in the City of Victoria's James Bay neighbourhood. In 2026 it ran every Saturday from May 2 to October 3, at the corner of Menzies Street and Superior Street. The market's standard is "handmade, homemade, homegrown". Food, body care products and crafts must all be substantially changed from their raw materials.

Checked on November 1: the organizer's page said 2026 vendor applications are still open, but also that the market is full and the waitlist is long; the main categories are all full. Applications are taken all season, but the advice was to apply by February 8, 2026 to get priority for location and dates. The 2027 plans are not posted. Going by this pattern, check in January to February (not verified). You apply through an online system called LokoBuzz. You sign up with your email and can save a draft, but it only counts once you click submit. New vendors must book a product review, and the $20 review fee is not refundable. The application includes a $20 annual membership fee ($10 for youth vendors, who do not get a vote). You send four photos: three of your products and one of your stall or workshop. Food stalls, food trucks and caterers must have at least $2 million in liability insurance; other vendors are encouraged to have their own. The year-end Dickens Fair is on Saturday, December 5, 2026 at the James Bay community centre, and vendor applications are open.

Victoria Public Market: indoor day stalls, open all year

This is the indoor market at 1701 Douglas Street (the Hudson building) downtown. It has a year-round Downtown Day Vendor Program, where you rent a stall by the day. The online form only asks for your name, business name, contact details, a description of your products and the days you want. All products must be approved by market management before you can sell them. The page does not give fees, insurance or health requirements; call 778-433-2787. Note that this is a private indoor market, so it does not fall under the exception in the city's Outdoor Market Bylaw. Ask the city and the market directly whether you need your own licence.

Oaklands Sunset Market: Wednesday evenings; returning vendor applications are closed

This is a summer Wednesday evening market run by the Oaklands community centre (2827 Belmont Ave). In 2026 it ran from July 8 to September 2, every Wednesday from 4:30 to 8 p.m., with more than 30 food, craft and art stalls each week. Checked on November 1: the website only said returning vendor applications are closed, and we did not see where new vendors apply. Ask at events@oaklandsca.com. 2027 is not posted.

Esquimalt Farmers Market: applications all year; check the season and product category

This market is in Esquimalt, outside the City of Victoria's licensing area. Following the policy of the BC Association of Farmers' Markets (BCAFM), products must be made, baked or grown in B.C., and reselling is not allowed. The summer, fall and holiday markets share one application system. Applications are taken all year, and single-day vendors are placed as space allows. Read the Become a Vendor information, rules and current season details first, then go to the application form it links to.

Checked on November 1: the fall indoor market runs from October 1 to December 17, 2026, every Thursday from 4:30 to 7 p.m., at the Esquimalt Rec Centre (527 Fraser Street). The holiday market, on Sunday, November 22, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the same place, was "nearly at capacity". Categories that are full: baked goods and sweets, hot food from food trucks, jewellery, soap and body care, handbags, art prints and cards, and toys. Still wanted: cheese, woodwork, children's clothing, and knitted hats and gloves. Priority goes to vendors who come regularly to the summer and fall markets; single-day vendors have to wait until fall to see what is left. So it is not a good idea to buy a large batch of supplies in the hope of getting into the holiday market.

There are three fees: a $15 application fee when you send the form, a $25 membership fee once you are approved, and then an invoice for stall fees based on the dates you are accepted for (see the 2026 fee schedule for amounts). Liability insurance is a condition of entry. Within 14 days of receiving the invoice, upload your policy and enter its expiry date. The organizer lists three ways to do this: add the Esquimalt Farmers Market Society as an additional insured on your existing business insurance, buy the insurance BCAFM partners with, or buy single-day or multi-day insurance from Duuo. These are the organizer's options, not our recommendations. Full-season vendors can apply to pay in instalments (10 vendors at most); single-day vendors cannot. Check the refund rules before you send a paid application.

4. Find out which municipality the address is in, then ask about licences

An address or map that says Victoria is not necessarily in the City of Victoria. If you live in Saanich and sell at a market in Esquimalt, your home base and your stall are in different municipalities. When you ask questions, give the full address and the name of the market; you will get a more accurate answer than if you just say "I have a stall in Victoria".

Where to apply in the City of Victoria

The business licence page has the General Business Application and Change Form, and also lists some categories you can apply for online. As the page explains, you can send the general form to businesslicence@victoria.ca or take it to the Public Service Centre on the first floor of City Hall. For business licence questions, call 250-361-0572. If you are not sure which department to start with, contact the Business Hub at 250-361-0629 or bizhub@victoria.ca.

The city's page says a complete business licence application usually takes about 10 business days to process, but it can take longer if food, fire, zoning or other requirements are not yet in place. This is not a guaranteed approval date, so do not book a non-refundable event on the assumption that you will definitely be open next week.

Licences renew every year. The city mails renewal notices each November (you can switch to an electronic bill), and payment is due by January 15 of the next year. After February 15, every expired licence pays an extra $25 late fee. Licence fees are not refundable. So you will get the notice for your 2027 licence in November 2026.

There is one exception inside markets. Sections 2, 4 and 6 of the Outdoor Market Bylaw, as published in the city's current bylaw list, say this: at a qualifying outdoor market that has a public land use agreement with the city, is run by a licensed operator and charges individuals a fee to use a stall, an individual whom the operator allows to sell at a stall is exempt from the general business licence and street vendor bylaws named in those sections. The health and fire approvals that stall needs are still required.

This exception does not automatically apply to every indoor market, every market on private land, a production business in your home or any other place where you sell. The most practical way to ask is: "Is this market part of the outdoor market arrangement? Does the organizer's licence cover my sales inside the market? Do I need a separate licence for making things at home or for selling anywhere else?"

Paying for a licence does not let you sell on a public street

Section 25 of the city's Business Licence Bylaw says that doing business on streets, sidewalks and other public places must be expressly allowed by another city bylaw. So a general business licence does not let you set up a table at the side of the road.

The city's Street Vendors page sets out the current situation clearly. The food vending program along Government Street "is closed to new applicants". The site "cannot be City of Victoria property"; it must be on private land. You submit the registered owner's written consent, a letter from the tenant and a site plan together with your business licence application, and the licence application fee is $100. A kiosk's appearance is reviewed as part of the licence approval. Food carts need Island Health approval (250-519-3401), and those using propane need a Technical Safety BC inspection certificate. The page also says "no retail sales are permitted", so this route is basically for food carts, not craft tables.

The city also has a Mobile Bicycle Vending category for selling from a bicycle. You can operate on all city streets and in parks, except Beacon Hill Park (where commercial activity is banned), from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The licence is $100 a year. Selling food needs Island Health approval, and using propane needs a fire inspection. It comes with conditions on the bike, the goods and how you operate, and its application form cannot be used in place of a permit for an ordinary table stall. Before you buy a vending bike, show photos of the bike and your business plan to the city and get its confirmation first.

On private property, check the permitted use first

An owner who is willing to rent you a corner of a parking lot is not the same as the city allowing you to do business there. Take the exact address, the size of your stall or vehicle, your opening dates, whether you will cook, and how customers will gather and park, and check the zoning with the local municipality. Zoning simply means what a piece of land is allowed to be used for. For zoning questions in the City of Victoria, call 250-361-0316 or email zoning@victoria.ca.

In the City of Victoria, the official options for a food truck or mobile food stand are a private site that meets the rules, or a special event. You cannot simply park on city-owned land and sell, unless it is a permitted special event. At a special event, you also need the organizer's permission. Before you sign a lease, modify a vehicle or buy equipment, make sure the owner's consent, the permitted use and the approval requirements are settled.

Saanich: apply to the district, and parks have a separate food truck program

For a Saanich business licence, start from the Application Process page below: first create a MySaanich account, then apply online. Saanich says there is no charge to apply; once all departments have approved, you pay a licence fee based on your business category. Processing time depends on how quickly you get your documents together. The page does not give a renewal date. For questions, call 250-475-5401 or email businesslicence@saanich.ca. For zoning questions, email zoning@saanich.ca.

If you already have a food truck, Saanich has a parks program you can look up: Mobile Food Vendors. Seven parks are pre-approved: Cadboro-Gyro, Rutledge, Beckwith, Whitehead, Craigflower-Kosapsom, Horner and Brydon. You can apply for other parks too, but approval takes longer. In 2026 bookings run in two-week periods up to December 17, and each period opens for applications at 8 a.m., 14 days before it starts. The 2026 rates, all including tax, are $27.75 for one day, $618 for three months and $1,030 for the full year (January 1 to December 31). The page says "Rates are subject to an increase in January 2027", and the 2027 periods are not posted yet. Send the program form and documents to mobilevendors@saanich.ca (250-475-5598). A business licence alone does not let you go to any park you like.

The program requires a business licence valid in Saanich or an applicable inter-municipal licence, Island Health documents, a Saanich fire inspection report, FOODSAFE and insurance. Checked on the program page on November 1: commercial general liability insurance of at least $2 million with the District of Saanich named as an additional insured, and vehicle third-party liability insurance of at least $2 million. These are the conditions for this parks food truck program; they do not carry over as-is to every craft table.

Esquimalt has its own market and food truck rules

Start from the Township's Business Licences page for application information and MyEsquimalt (you apply and renew online there). For questions, call 250-414-7136 or email business@esquimalt.ca. Licence fees are paid every year, by January 31. Accounts not renewed by February pay an extra $25 late fee. Current fees and categories follow Bylaw No. 3144 of 2024, in effect since January 1, 2025.

Section 34.3 of Esquimalt Bylaw No. 3144 also gives a licence exemption to individual vendors at a qualifying market on public land, when a licensed organizer has allowed them to sell. The health and fire approvals that apply are still required. Ask the organizer to confirm whether you fall under this arrangement, and do not stretch the in-market exemption to cover making things at home, another shop or sales outside the market.

Food trucks generally have to operate on private land where restaurant use is allowed, except at events covered by a special event permit. You need Island Health approval, insurance, the location details and the owner's written consent, among other things. Doing business on streets or other municipal land also requires the Township's written approval in advance, and you cannot simply let your stall spill onto the sidewalk next to it.

Inter-municipal licences: ask which kind you need

Intermunicipal and Inter-Community licences have similar names, but they are not the same scheme. Being allowed to run a certain kind of business in several municipalities does not give you a place to operate on every street corner, parking lot or park. For example, Esquimalt's 2026 Inter-Community bylaw, No. 3189, specifically excludes mobile food carts, trailers and food trucks. Do not pick the wrong type of licence just because its name suggests it covers more than one municipality.

Take the name of the licence you have, your home base address, your products and the municipalities you plan to go to, and ask the office that issues licences: "Does this licence work for my business? What else do I need at this location?" That costs less than guessing.

5. Selling food: show the health inspector your menu first

Start by writing a short menu: each item and its ingredients, where it is made, how you will get it to the site, and whether it will be refrigerated, reheated, kept hot, cut up or offered as samples. You cannot tell from the name alone whether steamed buns, dumplings, home-cooked dishes or milk tea can be made at home and sold; the filling, how the food is made and how it is stored all affect the rules.

The person who decides is an Island Health Environmental Health Officer, or EHO. In Greater Victoria, contact the Victoria Gateway Village office at 250-519-3401 or gateway_office@islandhealth.ca. Tell them the name of the market, the dates and the address where you make the food. The health authority handles the food requirements; the market organizer decides whether you get a stall.

Checked on November 1: Island Health's fees are still the set in effect since June 3, 2024 (including the $50 late administration fee for Temporary Food Service), and the page says nothing about changes for 2027. Market manager and event coordinator applications also need 14 days' notice; for coordinators, one month ahead is recommended.

Food markets and festivals: the difference is not just how many days you sell

A Temporary Food Market is a market that meets the rules and is run by a designated market manager. Under this route, some low-risk foods can be made at home, pre-packaged and then sold. Without a designated market manager, this exception does not apply.

A Temporary Event, such as a community celebration, music festival or fundraiser, follows a different set of rules. Food prepared before the event must be made in an approved food premises; selling for just one day does not mean you can use an ordinary home kitchen. An organizer calling its event a "market" does not mean it meets the definition of a food market in the health rules, so have an EHO confirm the right category first.

Low-risk foods still have limits

The provincial guidelines give examples of low-risk foods such as cookies, and bread without dairy or cheese fillings. Jams and pickles also depend on things like the recipe and acidity, and may need testing. Do not decide something is safe to sell just because "my family ate it and was fine", and do not treat pastries with cream or other perishable fillings as ordinary cookies.

If your food qualifies under the low-risk route for temporary food markets, you generally do not need a letter of confirmation from the health authority before you sell. You still need proper packaging, protection from contamination, handwashing arrangements and whatever the organizer requires. MarketSafe or FOODSAFE training helps. For low-risk home producers, the provincial guidelines recommend training; they do not require everyone to hold one particular certificate.

This exception does not automatically let you serve customers at home, sell online or supply stores. If you change how you sell, check again first.

Higher-risk pre-packaged foods need written confirmation

If your product is a higher-risk food, apply to Island Health for a Letter of Confirmation/Approval, a written confirmation of which foods and methods are approved. You usually need to use an approved production facility, pre-package the food and have the approval document with you when you sell.

The current form must be submitted at least 30 days in advance. Prepare a list of your foods, the ingredients, how each is made, stored and packaged, sample labels, the address where they are made and packaged, and any test results you already have. Renting a commercial kitchen does not mean all your recipes are automatically approved. Under the guidelines, anyone making higher-risk foods must complete FOODSAFE Level 1 or a recognized equivalent course.

Serving food or samples on site: Temporary Food Service approval

If you cook, reheat, keep food hot or put dishes together on site, or offer samples of higher-risk food, first go through the Temporary Food Service approval process. Free samples do not mean you can skip food safety approval.

A Temporary Food Service application must arrive at least 14 days in advance, and this temporary approval can be used for no more than 14 days in a calendar year. If you plan to sell every week over a longer period, tell the EHO your plan for the whole year and choose a suitable longer-term permit or approval. A food truck that already has a valid health permit and stays within that permit at an event generally does not need a separate Temporary Food Service approval, but it still has to show its documents to the organizer and get permission for the site.

While you are serving food, at least one person with valid FOODSAFE certification must be there at all times. Prepare your menu, ingredients, stall layout, equipment, water supply, handwashing setup, and cleaning and sanitizing plans as the application form requires. A complex menu or a multi-day event also needs a separate food safety and sanitation plan. Do not add a new, unapproved dish at the last minute.

Make a sample label before you print in bulk

For pre-packaged food, check each product's label requirements: its name, ingredients, allergens, quantity, storage instructions and anything else that applies. Each label item has its own conditions and exceptions, and being a small business is no reason to skip the label altogether. Make one sample label first, compare it with the labelling tool from CFIA (the Canadian Food Inspection Agency), and ask the officials in charge to confirm if needed.

6. Food trucks, fire safety and insurance: check the equipment before you spend

A used food truck that has operated before may not be ready for you

Selling only pre-packaged food, doing simple preparation and handling raw meat on site all need different equipment. Before you buy, modify or build a truck, give the EHO your menu, equipment layout and water supply and drainage plans. Any food prepared outside the truck must be prepared in an approved facility; you cannot decide on your own to use your home kitchen as the truck's support kitchen.

Some food trucks need an approved support base for preparing food, storage and cleaning. Whether a fully equipped truck can operate without a separate base is for the health authority to decide. Give the EHO the previous permit and equipment records to check, and start selling only after the permit or approval is in place for you as the operator, with your own menu and use.

Fire rules for a table stall do not carry over to a food truck

In the City of Victoria, mobile cooking businesses must pass an annual fire inspection and get that year's decal. Equipment that produces grease-laden smoke needs the matching fire suppression and ventilation systems, and using natural gas or propane in the vehicle also calls for a leak detector. Installing gas equipment in a food truck needs a gas installation permit. Tents, generators and safety distances are also reviewed based on your setup.

Not every ordinary craft stall needs the annual inspection that food trucks get. But if you add a stove, gas or heating equipment, let the site operator and the fire department know again. You can reach Victoria's fire prevention office at 250-920-3360 or vfd@victoria.ca.

If you are starting a new mobile cooking business, do not choose wood-burning equipment. The bylaw has a narrow exception for existing operations that the fire department approved before the change and whose use has not grown significantly. If you buy used equipment, do not assume the exception carries over to you; have the fire department confirm first.

For a food truck that uses gas, also check its Technical Safety BC approval label or other approval. The current directive lists several ways to get approval; an old sticker on its own is not enough. Have a licensed gas contractor make any changes to the gas system, following the requirements that apply. Before you buy, find out what labels the truck has, what has been changed and whether it needs a new inspection.

Buy insurance for your market and your business; do not guess a standard amount

First ask the organizer for its insurance requirements, then tell an insurer or licensed broker about your products, how you make your food, any samples, your equipment and the site. Ask whether the liability coverage includes this kind of selling, injury caused by your products and every day you will be selling, and whether the site owner needs to be named as an additional insured. Having a policy does not mean every incident will be paid for.

For example, the Saanich parks food truck program above clearly lists a $2 million requirement, the James Bay market also requires at least $2 million for food stalls, and the Esquimalt Farmers Market requires all vendors to have insurance. Do not treat one organizer's amount, deadline or coverage as a standard for all of B.C.

If you make or store goods for your business at home, tell your home insurer. Regular home insurance generally does not replace business coverage, especially for business liability and the equipment you take to your stall.

For more background, see the "Insurance" guide, which explains coverage amounts, deductibles and exclusions. The insurer still needs to assess the specific risks of your stall for your business.

→ No. 1 · Insurance

7. Work out the cost of one market day before deciding how big to go

For every payment, ask who it goes to, what it buys and whether it is refunded if you cancel. An application fee only pays for reviewing your application and may not include membership or stall fees. Licences, the site, food approvals, insurance, equipment and ingredients are all separate costs.

Here are budget examples with a clear scope, as written on each program's page on the day we checked. They are not your final price (any of them may change its rates for 2027, and Saanich has already said its rates may go up in January):

• Moss Street, 2026: membership $31.50 including tax; regular stall $42 per market day plus GST, corner stall $48 plus GST, half stall $21 plus GST; reserved vendors get 20% off.
• Esquimalt Farmers Market: $15 application fee; $25 membership fee; stall fees invoiced separately for the dates you are accepted for.
• James Bay market, 2026: $20 non-refundable review fee for new vendors; $20 annual membership ($10 for youth); the page does not give stall fees.
• Ship Point market, 2026: $135 to $150 per market day (priced on the operator's page).
• Mobile food business in the City of Victoria: general business licence fee $100, plus a separate $100 for the annual mobile cooking fire inspection if you need one; the licence application fee for a cart or kiosk on private land is also $100. That does not mean $200 covers every step for a food stall.
• Saanich parks food truck program: 2026 site fee $27.75 per day including tax, $618 for three months, $1,030 for the full year; licences, insurance, health approvals, equipment and so on are extra; rates may go up in January 2027.

If Island Health receives a Temporary Food Service application, or notice of a change to the service dates, less than 14 days before the event, the current administration fee is $50. An application with less than two business days' notice may not be processed or may be refused. Paying the late fee does not buy you a rush approval. The higher-risk pre-packaged food application mentioned earlier needs 30 days, so do not mix up the deadlines for the two forms.

A small budget example

Say your fixed costs for one market day, such as the stall and transportation, come to $80. You sell each item for $10, and ingredients, packaging and payment fees come to $4 per item. Each sale then leaves $6 toward the fixed costs, so you need to sell at least 14 items to get past the $80. This does not yet count your time, taxes, unsold stock or wear on equipment, so $140 in sales does not mean you made $140.

This is only an example of the math, not any market's fees or a sales forecast. For your first time, you can offer fewer products and bring less stock, ask whether there is a single-day or half-stall option that follows the rules, write down what customers say, and then decide whether to continue. Having people buy, hearing people praise your products and making a steady profit over time are different stages.

8. From idea to your first market day: follow these steps

Step 1: describe your products. In a few sentences, say what you sell, whether you make it yourself and your price range. For food, also list the ingredients, where it is made and what you will do on site. Have real photos ready; you do not need to spend money on expensive packaging first.

Step 2: choose two or three markets or sites that suit you. Check the product categories, the year, the dates, whether they are taking applications, and their waitlist and refund rules. Confirm which municipality the site is actually in; do not go only by the city name in the mailing address. If you want to sell in 2027, follow the timeline in section 2: visit markets at the end of this year, and watch for applications opening in January and February.

Step 3: ask about each permit separately. The organizer confirms your stall and its entry requirements. The municipality confirms licences, any market exemption, zoning and the site. If you sell food, contact Island Health at the same time. For a food truck or cooking equipment, also check the fire and gas requirements. You can ask all of these at once, but you must meet each set of conditions before you open for business.

Step 4: get the requirements before you buy anything. Confirm the stall size, power, water, refrigeration and hot-holding, insurance, kitchen, fire safety and tent weight requirements. A tent or used food truck that turns out to be unsuitable usually costs far more than asking first.

Step 5: apply on the right forms. Send the product information, dates, site plan and proof documents they ask for. Keep copies of what you sent, any acknowledgements or receipts, and the conditions of your approval. Do not take a payment, an email saying your application was received, or a waitlist spot to mean you have been accepted.

Step 6: once approved, plan your first market day. Sell the products and work the way you were approved to. If you want to add a food item or a stove, or change location, ask first whether it needs to be approved again. After you pack up, write down your sales, costs, leftover stock and what to change next time.

What to say to the organizer

"I would like to try selling a small amount of [type of product] that I make myself, at your market in [month and year]. Here are photos and a description of my products. Are you accepting this category right now, and do you have a single-day or half-stall option? Do I need my own city business licence for my stall? What do you need from me for food, insurance, fire safety and tents? How do the application fee, membership fee, stall fee and cancellation refunds work? When do applications for 2027 open?"

When you contact the health authority, add: "This is where I make the food, and this is how I plan to transport, store and serve it. Should I follow the low-risk market food route, the higher-risk pre-packaged food route, or the Temporary Food Service / mobile food permit route?"

9. Starter checklist: tick off each item before you go

• Products and stall: the organizer has confirmed your acceptance, dates, location, stall size, approved products and opening hours.
• Licences and site: you have confirmed which municipality you are in and whether the market exemption applies; any other business or site permits you need are in place; if you already hold a licence, your 2027 renewal has been paid by January 15 (Victoria) or January 31 (Esquimalt).
• Food: your menu, production facility, health documents, staff training, hot and cold holding and handwashing setup meet the conditions of your approval.
• Equipment and insurance: the dates and the site name on your insurance are correct; you meet any fire, gas and electrical equipment requirements that apply.
• Setup: tent weights, tables and chairs, price signs, payment methods, receipts and garbage disposal follow the organizer's rules, and nothing blocks fire lanes or walkways.
• Records: be ready to record the day's income, ingredient costs and stall fees, and keep your receipts. Confirm which GST/PST registration and tax collection rules apply to you; being a small business does not automatically make you tax-exempt.
• On the day: know the rules for arrival, unloading, parking, bad-weather cancellation and packing up, and keep the organizer's contact details for that day.

Temporary residents: check that you are allowed to do this work

If you are on a work permit or study permit and plan to make, sell and run the stall yourself, first check that you have the right work authorization and meet its conditions. An employer-specific work permit is limited by its conditions. If you are a student who is eligible to work off campus, self-employed work also counts under the rules that apply. Being accepted by a market, or holding a city business licence, does not replace work authorization from immigration authorities.

For more, read the "Starting a business" guide to sort out business structure, registration, work status and taxes. Running a small stall does not mean you have to set up a corporation first.

→ No. 8 · Starting a business

To prepare for emergencies at the market, see the "Staying safe and getting help" guide. It covers calling for help and staying safe on site; it does not replace the market's food and fire safety requirements.

→ No. 20 · Staying safe and getting help