“Food Truck or Trailer” means a food truck or mobile trailer from which food and/or drink is prepared internally and dispensed externally. It may be parked:

• on a given private property location for no more than five days in any one week; or,
• in designated parks in designated locations; or,
• on-street locations where permitted by the City.

• Mobile Food Concession - means a non-motorized mobile push cart, mobile coffee wagon, or mobile trailer with a maximum area of 2.78 m² (30 sq. ft.) from which food and/or drink is dispensed externally and where the goods for sale are carried and contained in the cart, which may change location from time to time, is not permanently affixed to a building or structure, is removed from public access when it is not in use, does not impede pedestrian or vehicle traffic flow, is operated as an accessory use to an existing principal use on a site, and does not operate between the hours of 9:00 pm and 9:00 am.
• Push Cart - means a non-motorized Mobile Food Concession that can be pushed by one person. 
• Food Truck or Trailer - means a food truck or mobile trailer from which food and/or drink is prepared internally and dispensed externally. It may be parked:
  • on a given private property location for no more than five days in any one week; or,
  • in designated parks in designated locations; or,
  • on-street locations where permitted by the City.

Zoned Property

• A Mobile Food Concession may operate in the P1, P4, CBD, CNS, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, I1, I1S, I2, I3, T2, and CD8 zones.
• A Food Truck or Trailer may operate in the P1, P4, CBD, CNS, C1, C3, C4, C5, C6, I1, I1S, I2, I3, T2, and CD8 zones.

Streets and Sidewalks

• A Push Cart may operate on City sidewalks in front of properties in the CBD and C-1T zones for up to two hours at any given location, provided they do not operate between 3:00 am and 9:00 am.
• A Food Truck or Trailer may operate in designated areas of the 100 block of Seymour Street in front of Gaglardi Square or on the south side of the 200 block of St. Paul Street in front of Stuart Wood School, provided the operator obtains a valid permit from the City.

City Parks

•    In order to operate in City parks, you must be on the Approved Mobile Food Vendors list (above). To get on the Approved Mobile Food Vendors list, you must have a valid and appropriate business licence in good standing for the year. 

•    To apply for a business licence, please visit the Business Licensing page to access the Business Licence Application Form.
 

Food Trucks are now permitted to access all City parks and facilities (with the exception of Sandman Centre).  This includes venues that were previously not on the list of approved venues due to the agreement between the City of Kamloops and the contracted food provider

Food Trucks are now permitted to vend in all City parks, including Riverside Park, McArthur Island and the Tournament Capital Ranch, provided they follow these guidelines:

• Food Trucks are not to set up within 30 m of any Compass concession stands (includes McArthur Island Sport & Event Centre, McArthur Island Field Concession, and the Concession at the Tournament Capital Ranch)
• Food Trucks are not to block the view or access to any other Food Trucks or Compass Concession in any City park.
• Food Trucks are not permitted to block pedestrian access or walkways
• Food Trucks are not permitted to be left overnight
• If there is a special event or tournament booked in any City park or field venue they must have the permission of the Event Rights Holder to operate at the event. Examples of types of events requiring permission include:
  • KYSA (Soccer) / KMBA (Baseball) Tournament at any City fields
  • Slo Pitch Tournament at the Tournament Capital Ranch
  • Canada Day, Buskers Festival, Children’s Arts Festival, Terry Fox Run, etc.

Whenever there is an organized or scheduled event in a City park or sports venue, interested food trucks must obtain permission to operate at the event from the event organizer / sport organization before vending.

Permission is not required when attending City parks or sports venues where there are no special events or tournaments taking place.  For further clarification, please reach out to our Events Team at events@kamloops.ca or by calling 250-828-3828 or 250-828-3316.

2025 Notice to Vendors: Riverside Park Construction - Please see the below map indicating the temporary locations for mobile food vending in Riverside Park for 2025

• Do not block the flow of traffic.
• Temporary wooden barriers will be in place to designate the stalls for mobile food vendors. Please move the barriers out of the way and return them when you leave. 
• Power is not available at either location. Vendors must supply their own power through generators. 
• Availability and location of mobile food vending spots may change during special events including but not limited to Canada Day, Ribfest, and Midsummer Music Jam. 

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Business Licence Fees

• Mobile Food Concession (including Push Carts): $224.40 ($56 per unit where five or more units are licensed)
• Food Truck or Trailer: $246.80 per unit

On-street Permit Fees

• Seymour Street - a Food Truck or Trailer wishing to operate on the south side of Seymour Street in front of Gaglardi Square must obtain a Road Right-of-way Usage Permit from the Traffic and Transportation Section. The cost of the permit is $15 per day plus a $25 administration fee.
• St. Paul Street - a Food Truck or Trailer wishing to operate on the south side of the 200 block of St. Paul Street in front of Stuart Wood School must obtain permission from the Community Services division to reserve any required parking stalls. The cost of reserving the stalls is $15 per stall.

Food Truck Regulations
The City’s Business Licence Bylaw No. 9-60 contains regulations related to hours, signage, setbacks from brick-and-mortar restaurants, noise, garbage, traffic flow, and other issues. Please see the Food Truck or Trailer Regulations Matrix information sheet for a summary of these requirements.

Liability Insurance
When operating on public property (e.g. parks, streets, and sidewalks), you must obtain and maintain comprehensive general liability insurance in the amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000). The City shall be included as an additional insured. The form provided by the City must be used.

Health Approval
Interior Health requires prior approval for all businesses handling food. Before applying for a Business Licence, call Interior Health at 250-851-7340 for details.

Fire Inspection
All mobile food concessions using propane heating and cooling systems must obtain approval from a City of Kamloops Fire Inspector. Check with Kamloops Fire Rescue at 250-372-5131 for details.

The list of "Approve Mobile Food Vendors" is listed above. For additional information, please contact the Business Licence Section via business@kamloops.ca or 250-828-3481.

If you've exhausted the list of Approved Mobile Food Vendors and no one is able to participate in your event, you may try to invite local community vendors on the condition that they are able to obtain appropriate licensing for the event.

Your vendor is still required to possess all required certification and obtain a valid business licence specific to the event and prior to the event. The lead time for this type of licensing is at least 14 business days and may be longer, depending on the vendor’s capacity to meet all referrals and requirements.  For more information, please contact the Business Licence Section via business@kamloops.ca or 250-828-3481.

Provided you have all necessary paperwork, you are able to sell your own food/drinks. Here is a list of required certification:

• Safety inspections - to ensure your equipment is operating properly and safely
• Business license - required for any business selling a product or service within the city.
• Permit to Operate (from the Ministry of Health) - required to ensure all health precautions are followed.
• WCB clearance number - in case of an accident involving staff (paid or volunteer).
• $5,000,000 insurance - in the event someone becomes ill or injured as a result of your food service or operation of food service.
• Safety programs - (Serve it Right, Food Safe) to ensure those serving and preparing food for public consumption is prepared and served in a safe and proper manner.

We regulate our operators in order to provide consistent, high quality service and product for event participants and park users.

For more information, please contact the Business Licence Section via business@kamloops.ca or 250-828-3481.

You are not required to obtain food vendor licensing from the City of Kamloops if you are providing free food. However, you are required to obtain approval from:

• The Community and Protective Services Department to hold your event. To inquire about which City parks you are permitted to operate in and specific location for parking, please contact the Community and Protective Services Department at parks@kamloops.ca
• The Environmental Health Officer (EHO). Proof of the EHO’s approval must be submitted to the City of Kamloops prior to your event. For further information, visit Interior Health’s website or call them via 250-851-7340.
• From Kamloops Fire and Rescue. All mobile food concessions using propane heating and cooling systems must obtain approval from a City of Kamloops Fire Inspector. Check with Kamloops Fire Rescue at 250-372-5131 for details.