The City of Victoria allows small-scale commercial urban food production. The goal is to help improve community access to healthy and local food, while providing economic opportunities.
In Victoria, small-scale commercial urban food production:
produces edible and non-edible products for sale, including: raw, unprocessed fruits and vegetables; flower; herbs; fibre; seeds; nuts; seedlings; mushrooms; plant cuttings; eggs; honey
involves many activities, including: cultivation; harvesting; sorting; keeping; cleaning; packaging
does not include products regulated by the Controlled Drug and Substances Act (e.g. cannabis)
Starting a Food Production Business
Learn about City regulations and find tips and resources to help your urban food production business thrive here:
Visit the Business Hub at City Hall or contact the Business Ambassador by email or at 250.361.0629.
The Business Ambassador is available to walk you through the details of opening a small-scale commercial urban food production business step-by-step.
Products of small-scale commercial urban food production are limited to:
raw, unprocessed fruits, vegetables and mushrooms
flowers
herbs
fibre
seeds
nuts
seedlings and plant cuttings
eggs
honey
If you want to sell something other than these products, your business does not fall in the small-scale commercial urban food production category. Please contact the Business Hub by email or at 250.361.0629 to help identify your next steps.
Businesses may sell food at a stand in the front yard of the property where the food is produced. If the zoning allows, it may be possible to sell products in an on-site restaurant, shop or other food related business. Businesses may sell off-site at markets, grocery stores and other approved commercial outlets.
To sell eggs and honey to food premises, you will need to obtain approval from Island Health. Call 250.519.3401 or email Island Health for more information.
Please note, the sale of goods is not permitted on City property except for special circumstances.
Urban food production is permitted in all City zones. You do not have to live on the site where urban food production takes place. Sites can include vacant lots, rooftops and residential yards.
Commercial urban food production businesses do not need a Development Permit for landscaping. However, businesses will need a permit if the installation is part of a building or structure that otherwise would require a permit.
Urban food production activities may involve the building, modification or maintenance of infrastructure such as greenhouses, walk-in coolers, root cellars, tool sheds, covered areas, coops, or other. Depending on your project, you may need to apply for a permit.
To find out if you need a permit, contact us at permits@victoria.ca or 250.361.0344.
To sell your products on-site, you must get a business licence. You can choose from an annual licence for $100 per year, or a three-month business licence for $25. To sell your products off-site, you will need to obtain an annual business licence, costing $100. To sell your products both on-site and off-site, you will need to obtain two different business licences.
A business licence application takes approximately 10 days to process. An invoice will be sent to the address you provided, if payment was not made in person. Operating a business without a valid licence may result in a fine of $250 per day. See Business Licences for more information on the approval and renewal process.
