Nanaimo is primed to welcome food trucks and trailers this spring

Contact the City for Your Public Mobile Food Vending Opportunity Site

Summary

In March 2016 Council endorsed a new food truck and trailer policy providing opportunities for entrepreneurs with a passion for food and people to operate food trucks in designated on-street parking areas and food trailers in specified city park locations in Nanaimo.

Link to Strategic Plan: Providing flexibility for mobile food vendors supports culinary tourism while promoting local business development.

Key Points

  • There are three types of mobile food vending business licences available, food truck, food trailer and food cart. Each mobile vending unit type has it's own specific requirements for size, insurance, internal and external approvals such as Island Health, Fire and Planning Departments.
  • You have 24 mobile food vending opportunity sites in specified city parks. Mobile food vending in specified park locations is permitted during regular park operating hours.
  • Your food truck or trailer must be equipped with its own power and water sources and you must provide proper waste and recycling receptacles, removing all garbage and organic waste collected from your location daily.
  • You have ten food truck on-street parking locations available from 7am to 10pm daily on a first-come-first-served basis in downtown Nanaimo all identified with a painted food truck symbol.

Quotes

"This simplified, coordinated mobile food vending licencing process has been in place for one year and we are anticipating a policy review soon primarily to enhance and to encourage an increase to Nanaimo's public mobile food vending options throughout our diverse and vibrant city."

Manager, Development Support Services & Business Licencing
Community Development Department

Quick Facts

  • If you only operate your mobile food vending business at special events where the event organizer has been granted a special event business licence, you are not required to have a mobile food vending business licence to operate at the event.
  • Designated City park locations must be reserved by all licenced food trucks and trailers in advance prior to setting up. Reservations can be made up two months in advance. Food vendors will not be able to reserve park locations during certain special events.
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Contact:

Nelda Richardson
Manager, Development Support Services & Business Licencing
Community Development Department
250-755-4482

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