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By-law 2025-75
Page 1 of 10
The Corporation of the Municipality of Meaford
By-law Number 2025-75
Being a by-law to Amend Schedule A-3 of By-law 053-
2012, To Licence, Regulate and Govern the Owners and
Drivers of Businesses with the Municipality
Whereas, Section 5 (3) of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides that
municipal power shall be exercised by by-law; and
Whereas, Section 25 of said Act provides that a local municipality may
license and regulate any business, wholly or partly carried on within the
municipality, even if the business is being carried on from a location outside
the municipality, and
Whereas, Council of the Municipality of Meaford passed and enacted By-law
053-2012, being a by-law to licence, regulate and govern the owners and
drivers of businesses with the Municipality; and
Whereas, Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Meaford deems it
expedient and necessary to amend Schedule A-3 Refreshment Vehicles of
By-law 053-2012 with respect to licencing in the Municipality of Meaford.
The Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Meaford enacts
as follows:
1. That Schedule A-3 - Refreshment Vehicles of By-law 053-2012 be
hereby deleted and replaced with Schedule A-3 attached hereto.
2. That Section 9.1 of By-law 053-2012 be replaced with "Class A" and
"Class B".
3. That by-law 2025-23 hereby be replaced.
4. That this By-law shall come into full force and effect on the date of
final passage hereof at which time all by-laws and/or resolutions
that are inconsistent with the provisions of this By-law and the
same are hereby repealed or rescinded in so far as it is necessary
to give effect to the provisions of this By-law.
By-law 2025-75
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Read a first, second and third time and finally passed this 15th day
of December, 2025.
Ross Kentner, Mayor
Margaret Wilton-Siegel, Clerk
By-law 2025-75
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Schedule A-3 - Refreshment Vendor Licence
1. Application of Schedule A-3 - Refreshment Vehicles
1.1
Schedule A-3 shall pertain to every person selling or providing
food that is intended for immediate consumption through the use
of a motorized or non-motorized vehicle and / or equipment that
is mobile or temporary in nature.
2. Definitions
2.1
In this by-law:
a) "Caterer" means a person or business who prepares food in
a commercial kitchen or licensed facility and then transports
it to serve at a venue.
b) "Immediate Consumption" means food or drink that is
prepared for, sold or served in a form that permits
consumption on the premises or elsewhere without further
preparation by the consumer.
c) "Food Service Premise" means any food premise where
meals or meal portions are prepared for immediate
consumption or sold or served in a form that will permit
immediate consumption on the premises or elsewhere
permitted within this By-law.
d) "Low-risk food" means food that is not potentially
hazardous food as defined in Ontario Regulation 493/17.
e) "Special Event" means a one-time, annual or infrequently
occurring event, exhibition, concert, festival or other
organized public amusement held for profit or otherwise.
f) "Municipal Property" means land and premises owned by
the Municipality of Meaford including municipal parks and
sidewalks, but does not include the portion of a highway
used for vehicular traffic.
g) "Refreshment Vehicle" means every vehicle or temporary
food service premise or structure from which food intended
for immediate consumption by the public and includes, but
not limited to carts, wagons, trailers, trucks and bicycles,
irrespective of the type of motive power employed to move
the Refreshment Vehicle for one point to another.
By-law 2025-75
Page 4 of 10
"Class A - Motorized Food Sales" means the sale of
food that is primarily based from a motorized mobile unit
or trailer which includes any "motor vehicle" as defined by
the Highway Traffic Act and includes but is not limited to
food trucks, food wagons, motorized ice cream vehicles
and Ministry of Transportation licenced/plated trailers
hauled by a motor vehicle.
"Class B - Non-Motorized Food Sales" means the sale
of food that is primarily based from a non-motorized,
muscular powered, or stationary equipment other than
food wagons, and shall include but not be limited to bicycle
refreshment carts, portable barbeques or grills, tables,
coolers and other mobile or temporary food premises or
structure from which food therein is provided for sale or
sold to members of the public.
h) "Refreshment Vendor" means a person, owner, or
operator of a Refreshment Vehicle within the Municipality.
i) "Private Event" is a gathering organized for a specific
purpose and is not open to the general public.
j) "Private Property" means any land, building, or structure
that is owned, leased, occupied, or controlled by a person,
business, or other legal entity, and that is not owned,
leased, or controlled by the Municipality of Meaford, County
of Grey, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada,
or any other public authority.
3. Exemptions
3.1
Caterers or catering services not engaged in food sales to the
general public.
3.2
Food services conducted inside a permanent fixed facility and
properly zoned for such use with an approved and valid permit
from Public Health.
3.3
Small roadside youth entrepreneurship ventures on private
property.
3.4
Refreshment Vehicles operating with the Downtown Farmers
Market during the operation of the market, with an approved
and valid permit from Public Health
3.5
Foods that are prepared as low-risk food that may include but is
not limited to dry baked goods, cookies, brownies, breads, trail
mixes, dry spice mixes, cake and cookie mixes, popcorn and
nuts.
By-law 2025-75
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3.6
A Special Events Vendor Licence for a Special Event held in the
Municipality on Private property.
4. Annual Licence Fee - Refreshment Vendors
4.1
All licence fees are provided for in the annual Fees and Charges
By-law.
5. Application Requirements - Refreshment Vendors Licence
5.1
Class A or Class B Refreshment Vendors Licence
A person who wishes to operate as a Class A or Class B
Refreshment Vendor licence shall make an application for a
licence under this By-law. In the case where the operator does
not own the vehicle to which a licence application is made, the
application shall be a joint application by both the owner and
operator of the Refreshment Vehicle.
Applications may be submitted electronically, where applicable.
All applications for licences must be made at least 10 regular
business days prior to commencing operations. Refreshment
Vehicles are not permitted to operate until a License has been
issued by the Municipality.
The following items shall be submitted to the Licensing Officer
when applying for a Class A or Class B Refreshment Vendor
licence:
a) A completed and signed application form including the
type(s) of food to be sold and the address of any off-site
premises at which food is to be prepared and cooked, with a
sample menu or general description of the food to be offered
for sale.
b) Applications for food sales on private property must be
accompanied by a letter from the owner of the private
property authorizing permission to operate such food sales.
c) A detailed site plan showing the proposed location of the
food sale/service and is to include any adjacent structures,
the distance from the adjacent structures and municipal
sidewalk and/or road, location of garbage receptacle, along
with any other information that may be requested by the
Licensing Officer.
By-law 2025-75
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d) Certificate of Insurance naming the Municipality of Meaford
as an additional insured for coverage of at least $2,000,000
general commercial liability insurance for the duration of the
licence.
e) A photo of the refreshment vehicle taken no more than 12
months prior to the date of application showing (at
minimum) the customer facing façade and any associated
signage.
f) Each refreshment vehicle is required to submit an approved
and valid food premises permit from the Health Unit. Prior to
commencing food sales, proof of an inspection by the Health
Unit is required to be submitted to the Licensing Officer.
g) A certificate of inspection from a licenced gas fitter shall be
supplied annually with the application for vendors using
applicable combustible materials (if applicable).
h) A spill containment plan including a description of how and
where garbage, grease, and grey water will be disposed of in
a sanitary manner satisfactory to the Municipality.
i) An application for a Class A Licence shall include a current
valid copy of the vehicle registration.
6. General Conditions
6.1
In addition to the General Regulations set out in Part 4 of By-
law 053-2012, the following conditions apply to operate a
Refreshment Vehicle unless otherwise specified:
a) No Refreshment Vehicle shall operate within the Municipality
of Meaford without an approved Refreshment Vendors
License unless exempt under this By-law.
b) A Refreshment Vehicle shall be permitted to operate on
public or private property with an approved Refreshment
Vendors licence. Private property permission to enter onto
the property for the purpose of operating as a Licenced
Refreshment Vendor must be obtained and provided to the
Licensing Officer upon application and conform with land use
provisions set out in the Zoning By-law.
c) No Refreshment Vehicle shall utilize equipment that is drawn
by a horse or other animal.
d) No Refreshment Vehicle shall operate a BBQ or any other
equipment with an open flame under a tent structure.
By-law 2025-75
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e) A separate licence shall be required for each refreshment
vehicle, unless otherwise issued under the Special Events
By-law or exempt under this By-law.
f) Licences are valid until December 31st the year of issuance
regardless of the date they were issued, or any other date as
may be deemed appropriate by the Licensing Officer.
g) The dimensions of a food premises based out of a vehicle
shall not be greater than 6.7 metres (22 feet) in length and
2.2 metres (7.2 feet) in height, unless otherwise approved
by the Licensing Officer.
h) The size of a temporary food premises or structure shall not
exceed the requirements of a building permit as per the
Ontario Building Code.
i) Every licensee shall ensure that their Licence relating hereto
is affixed to the food premises in a conspicuous manner
clearly visible to the public at all times during the hours of
operation of the business.
j) No licensee shall carry on food sales between the hours of
11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless approved by the Licensing
Officer in writing.
k) No Refreshment Vehicle is permitted to operate within 15
metres of an intersection or a bus stop unless permitted
through approval of the Licencing Officer or designate.
l) No Refreshment Vehicle shall operate within 3 metres of the
vehicular entrance to the property, or of the property line, or
in any location which will obstruct the flow of vehicles,
obstruct sight lines.
m) All Refreshment Vehicles shall be clear of 3 meters of all
flammable or combustible material or vegetation that will
carry fire.
n) No Refreshment Vehicle shall operate within 3 metres of any
structure unless permitted through approval of the Licensing
Officer.
o) Refreshment Vehicles must maintain a barrier-free
pedestrian aisle access of a minimum of 2 metres and
ensure there is no obstruction of any existing fire routes or
public utilities.
By-law 2025-75
Page 8 of 10
p) Every licensee and its employees shall observe and comply
with the regulations as set out in the Health Protection and
Promotion Act, or under the authority of any other statute,
regulation or By-law by the Medical Officer of Health.
q) If the Health Unit finds that a food sales operation (and
maintenance) does not comply with the requirements of the
Health Protection and Promotion Act and the Food Premises
Regulation (Ontario Regulation 497/17), the Licensing Officer
or Officer may suspend the licence until the situation has
been rectified.
r) All licenced Refreshment Vendors shall be in compliance with
land-use requirements as established in the applicable
zoning by-law.
s) All licenced Refreshment Vendors shall be in compliance with
the municipal Sign By-law.
t) All licences are conditional upon the satisfactory inspection
of the food premises by a designated Meaford Fire
Department or Inter Township Fire Department
representative as required by the Licencing Officer.
u) Each licensee shall ensure that appropriate measures are in
place to protect municipal sidewalks or other property or
infrastructure from damage, deterioration or disrepair - as
may be required by the Municipality, and in accordance with
the Ontario Building Code and the Ontario Fire Code.
v) All Refreshment Vehicles shall operate in compliance with the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the
Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017.
w) The Licensing Officer may impose any conditions or
restrictions on a licence as may be deemed necessary in the
circumstances to ensure the health, safety and general
public interest of the residents of the Municipality of Meaford
and/or the Corporation of the Municipality of Meaford.
x) Licences may be suspended or revoked at any time at the
discretion of the Licensing Officer, Fire Chief or any other
official of the Municipality of Meaford, County of Grey,
Province of Ontario, or Government of Canada that has been
provided the authority to do so if, as a result of the evidence
that is provided, the food vendor is not conforming to the
requirements of this By-law.
By-law 2025-75
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7. Special Conditions Applicable to Class A - Motorized Food Sales
7.1
In addition to the conditions provided for in section 6, the
following also applies to a Class A Refreshment Vendor Licence:
a) A Class A Refreshment Vehicle shall not carry-on business on
any highway, except at a construction site where the
highway has been closed to traffic, or on private property
unless permission is granted by the property owner to allow
entry onto the property for sales.
8. Special Conditions Applicable to Class B - Non-Motorized Food
Sales
8.1
In addition to the conditions provided for in section 6, the
following also applies to a Class B Refreshment Vendor Licence:
a) A Class B Refreshment Vehicle where sales of food are
provided primarily by a muscular powered vehicle, such as a
bicycle refreshment cart, shall be permitted to operate on a
highway in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act.
9. Additional Conditions for Refreshment Vehicles on Municipal
Property
9.1
The Municipality will post a map of available Refreshment
Vendor locations on the municipal website annually (prior to the
application deadline).
9.2
The application procedure and associated lottery shall be held
once annually for all approved locations.
9.3
Refreshment Vendor applicants who are interested in operating
in a designated municipal identified location on public property
can only apply with a valid licence to operate for that year and
would be required to apply by March 1st of each year.
9.4
Should multiple applications be received for the same location
prior to March 1st, the spot will be assigned by a lottery or
lotteries conducted on the next business day following the
application deadline and, in a manner, deemed appropriate by
the Licensing Officer.
9.5
Applicants may apply for multiple locations but only one site will
be awarded per licenced refreshment vehicle.
9.6
No position in a lottery may be transferred, sold, conveyed or
assigned from the applicant to any other person or entity. Any
attempt to transfer a lottery position will disqualify from the
lottery both the refreshment vehicle seeking to transfer the
lottery position and the person or entity seeking to obtain it.
By-law 2025-75
Page 10 of 10
9.7
Any Refreshment Vendor approved to operate on Municipal
property must provide a signed release form indemnifying the
Municipality of any actions, damage, loss, claim or liability as a
direct result of the food vendor operations, the use of the
designated area or anything undertaken or neglected to be
undertaken in connections with the use of the permit.
9.8
Refreshment Vehicles located on municipal property are not
permitted to offer alcohol for sale or consumption.
9.9
Refreshment Vehicles are only permitted to sell alcohol on
municipal property through a Special Events Permit obtained
through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)
and approved by the Licensing Officer in writing.
9.10
Refreshment Vehicles operating on municipal property must be
always attended to by the operator or their designate.
10.
Special Events - Refreshment Vendor Licence
10.1
A Special Events Vendor Licence is required for Class A and/or
Class B Refreshment Vehicles operating within the Municipality
of Meaford for a minimum of 1 day to a maximum of 5 days for
events on Municipal Property or Private Events held on
Municipal property.
10.2
Refreshment Vehicles may only operate during the dates and
times indicated on the Municipal approved Special Event
Refreshment Vendors Licence.
10.3
For Refreshment Vehicles licenced in another municipality,
application, fee, proof of licence and supporting documentation
outlined in section 5.1 shall be submitted at least 7 business
days in advance of the special event to the Licencing Officer or
designate for review of the special events refreshment licence.
10.4
For Refreshment Vehicles not licenced in another municipality,
the application process outlined in section 5 will apply. The
application, fee and supporting documentation must be
submitted at least 10 business days in advance of the special
event to the Licencing Officer or designate.
10.5
All food premises are subject to inspection by an Officer; Health
Inspector; Alcohol and Gaming Commission Enforcement
Officer; or any other official of the Municipality of Meaford,
County of Grey, Province of Ontario, or Government of Canada.