Food Primary licences are for establishments where the primary focus is the service of food such as:
Establishments are not eligible if they do not have:
Examples of establishments that do not qualify include:
There is a $950 application and first-year licensing fee that is charged when we receive your application.
The annual renewal fee is calculated based on the amount of liquor you purchase. Annual licence renewal fees are non-refundable.
Refunds for liquor licence fees may be available if the:
A local government or First Nation rejecting an application is not grounds for a refund. To request a refund, contact the client support team.
Review the Food Primary Licence Terms and Conditions (PDF, 472KB) and guidelines for liquor advertising and promotion to understand the terms and conditions of your licence.
The applicant needs to submit documents based on their business type:
The business types include:
Check below to see what's required for your business type.
A complete application includes a
You will need:
As part of the Personal History Summary, attach the following documents, if required:
To request liquor service beyond midnight or apply for Patron Participation Entertainment, include:
If your restaurant is at a winery, brewery or distillery, include:
An endorsement allows you to use your space for different purposes. You can add the following to your licence:
Once you've submitted a complete application, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) works with the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) to review your application.
If everything is in order, the branches offer an Approval in Principle.
They also send you the name and contact information of your local liquor inspector within 6 months of submitting a complete application.
When you are ready to open, contact your local liquor inspector for a final inspection.
If the inspection goes well, your food primary licence will be issued.
If you already have a licence and want to make changes, find out how to
