Do you need a permit to sell food from home in Quebec?

If you cook meals and sell them — even from your own kitchen, even part-time — Quebec expects you to be permitted. Here's the plain-language version of what MAPAQ requires and how to get there.

The short answer: yes

Selling prepared snacks or cooked meals from your home means you need a MAPAQ permit — specifically the restaurant permit, in the "general preparation" (*préparation générale*) category. There's no casual exemption for cooked food sold to the public. See the official Quebec.ca page for the source.

Step 1 — check with your municipality first

Before you contact MAPAQ, confirm your city or town actually allows a food business at your address — zoning rules vary from one municipality to the next. MAPAQ itself tells applicants to verify municipal authorization before applying.

Step 2 — food safety manager training

Someone overseeing your kitchen's hygiene must hold a *food establishment manager* (*gestionnaire d'établissement alimentaire*) training certificate. Since July 8, 2025, you no longer submit a manager ID number with the application — but the training requirement itself still stands.

Step 3 — apply and pay

• Permit fee — $367 per year for the general-preparation category.
• File-opening fee — $144, charged once on your first application.
• Processing — 2 to 6 weeks. Apply well before the date you want to start selling.

Rules and fees change. These figures are current as of May 2026 — always confirm directly with MAPAQ and your municipality before you start selling.

Then the easy part

Once you're permitted, you still need a way to take orders and get paid. That's where Swaddra comes in — a storefront link you can share the same day, no website required.