Food trucks (Mobile Cooking Operations) require inspections and approvals to be able to operate in Strathcona County. To help assist operators, Safety Codes Officers from Emergency Services and Planning and Development Services are hosting two events where food truck operators can come on one day to get all the necessary inspections and approvals to operate in Strathcona County. 

Enforcement Services Commercial Vehicles Inspectors will also be attending to complete inspections for both commercial vehicle and vehicle equipment concerns. These inspections will be completely educational (unless there is a significant safety concern that must be addressed prior to leaving). 

AHS will be available on-site during the rodeo to complete their inspection and requirements, if required.

Rodeo event details

Dates: April 17 and May 1, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last inspection will begin at 2:30 p.m.) 
Location: Millennium Place 2000 Premier Way, Sherwood Park at the southeast corner of parking lot (by the skateboard park)

To assist with the process, please pre-register by completing the inspection form and submitting it to Planning and Development.

Please note: you only need to attend on one date

Requirements

In order to pass the inspection, the following requirements must be met and all systems and components must be found to be in compliance with applicable codes.

• Commercial Kitchen Exhaust System Report 
  An up-to-date commercial kitchen exhaust system report must be available for review at the time of inspection. The report must be from the technician and not the AHJ sign-off documentation.

• Commercial Kitchen Suppression System Report 
  An up-to-date commercial kitchen exhaust system report must be available for review at the time of inspection. The report must be from the technician and not the AHJ sign-off documentation.

• CO Detector 
  If there is a fuel-fired appliance on board, the MCO must be equipped with a current CO detector, which must be available for review at the time of inspection.

• Propane Leak Detector 
  If there is a propane-operated appliance on board, the MCO must be equipped with a current propane leak detector, which must be available for review at the time of inspection.

• Kitchen Exhaust Interlock
  Fuel-fired appliances are not allowed to be operated without adequate ventilation. When a fuel-fired appliance is on board, a kitchen exhaust interlock is required and must be available for testing at the time of inspection.

If you have received an inspection outside of Strathcona County, please bring your documentation with you as this may preclude the need for a full inspection. If the inspection is passed, you will be provided an inspection sticker for display. Strathcona County will also provide documentation that may be used for surrounding municipalities for their inspection process thereby reducing the need for multiple inspections within the region.

If the operators have all documentation and reports complete before the rodeo, the inspection process expected to take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. 

Inspection fee

$180 for inspection (includes electrical, HVAC, gas/plumbing, building). Fee will be processed by credit card on-site.

Please note: Food handling permit is not included in this cost.

Inspection binder

Operators will receive a binder that will aid in the re-inspection process. Operators can store approvals, inspection reports, fire safety plans and more in one location. The binder will also include NFPA safety requirements for easy reference.

Operators that have this binder and keep it current, are able to give it to another municipality for easy processing to operate in other municipalities in the Capital Region. 

If you were previously issued the binder, bring it with you to the inspection so the new documentation can be added.

Questions and answers

What is considered a mobile cooking operation?

Mobile Cooking Operations (MCO) and equipment, when stationary and used to produce, cook, sell and/or distribute food, support or intend to support an occupancy and subject to select application of the Safety Codes Act.

This Interpretation applies to all portable/temporary food-service and cooking equipment including but not limited to food truck, vending truck, chip truck, burger wagon, doughnut shack, mobile/portable food vending unit, hot dog cart and other MCO uses in Alberta. The MCO may utilize electricity, wood, charcoal, propane or natural gas as energy for cooking and may use either supplied or on-site generated electricity to power lights, fans and cooling equipment.

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Who will be attending the food truck rodeo?

Safety Codes Officers from Emergency Services, Planning and Development and AHS that will be in attendance to inspect your food truck to ensure compliance with all required regulations.

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Can I operate in Strathcona County without an inspection?

No. All food trucks are required to have an inspection from Fire Prevention, Planning and Development and AHS to operate within Strathcona County. Failure to have the appropriate inspections will result in the inability to operate within Strathcona County including private parking lots and other special events and you will be required to leave the premises.

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What if I can’t attend the food truck rodeo?

You are strongly encouraged to attend one of the event dates. If you are unable to attend, please contact Fire Prevention at 780-449-9651 or email fireinspections@strathcona.ca.

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What if I had an inspection done by another accredited agency this year?

Bring all your paperwork (declaration forms) and service reports to the County's event and the $180 inspection fee will be waived. Provided you have all the documentation with you, you will receive all approvals from Strathcona County. If you are missing a required component of the declaration, you will be directed to PDS for inspection. You will still be required to have a fire inspection completed by Strathcona County.

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Does the authorization letter expire?

The authorization letter is valid until March 31 of the following year the letter was issued (i.e. letter issued May 1, 2024 is valid until March 31, 2025) provided all aspects of the inspection, testing and maintenance of fire protection systems are maintained.