Special Event Public Health Requirements

Public Health supports special event organizers and vendors. We can help you meet these provincial requirements:

• Ontario Food Premises Regulation
• Ontario Personal Service Settings Regulation, this is under the Health Protection and Promotion Act

On this page:

• Information for organizers and coordinators 
• Food vendors
• Personal services
• Water safety
• Petting zoo exhibits
• More resources 

Information for organizers and coordinators

Safe and successful events begin with preparation. To prepare for your event, read through the information below.

• If you are providing food, please review the special events food safety requirements for vendors and all event participants.
• Fill out the Special Event Coordinator Form at least 45 days before the event.
• You must make sure all food and personal services vendors know their responsibilities.

Food vendors

• Review the special events food safety requirements.
  • Watch the food safety at special events video. 
• Make sure all food is made in a kitchen inspected by a public health unit. 
• Have at least one certified food handler on site, at all times.
  • See food safety training and certification for more information. 
• Fill out the Special Event Vendor Application Form at least 30 days before the event. Late submissions may not be accepted.

Food safety video

To translate this video using the auto-translate feature, click on the "Settings" icon, select "Subtitles/CC," and then select "Auto-translate" to pick your desired language.

Personal services 

Personal services include tattoos, piercings, manicures, pedicures or other similar services. 

• Complete the online Special Events Vendor Application Form at least 30 days before the event.
• All personal services vendors must have approval from Public Health before participating in an event. Late submissions may not be accepted. 
• Follow Ontario’s Personal Services Regulation to ensure safety with personal services. 
• If your event has personal services, coordinators must include this in the Special Events Coordinator Form.

Water safety

If your event has drinking water for the public, dunk tanks or pools, coordinators must include this in the Special Events Coordinator Form.

• Follow Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 to provide safe water for the public to drink. 
• Follow Public Pools Regulation to ensure safe water use for activities. 

Petting zoo exhibits

If your event has a petting zoo, coordinators must include this in the Special Events Coordinator Form. Include vendor contact information in this form. 

The petting zoo set up must:

• Provide hand washing stations or alcohol-based sanitizers at every exit.
• Direct visitor traffic in one direction to manage flow. Entrances and exits should be clearly separated. 
• Post signs encouraging people to hand wash after touching animals and their environment.
• Set up barriers for animals that should not be touched. 
• Do not allow the public to milk cows or drink unpasteurized milk.  
• Make sure animals are up to date on rabies vaccinations.
• Clean and disinfect touch points like barriers and railings often. 
• Regularly clean up and dispose of animal feces and other waste. Store it in a secure area. 
• Have a stocked first aid kit for potential injuries. 

Safety recommendations for petting zoos

Read Ontario's Safety Recommendations for Petting Zoos. This is important for creating a safe event.

Incident reporting

Report any animal bites or scratches to humans. A public health inspector will investigate risk of rabies exposure.

• Call Public Health at 519-575-4400 or report online with the Animal Bite Reporting Form. 

More resources

• Food safety information for special event vendors
• Two-sink dishwashing method (printable resource)
• Three-sink dishwashing method (printable resource)
• Temporary handwashing station (printable resource)
• How to wash your hands (printable resource)

This page was adapted from materials created by Wellington Dufferin Guelph, Ottawa Public Health and Toronto Public Health agencies.