Picnic Area endorsement

Last updated on April 5, 2024

This page summarizes information from the Manufacturer Terms and Conditions Handbook and Liquor Policy Manual. Please refer to those policy documents for the most complete and updated information. 


Overview

The picnic area endorsement is an outdoor area where patrons may consume products that are served or sold to them from the manufacturer.

A picnic area may be a single area or multiple areas. Two types of areas are allowed in a picnic area endorsement:

  • One sale area
  • One or more consumption-only areas

Preparing your application

The sale area may not exceed 300 square meters. The total combined area of the sale area and any consumption area(s) must not exceed 1000 square metres.

  • For example, a consumption-only area may be 700 square metres and the sale area may be 300 square metres

Before you apply, your local government or First Nation must confirm: 

  • zoning 
  • Person capacity for the proposed consumption-only area(s)
    • The person capacity of a sale area is 30 people

A picnic area must not be used as an overflow area of a lounge. 

Fees

There is no fee to apply for a new picnic area endorsement or to make changes to a picnic area.

See the change a manufacturer licence webpage for more information.

Add a Picnic Area endorsement

Operational requirements

Sale area

A sale area allows a manufacturer to sell and serve their products by the glass.

Conditions for the sale area include:

  • The sale area may only have temporary and removable furnishings, such as picnic tables and umbrellas
  • No more than 30 persons are permitted in the sales area 

Consumption

Patrons may carry liquor from other service areas to consume in the picnic area. Examples of other service areas include the manufacturer's on-site store or an adjacent restaurant or bar that is owned by the manufacturer.

Conditions for consumption include:

  • Liquor may not be sold or served in the consumption-only area(s)
  • Patrons may serve themselves 

Hours

The hours of a sale area are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or half an hour after sunset (whichever is earlier) and the hours of a consumption-only area are from 9 a.m. to no later than half an hour after sunset (i.e. dusk).

Boundaries

The sale area and any consumption-only area(s) must each have a clearly defined boundary (e.g. using fencing, trees/plants, barrels). This helps patrons know where they may consume liquor.

Capacity and signs

No more than 30 persons are permitted in the sale area. Person capacity for the consumption-only area must be approved by the Branch. Signage showing the capacity of each area must be posted.

Entertainment

Amplified sound in or near the picnic area is not permitted, except if there is amplified sound during an event in a nearby Special Event Area (SEA).

Policy documents

Contact information

Contact the LCRB client support team for questions and technical support. 

Client support team
LCRBLiquor@gov.bc.ca

Contact information

If your manufacturer licence is located on the Agricultural Land Reserve, you can contact the Agricultural Land Commission about their requirements. 

Agricultural Land Commission
https://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/contact/