Factory Canteen Licence

The Factory Canteen Licence is for canteens run inside industrial buildings. They may only serve staff who work in the building.

A factory canteen is a food business in an industrial building that sells or supplies meals only to workers employed in the building, for eating on the premises. Apart from serving factory staff only, it is the same as a General Restaurant Licence (big licence).

Free licence consultation. Contact our team.

Trust or Company Service Provider licence TC010617

Factory canteen: government licence fees

Floor area	New full licence / year	Renewal / year
Up to 100 m²	1,300	2,710
Over 100, up to 150 m²	1,980	3,390
Over 150, up to 200 m²	3,280	4,690
Over 200, up to 250 m²	4,340	6,050
Over 250, up to 1,000 m²	5,670–23,820	7,380–25,530
Over 1,000 m²	38,630–131,960	40,340–134,440

All amounts in HK dollars. Where a range is shown, FEHD sets the exact charge by the applicable floor-area band. New full-licence fees have excluded the prescribed Fire Services Department fees since 1 November 2025; the renewal scale stays the same. The government charges above are separate from our consultancy fee. Please ask us for the licence application service fee.

Shop requirements

The kitchen, food preparation and utensil-washing areas must be 10–14% of the total floor area (no less than 5 square metres).
Building type: commercial buildings for industrial use.

Special requirements

Outside every entrance to the canteen, and in clear view among the seats and at the cashier counter (if any), a clear notice in Chinese and English must be displayed at all times: “FACTORY EMPLOYEES OF THIS BUILDING ONLY” (Chinese: 只准本大廈之工廠員工使用).
Toilets are required. The number of sanitary fittings depends on the number of seats and staff. Check the shop size when you rent.
Only non-bottled, non-alcoholic drinks may be served (herbal tea excepted).

Other food licences

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Factory Canteen Licence FAQ

Is a factory canteen the same as a full restaurant?

Apart from serving factory staff only, it is the same as a General Restaurant Licence (big licence).

How is it different from a General Restaurant or Light Refreshment Restaurant Licence?

As the name says, a Factory Canteen Licence is only issued in industrial buildings, and the canteen may only serve staff who work in the building.

I sell food in an industrial or commercial building but need no seats for dine-in. Which licence?

Apply for a Food Factory Licence.