Mobile Butcher Rules in Alberta
Requirements can change and individual circumstances differ. Always verify current requirements with the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and other applicable authorities.
Alberta’s Mobile Butcher Licence provides an option for animal owners who want livestock slaughtered on their own property for private household consumption.
Where slaughter occurs
A licensed mobile butcher travels to the animal owner’s land to perform the slaughter.
The meat is uninspected
Animals slaughtered under the Mobile Butcher Licence do not go through the ordinary inspected commercial slaughter system.
The resulting meat is therefore uninspected.
Who can use the meat?
The meat is intended for consumption by the animal owner and members of the owner’s immediate household under Alberta’s private-use rules.
Can the meat be sold?
No. Meat produced through this private-use route cannot be sold or further distributed.
The butcher may be licensed to provide the service, but the meat produced under this licence remains uninspected.
Further processing
Qualifying uninspected meat can be transported to an appropriately licensed Mobile Butcher Facility for further processing.
Further cutting, wrapping or processing does not change its status to inspected meat.
Do not confuse this with a mobile abattoir
Alberta also recognizes mobile abattoirs within the abattoir licensing framework. That is a different licence and inspection model.
- Government of Alberta – Mobile Butcher Licence
- Government of Alberta – Mobile Butcher Facility Licence
- Government of Alberta – Abattoir Licence
Last reviewed: September 2026.