Food Truck Permits by State

How food truck permits work

There is no single food truck licence. Most food trucks need several permits from different offices, and the mix depends on your state, county and city.

Most owners deal with some or all of these:

1. A business set-up. Registering your business and getting a sales tax permit from the state.
2. A health permit for the truck. Usually from your county or city health department, sometimes from a state agency. This normally starts with a plan review: the health department checks your truck’s layout, sinks, water tanks and equipment before you build or buy, then inspects the finished truck.
3. A commissary or base of operations. Many places require a licensed kitchen where you prep food, fill water, empty waste water and clean the truck. Your health department will ask for a signed agreement with it.
4. Food safety training. Usually a certified food protection manager on the truck, and sometimes food handler cards for every worker.
5. A fire inspection. Trucks that cook with propane or have fryers usually need a fire safety inspection and a fire extinguisher, and sometimes a hood suppression system.
6. A city vending permit. Cities decide where you can park and sell, for how long and how close to restaurants.

Working in more than one county

Because health permits are often local, a truck may need a separate permit in each county or city it works in. Some states let a permit from one county count in others. Each state guide explains how it works there.

How to use our state and city guides

Pick your state above. Each guide explains who issues which permit, walks through every step in order with fees and official forms, and links every rule to its source. City guides add the local office, vending zones, parking rules and fire inspection details.