Food Truck Permits in San Francisco, CA
Last verified against official sources on by Amrit. How we verify
To sell from a food truck on a San Francisco street, you need three main approvals: a Mobile Food Facility permit from Public Works for each spot, a health permit (Certificate of Sanitation) from the Department of Public Health, and a permit from the Fire Department. You also need a commissary (a permitted kitchen where you store, clean and stock the truck) and a San Francisco business registration. For one spot, Public Works charges $199 to file, $318 for the neighbor notice and $608 for inspection, and you pay half when you apply.[6][1][7][2]
At a glance
| Permits needed | Public Works location permit, health permit (Certificate of Sanitation), Fire Department permit[1] |
|---|---|
| Public Works fee (one location) | $199 filing + $318 notification + $608 inspection, plus a $50 decal if needed. Half is due when you apply.[2] |
| Health plan check fee | $414 for a low-risk truck (prepackaged food only), $690 for a high-risk truck (cooks or prepares food)[10][9] |
| Fire permit fee | $446 for a food truck that prepares food (ask the Fire Department if you only sell prepackaged food)[11] |
| Commissary | Required[7] |
| Insurance | General liability of at least $2,000,000, naming the City as additional insured[1] |
| Where you can sell | Only at the street spots on your Public Works permit, at least 75 feet from a restaurant's main entrance[1][8] |
| Hours | 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. at most, and no more than 3 days a week at one spot[4] |
Step by step
Do these in order. Each step links to the official form or page.
Check that your street spot is allowed
Pick a legal parallel parking space, facing the same way as traffic. The sidewalk should be at least 10 feet wide. Stay at least 75 feet from a restaurant's main entrance. On weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., stay 500 feet from public middle schools and 1,000 feet from most public high schools. You also need written consent from a business or property owner within 200 feet so your workers can use their restroom.[5]
Choose a commissary
Find a permitted kitchen where you will store, clean and stock the truck. Use the commissary's address as your business address.[5]
Register your business
Get a San Francisco Business Registration Certificate and a California seller's permit.[5]
Apply to Public Works for a Mobile Food Facility permit
Send the application, two passport-size photos, a site plan drawn with a ruler, and a sample menu. Email PDF copies to bsmpermitdivision@sfdpw.org. Pay half the fees now and the rest after tentative approval. Each extra location costs more. Fees are not refunded.[5][2][1][3]
Notify the neighbors
After Public Works reviews your application, hire a notification service to prepare the mailing package, and pay the postage. A notice is mailed, and posted at your spot for 10 days. The public has 30 days to comment. If anyone objects and it can't be worked out, there is a public hearing, which costs extra.[2][1]
Use your 90-day tentative approval to collect the rest
If there are no unresolved objections, or the Director approves you after a hearing, Public Works gives you a 90-day tentative approval. In that time, send your business registration, $2,000,000 liability insurance, DMV registration, health Certificate of Sanitation and Fire Department certificate, and pay the rest of the fees.[1]
Apply for your health permit
Apply online to the Department of Public Health. You need two sets of scaled drawings of the truck, photos inside and out, and your menu with how each item is made. DPH also asks for commissary and restroom verification, workers' comp proof, a food safety certificate and your business registration.[5][7][10][9]
Pass the Fire Department inspection
The health department refers you to the Fire Department. The Fire Department inspects the truck before it issues your permit. Keep the permit posted on the truck.[5][11]
Get final approval from Public Works
Once Public Works has every document, it gives final approval and your location permit. You renew it every year. Renewal costs $199 if you had no violations in the past year.[5][4][2]
The office you deal with
San Francisco Public Works, Permits (at the Permit Center)[1][12]
49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (628) 271-2000
Hours: Permit Center: Monday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; Tuesday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed on public holidays.
Where you can park and sell
- On a street, you can only sell at the spots listed on your Public Works permit. The health department does not approve locations.[8]
- Trucks must park in a legal parallel parking space, facing the same way as traffic.[1]
- Keep clear of: restaurant main entrances (75 feet), street artists (8 feet), fire hydrants (7 feet), bus zones and blue (disabled) zones (12 feet). Leave a 6-foot path for people walking.[1]
- On weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., stay 500 feet from public middle schools and 1,000 feet from most public high schools.[1]
- No selling between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. unless the Director approves it. You can serve one spot no more than 3 days a week.[4]
- Private lots, like a gas station or parking lot, need a Temporary Use Authorization from the Planning Department instead of a Public Works permit.[8]
- To move to a different spot, email the health department a Location Update Form and get any other approvals, such as from Public Works.[8]
Commissary
- A commissary is a permitted kitchen approved by the health department. You use it to store, clean and service the truck and to prep food.[8]
- Trucks that prepare food must park at the commissary or another designated food facility when not in use.[7]
- A commissary in another county is allowed if that county's health inspector signs off.[8]
Restrooms
- If you stay at a spot for more than an hour, you and your workers must have a restroom within 200 feet.[7]
Fire inspection
- The Fire Department inspects the truck before it issues a permit. The permit can't be transferred, and a change of owner needs a new permit.[11]
- Keep the fire permit on the truck, posted where people can see it.[11]
What it costs
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Apply to Public Works for a Mobile Food Facility permit | $1,125 to $1,175 (one location: $199 filing + $318 notification + $608 inspection, plus a $50 decal if needed; half due when you apply) |
| Apply for your health permit | $414 to $690 (plan check: $414 for a low-risk truck (prepackaged food only) or $690 for a high-risk truck (prepares food); other DPH fees may apply) |
| Pass the Fire Department inspection | $446 (fee for mobile food preparation vehicles; ask the Fire Department if you only sell prepackaged food) |
| Total if every fee applies to you | $1,985 to $2,311 |
Approved food truck permits in San Francisco
Food truck permits with the status "approved" in San Francisco Public Works' permit data on the day we checked. The city only publishes current permits, so we record the count each month.
Source: Mobile Food Facility Permit (dataset rqzj-sfat), San Francisco Public Works via DataSF. Downloaded October 24, 2026. Counts are computed from the raw data; we don't adjust them.
Recent changes
- : Public Works' 2026-2027 mobile food fee schedule took effect: $199 filing, $318 notification and $608 inspection for one location.[2]
- : New health department fee rates took effect, including the $414 and $690 food truck plan check fees.[10]
- : Updated Fire Code permit fees took effect, including $446 for mobile food preparation vehicles.[11]
Frequently asked questions
Can I park my food truck anywhere in San Francisco and sell?
No. On public streets you can only sell at spots Public Works has approved for your truck. Each spot needs its own notice and fees.[8][2]
How close to a restaurant can I park?
At least 75 feet from a restaurant's main entrance.[1]
How long does the Public Works permit take?
The neighbor notice alone runs 30 days. If someone objects, there is a hearing. After approval you get 90 days to send your remaining documents.[1]
What happens if a neighbor or restaurant objects?
A hearing officer hears the facts and makes a recommendation. The Director of Public Works then decides. You can appeal to the Board of Appeals within 15 days.[1]
Can my commissary be outside San Francisco?
Yes, if it is a permitted food facility and that county's health inspector signs off.[8]
Can I park at a private event and serve guests?
For a private catering event on the street, Public Works can issue a Temporary Occupancy Permit for $98 a day, plus a parking meter fee if the spot has a meter. You can't take payments on the street under this permit. Apply at least 5 business days ahead, and post "No Parking" signs at least 72 hours before the event.[1][2]
Do I have to renew every year?
Yes. The Public Works permit renews each year. Renewal is $199 if you had no violations. The permit runs out 7 years after it was first issued, and you can then apply again with priority.[4][2]
Sources
- Mobile Food Facilities, San Francisco Public Works. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Mobile Food Facility Permit 2026-2027 Fee Schedule, San Francisco Public Works. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Application for Revocable Mobile Food Facility Permit, San Francisco Public Works. Checked October 24, 2026.
- DPW Order No. 182101: Guidelines for Mobile Food Facilities, San Francisco Public Works. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Open a food truck on public streets, City and County of San Francisco (SF.gov). Checked October 24, 2026.
- Guide to health permits for mobile food facilities, San Francisco Department of Public Health. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Guide to starting a food truck, San Francisco Office of Small Business. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Frequently Asked Questions about Mobile Food Facilities, San Francisco Department of Public Health. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Compact or Mobile Food Facility Categories, San Francisco Department of Public Health. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Environmental Health Fee Schedule FY27 (revised 9/1/2026), San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Branch. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Permits (Fire Code Table 107-A permit fees), San Francisco Fire Department. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Permit Center, City and County of San Francisco (SF.gov). Checked October 24, 2026.
Related
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change. Before you apply or start selling, confirm the details with San Francisco Public Works or your local health department. Spotted something wrong or out of date?Report it and we will check it.