Get the truck legal, then get rolling

Know the permits, fees, and kitchen you’ll need before you buy the truck.

City-by-city checklists with official sources on every fee we quote, plus a map of shared kitchens we could verify. Free to use. No phone calls.

Start a checklist Find a commissary

Covers 9 metro areas on launch, including Lansing, Michigan. Not official advice — always confirm with the agency.

Build your permit checklist

Answer three questions. We’ll give you an ordered list with official fees, source links, and boxes you can tick (saved in this browser).

City

What will the truck sell?

Prepackaged only
Fully wrapped or bottled food, no cooking on board. Cooking on board
You prepare, cook, assemble, or hold food on the vehicle.

Propane, a generator, a hood, or fire suppression?

No — no propane, generator, hood, or suppression system Yes — I’ll have at least one of those

Is a fire-suppression system installed? (Chicago adds a plan-review fee if so.)

No / not sure Yes, a suppression system is installed

Launch cities

Each city page walks the permits in order, with official fees, processing notes, fire and propane rules, and commissary requirements. Folders on this domain — not a farm of thin city sites.

IllinoisChicago

A plain-English path through Chicago’s Mobile Food Preparer or Dispenser license, CDPH inspection, commissary letter, GPS requirement, and F…

TexasAustin

As of July 1, 2026, Texas mobile food vendors must hold a statewide Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Mobile Food Vendor license. A…

OregonPortland

In Multnomah County, every food cart — including carts, trailers, trucks, drive-through coffee stands, and kiosks — must be licensed by the …

GeorgiaAtlanta

You need a mobile food unit permit from the Fulton or DeKalb County Board of Health first. To sell from the city’s designated public right-o…

PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia

A mobile retail food business in Philadelphia needs a Food Establishment Retail, Non-Permanent Location License from L&I, a plan review …

WashingtonSeattle

Public Health — Seattle & King County issues the Mobile Food Unit operating permit. 2026 annual fees depend on risk category. New units …

ColoradoDenver

Denver’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection issues the retail food mobile license. The application fee is $150, plus $25 for ea…

FloridaMiami

In Florida, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Division of Hotels and Restaurants licenses Mobile Food Dispensing…

MichiganLansing

In Michigan, food trucks are licensed as food service establishments by the local health department — not by MDARD directly. For Greater Lan…

Free

Checklist + kitchen list

Build a path for any launch city, tick steps in your browser, and browse verified kitchens.

Coming soon

Permit Vault

Upload the permits you already hold, get expiry reminders by email, and show them on your phone at events.

For kitchens

Get featured

Kitchen owners can ask to be featured. Leads come in by form only — we don’t run phone lines.

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