Illinois
A plain-English path through Chicago’s Mobile Food Preparer or Dispenser license, CDPH inspection, commissary letter, GPS requirement, and Fire Safety Permit — with official fees and sources.
Last checked 2026-11-09 (America/New_York).
Amounts below come from the linked official pages or PDFs. If a figure could not be confirmed, we say so and do not invent one.
| Item | Amount | Term and source |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Food Dispenser Pre-prepared, totally enclosed portions served from the vehicle (no cooking on board). |
$700 | Two years chicago.gov Food Trucks |
| Mobile Food Preparer Food is prepared on the truck, then served. |
$1,000 | Two years chicago.gov Food Trucks |
| Fire Safety Permit Required if the vehicle has a generator, propane or compressed natural gas, a Type II exhaust hood, or a fire suppression system. |
$100 | See CFD chicago.gov Food Trucks |
| Fire Suppression System Review Required when a fire suppression system is installed; plans must come from the installing company. |
$150 | Plan review chicago.gov Food Trucks |
Choose Mobile Food Preparer if you cook or assemble food on the vehicle, or Mobile Food Dispenser if you only serve pre-prepared, fully enclosed portions. Liquor may not be sold from a mobile food vehicle, per the city’s overview.
Documents depend on your legal entity type. Start with the city’s Required Documents page, linked from the Food Trucks overview.
You must name the commissary where the vehicle will be cleaned, serviced, and (if applicable) stored. Applicants need a signed letter of intent, dated within the last 30 days, from that commissary. If the vehicle will not be stored at the commissary, provide the storage address. Food may not be prepared or stored in a residential home.
The city says food trucks must hold a Shared Kitchen User license for preparation of food at a licensed brick-and-mortar location. The Shared Kitchen User fee is not listed on the Food Trucks overview page — confirm the current amount with Business Affairs or CDPH.
Provide a Certificate of Insurance with limits not less than $350,000, plus vehicle registration and vehicle insurance.
Mobile Food Preparers need a City of Chicago Food Service Manager Certificate or recent proof of reciprocity.
Every applicant goes through a consultation with CDPH Food Protection to review equipment, sanitation, and documents. You can request a free mobile food vehicle assessment from CDPH and CFD inspectors as part of the application. Email food@cityofchicago.org.
Vehicles with a generator, propane or CNG, Type II hood, or fire suppression need a Fire Safety Permit ($100). Attend the Fire Safety Class (registration is part of the application), submit suppression plans on the installer’s letterhead if applicable ($150 review), and pass a CFD inspection.
Every mobile food vehicle must have an operational GPS device. Provide the name of the provider where the operator’s GPS data will be uploaded.
Submit business information online or in person, complete the full license application, and pay the license fee (Dispenser $700 or Preparer $1,000 for a two-year term). All city debt must be resolved before the license is issued.
After payment, email food@cityofchicago.org to request the final CDPH vehicle inspection. Once all requirements are met, you receive the license and food truck decal.
A Mobile Food License lasts two years. A CDPH consultation is required before renewal, and CDPH and CFD reinspect food trucks prior to renewal.
The city’s Food Trucks overview is the starting point for current operating rules, the Food Truck Stand Map, and related license notes. Confirm parking limits, restaurant-distance rules, overnight hours, propane limits, and sound rules on that page or with BACP before you choose a spot.
Business Affairs phone listed by the city: 312-74-GOBIZ. CDPH inquiries: food@cityofchicago.org.
Map pins use OpenStreetMap. Listings are not a complete official directory.
135 N. Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
Commercial kitchen, coworking, and storage for food businesses. Confirm with CDPH that the facility can serve as your commissary and can provide the required letter of intent.
Last checked 2026-11-09. Confirm availability and whether the kitchen can sign your official commissary paperwork.
This page is not affiliated with Chicago or the agencies above. It is a practical summary by Thirty and Beyond, LLC. Confirm current rules before you spend money or start construction.
