Permits help

Permits are issued by governments, not by this site. We do not sell permit packages, we are not a permitting agency, and we do not currently have a partner in this category. The official page for the city, county, or state that will inspect you is the source of truth. This page is only a starting map of who to ask, so you are less likely to miss a desk.

Where to start

Most operators need some combination of: a mobile food or health-department permit where the truck is based; permission in each city or county where you want to vend (those rules are often different from your home permit); a business license; a fire inspection, especially if you cook with grease or propane; sales-tax registration; and, in many places, a written commissary agreement. If you travel, ask about reciprocity and whether a temporary event permit is enough for a single weekend. Vehicle registration, DOT, and propane rules can sit in a different office from the health department.

Start with the health department and the city or county business office for the place you will actually park, and follow their published checklists. Keep copies of every approval and of your commissary agreement. Application pages, including ones we link to from the board, sometimes still show a prior year; confirm dates and fees on the organizer's or agency's current page before you pay or apply.

How this relates to our listings

Our opportunity board summarizes public events and programs and links back to the organizer. A listing is information, not a permit, a booking, or a promise you will be accepted. Organizers set their own application rules, insurance requirements, and fees. For more on how we treat listings, see our terms of use and how we source listings.