Permits, licenses, health codes, commissary requirements, and city-specific tips — a complete guide for every US state.
Select Your State
Every permit, license, and fee in the order you need them — with a direct link to the official government page behind each one.
Built for food trucks, trailers, carts and food stalls at farmers markets, plus cottage food operations. Not for craft or other non-food vendors.
Start where you actually are
Permits, fees and who issues them are decided state by state, so the only useful version of this page is your state’s. Pick it and we will show you exactly what applies.
Vendor toolkit
The tools vendors reach for at this stage — each one takes a few minutes.
What Each Guide Covers
The specific agency, form, and fee for your state's mobile food unit license.
Local requirements on top of the state license — varies significantly by metro area.
Whether your state requires a licensed commissary and how to find one.
State-specific food safety certification requirements for you and your staff.
What inspectors look for and how to pass your initial mobile unit inspection.
The highest-opportunity markets in each state, based on food truck culture and demand.
Once You're Licensed
A permit gets you legal. A loyal customer list gets you profitable. VendorLoop lets you collect customer phone numbers at your window and text your entire list your location each week.
See How VendorLoop Works