How to Get a Food Truck Permit

Before you can apply for a food truck permit you need:

• permits from Inspectional Services and Fire
• a Hawker and Peddler License
• a Business Certificate
• a Certificate of Liability Insurance
• a business plan, and
• a written agreement from your commissary. A commissary is the licensed food establishment where you prepare and store food. You report to them twice a day. Possible locations include community kitchens, church kitchens, or restaurant kitchens.

After you get all of your documents together, you can register and complete an application online:

Food truck online application

There is a $500 annual application fee. Please make your check payable to the City of Boston.

Start looking for a location once you submit your application. There are three types of locations:

• Public locations: You can apply for these spots through a lottery system.
• Private locations: You need permission from the property owner.

Each type of location has its own rules and licensing.

Please give us two weeks to approve your permit. You can pick up your permit at Public Works:

1 City Hall Square, Room 714

Boston City Hall, Boston, MA 02201

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

When your food truck permit is approved, we'll let you know when we hold the next public site lottery.

Before you can apply for a food truck permit you need:

• permits from Inspectional Services and Fire
• a Hawker and Peddler License
• a Business Certificate
• a Certificate of Liability Insurance
• a business plan, and
• a written agreement from your commissary. A commissary is the licensed food establishment where you prepare and store food. You report to them twice a day. Possible locations include community kitchens, church kitchens, or restaurant kitchens.

Fill out the food truck application once you have all your documents.

Food Truck application

There is a $500 annual application fee. Please make your check payable to the City of Boston.

Bring your application, documents, and payment to:

Office of Small Business
Food Truck Coordinator
43 Hawkins Street, Boston, MA 02114
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Start looking for a location once you submit your application. There are three types of locations:

• Public locations: You can apply for these spots through a lottery system.
• Private locations: You need permission from the property owner.

Each type of location has its own rules and licensing.

Please give us two weeks to approve your permit. You can pick up your permit at Public Works:

1 City Hall Square, Room 714

Boston City Hall, Boston, MA 02201

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

When your food truck permit is approved, we'll let you know when we hold the next public site lottery.

Before you can apply for a food truck permit you need:

• permits from Inspectional Services and Fire
• a Hawker and Peddler License
• a Business Certificate
• a Certificate of Liability Insurance
• a business plan, and
• a written agreement from your commissary. A commissary is the licensed food establishment where you prepare and store food. You report to them twice a day. Possible locations include community kitchens, church kitchens, or restaurant kitchens.

Fill out the food truck application once you have all your documents.

Food Truck application

There is a $500 annual application fee. Please make your check payable to the City of Boston.

Email your application and documents to foodtrucks@boston.gov. You'll still need to mail or bring your check to:

Office of Small Business

Food Truck Coordinator

43 Hawkins Street, Boston, MA 02114

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Start looking for a location once you submit your application. There are three types of locations:

• Public locations: You can apply for these spots through a lottery system.
• Private locations: You need permission from the property owner.

Each type of location has its own rules and licensing.

Please give us two weeks to approve your permit. You can pick up your permit at Public Works:

1 City Hall Square, Room 714

Boston City Hall, Boston, MA 02201

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

When your food truck permit is approved, we'll let you know when we hold the next public site lottery.