To open a food truck in Alabama, you need to comply with several requirements and obtain various permits and licenses. These include approval from the Alabama Department of Public Health, a permit from the county health department where the food truck will operate, a Mobile Food Truck Permit if operating in the City of Hoover, a permit to operate within the city's rights-of-way if in Birmingham, and several licenses and permits if in Montgomery.
1. Approval from the Alabama Department of Public Health
- Purpose: This approval ensures that your mobile food unit meets the public health protection standards for the specific type of food operation conducted.
- How to Register: You need to file a plan of operations with the Health Officer stating the proposed menu and methods of complying with the requirements of these rules for temperature control, handwashing, and servicing at the commissary.
2. County Health Department Permit
- Purpose: This permit is required for all events open to the public, and each concession must have its own permit.
- How to Register: The permit application form can be obtained from the County Health Department and should be submitted at least 3 weeks before the event.
3. Mobile Food Truck Permit (City of Hoover)
- Purpose: This permit is required to operate a food truck in the City of Hoover.
- Estimated Cost: $300.00
- How to Register: You can download a Mobile Food Permit Application from the City of Hoover's website.
4. Permit to Operate within the City's Rights-of-Way (Birmingham)
- Purpose: This permit is granted by the Birmingham City Council to operate within the city's rights-of-way.
- Estimated Cost: $150.00 for Mobile Food Vehicles or $40.00 for Pushcarts
- How to Register: You need to submit an online application to the Traffic Engineering Department.
5. Licenses and Permits (Montgomery)
- Purpose: These are required to operate a food truck in Montgomery.
- Estimated Cost: Not specified
- How to Register: You need to contact Christina Golden, Special Events Director, at 334-625-2114, to get added to the City Food Truck List.
For more information, you can refer to the Alabama Department of Public Health, County Health Department, City of Hoover, City of Birmingham, and City of Montgomery websites.
Learn more about local food delivery trends and insights:
About Otter
- Increase revenue up to 10% with Marketing*
- Reduce storefront downtime by up to 50% with Live Alerts*
- Increase sales up to 50% with Digital Dine-In's QR code ordering*
- Reduce missed orders to less than 1% with Order Manager's Auto-Accept feature*
- Supercharge your food business with our all-in-one restaurant POS system*