To open a food truck in North Carolina, you need to obtain several licenses and permits. These include a Food Truck Permit for Vendors, a Food Truck Permit for Property Owners, a Streetside Vending zoning permit, a Home Occupation Permit, a Wake County Food Vending Permit, a N.C. Department of Agriculture Food Permit, and a N.C. Sales and Use Certificate. Additionally, you need to provide proof of storage location of the food truck, proof of commercial business location, and a copy of the vehicle or trailer registration.
1. Food Truck Permit for Vendors
- Purpose: This permit is required for food truck vendors to operate on private property in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- Estimated Cost: $150.00
- How to Register: The application must be completed and submitted along with copies of the N.C. Sales and Use Certificate, Wake County Vending Permit, N.C. Department of Agriculture Food Permit (if applicable), and a copy of vehicle or trailer registration. You can find the application form at the Raleigh Department of City Planning website.
2. Food Truck Permit for Property Owners
- Purpose: This permit is required for any private property owner that wants to allow a food truck to operate on their property.
- Estimated Cost: Equivalent to the minimum permit fee as approved in the Development Fee Schedule.
- How to Register: The application process requires the total acres of the parcel where the food truck will be located, the number of food trucks requested on the property, and a site plan indicating the location of the food truck(s). You can find the application form at the Raleigh Department of City Planning website.
3. Streetside Vending zoning permit
- Purpose: This permit is required if a food truck serves customers from the right-of-way in any of the four permitted parking spaces identified by the City.
- How to Register: Additional items such as a Certificate of Insurance and an Indemnity Agreement are required. You can begin the application process at the Raleigh Permit and Development portal.
4. Wake County Food Vending Permit
- Purpose: This permit is required to operate a food truck in Wake County, North Carolina.
- How to Register: To apply for a permit, you need to submit a complete application, which includes a checklist for a successful MFU permit application, menu item attachment, manufacturer equipment specification sheets, and food equipment drawings. Learn more about the application process at the Wake County Government website.
5. N.C. Department of Agriculture Food Permit
- Purpose: This permit is required if the food truck is selling food items.
- How to Register: Learn more about the application process at the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina website.
6. N.C. Sales and Use Certificate
- Purpose: This certificate is required for the sales and use tax.
- How to Register: You can find the application forms at the North Carolina Department of Revenue website.
For more information, you can visit the Wake County Environmental Health & Safety website and the Greensboro Code of Ordinances.
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