What licenses and permits are required to open a food truck in the North Carolina state?
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.
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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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