San Francisco Mobile Food Cart & Truck Info

San Francisco Mobile Permitting can best be divided into three categories:

1) Mobile Truck Vendors:
In San Francisco you’ll need a Mobile Catering Permit to sell food from public property legally out of a truck. The application is found through San Francisco Police Department. You’ll need to setup a route that doesn’t come within 300 feet, or 2 blocks, whichever is greater of another vendor or brick and mortar business. This permit also requires Health and Fire Inspection of the Mobile Catering vehicle.

2) Private Property Vendors:
You’ll need a Sanitation Certificate issued through the San Francisco Health Department. This permit also requires Property Owner, Health, Fire and Zoning department approval. In addition, if you are staying at this location for more than 2 hours, you’ll need access to a bathroom for your employees as well.

3) Food Peddling Carts:
If your cart is located in Private Property, please refer to #2. If you’re cart is based on Public Property it must have at minimum: Mechanical refrigeration to maintain a constant temperature of 38-42 degrees F (for the duration of your service period) and a hand washing sink. As a standard rule, the typical Hot Dog cart must (generally) not exceed 3×4x5 dimensions. If you are cooking raw protein, your cart will also require a ventilation system and a 3 part sink. You are not allowed multiple sites with this permit and you must be 2 blocks, or 600 feet, from the next closest vendor (or similar brick and mortar restaurant).

All mobile vending vehicles in California are required to operate out of a Commissary where you can store inventory, prep food, (legally) dump water and store your vending unit. Check here for more information regarding commissaries.

Documents available for free to view:
Check out all SF Police Department Documents here.
Check out all SF Health Department Documents here.
Check out all SF Fire Department Documents here.
Check out all SF Ports Documents here.
Check out all SF Planning Department Documents here.

Support SF Cart Project and download all of these documents in one handy, easy to read, .PDF file for $35.00 here.

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