Florida food truck permit checklist

The steps, in order

1. 1.Form your entity and get your EIN

   Federal

   Decide sole proprietor vs LLC, then get your free EIN from the IRS online. Every application below asks for it.

   Fee: No fee. The EIN is free. An LLC filing with Sunbiz is separate. (checked 2026-09-14, source)

   Official page

2. 2.Register for Florida sales tax

   State

   Register with the Florida Department of Revenue before your first sale, using the online Florida Business Tax Application (Form DR-1).

   Fee: No fee. The DOR registration page lists no fee for the online application. (checked 2026-09-14, source)

   Official page

3. 3.Sign your commissary agreement

   State

   DBPR requires an MFDV to have commercial water and wastewater servicing: either a commissary or a commercial (non-residential) water and sewer location, documented on form HR 7022. Any FDACS-permitted or DBPR-licensed fixed food establishment can provide commissary services. Line it up before you apply; the form is part of your application package.

   Fee: Private monthly cost when you use a commissary. Quote at least two. (checked 2026-09-14, source)

   Watch out: Settle the water and wastewater arrangement before the DBPR application. Applications stall without it.

   Official page

4. 4.Apply for the DBPR MFDV license (plan review + license)

   State

   The state license for a mobile food dispensing vehicle runs through DBPR in four steps: online account, plan review determination, apply and pay, licensing inspection. Plan review is provided at no charge. The county and city layers below apply on top of this state license.

   Fee: $50 application plus $347 annual license ($178.50 half-year proration), per the DBPR fee schedule. Plan review is free. (checked 2026-09-14, source)

   Watch out: The license prorates to $178.50 for half-year applications, so timing your application against the license year changes the launch budget.

   Official page

5. 5.Get your Orange County Business Tax Receipt

   County

   Orange County requires a Business Tax Receipt (Florida Statutes chapter 205 and County Ordinance chapter 25) for businesses operating in the county, separate from your state license. The DBPR page never mentions it; this is the layer that surprises Orlando trucks.

   Fee: Varies by business classification and employee count; listed on the county tax collector's schedule. An exemption affidavit is available. (checked 2026-09-14, source)

   Watch out: Every Orange County BTR expires September 30 regardless of when you bought it, so a truck licensed in August pays again within weeks. Put the date on your calendar the day you get it (the .ics above includes it).

   Official page

6. 6.Get the City of Orlando BTR if you vend inside city limits

   City

   Selling food from a mobile business inside Orlando city limits needs the city's own Business Tax Receipt on top of the county's. If you stay outside city limits, you skip this step.

   Fee: Fee is billed after the city processes the application; the page does not publish a schedule. Expires September 30. (checked 2026-09-14, source)

   Official page

7. 7.Clear zoning for each regular vending spot

   City

   Orlando regulates where mobile food vendors can set up; the city publishes a Mobile Vending and Services Guide covering permitted locations. Private lots need the owner's permission and often a zoning check. Confirm each regular location before you commit to it.

   Fee: Verify the current fee with the City of Orlando.

   Watch out: The spot that looks free on a Tuesday can be a code violation on event day. Clear it once, keep the confirmation.

   Official page

8. 8.Book your fire inspection

   County

   Trucks with cooking equipment need a fire inspection covering suppression, propane, and extinguishers. Unincorporated Orange County falls under Orange County Fire Rescue's Office of the Fire Marshal; inside Orlando it is the Orlando Fire Department. Confirm which covers your primary spots and book before your first service.

   Fee: Verify the current fee with Orange County.

   Watch out: Fire suppression is a significant build cost if your build lacks one. Price it into the build, not the launch week.

   Official page

9. 9.Certify your food manager and handlers

   State

   Florida requires a certified food protection manager (training and exam within 30 days of employment, through an ANAB-CFP accredited program) and trained food handlers (division-approved training). Both are quick online courses from accredited providers.

   Fee: Priced by the accredited provider; the DBPR page lists approved programs, not prices. (checked 2026-09-14, source)

   Official page

10. 10.Get insured and save your COI

    Private

    General liability plus commercial auto. Orlando-area organizers and commissaries ask for the Certificate of Insurance before booking.

11. 11.Pass inspection, then book your first three gigs

    Private

    License in hand, you are legal. Book your first gigs with local organizers and commissary boards; most ask for the COI from step 10.

Renewal calendar

What comes due after you open, and how far ahead to start the paperwork. The .ics download puts each of these on your calendar.

• FL MFDV License (DBPR)

  Florida DBPR

  Every yearStart 45 days before

• Orange County Business Tax Receipt

  Orange County Tax Collector

  Every yearStart 30 days before

  Expires September 30 every year regardless of purchase date; adjust this row to the real date when you get your receipt.

• General liability insurance (COI)

  Your insurer

  Every yearStart 21 days before

  Organizers require the COI.

• Food manager certification

  Accredited provider

  Every 2 yearsStart 30 days before

  Check your certificate's own term.

• Commissary agreement anniversary

  Your commissary

  Every yearStart 30 days before

  Re-negotiate before it auto-renews.