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What a food truck permit costs in California

The figures below come from California's agency pages, each with the date it was read. Government fees only: commissary rent, insurance and the truck are private costs, and the profit calculator is where those go.

The main license

$228 to $893 a year by county and menu: San Diego $228 prepackaged to $760 full food preparation; Los Angeles $325 / $598 / $761 by risk tier; Orange $192 to $780; Sacramento $201 to $812; San Francisco $893 (DPH) plus a $1,175 Public Works street permit

County mobile food facility (MFF) health permit; no state license (CalCode §114381 leaves the fee to each county)

Plan check is one-time and separate ($545 to $792 in the big counties). Add the HCD insignia on the truck body ($51 plus a $238 one-hour minimum inspection) for a used or converted truck. One permit per county; no reciprocity.

Issued by County environmental health departments under the California Retail Food Code (CDPH sets the code; counties issue the permit) Read on the agency page Nov 5, 2026

Every step, with the fee where it is published

In filing order. A step without a published fee links the agency to ask.

  1. 1

    Form your entity and get your EINFederal

    the IRS

    Fee not published here; ask the agency
  2. 2

    Register for California sales taxState

    California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)

    Private cost or no fee
  3. 3

    Get your food handler cardState

    an accredited food handler course provider

    Private cost or no fee
  4. 4

    Certify a food protection managerState

    an accredited food manager certification provider

    Private cost or no fee
  5. 5

    Sign your commissary agreementState

    California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — enforced by county Environmental Health departments

    Fee not published here; ask the agency
  6. 6

    Apply for the Health Permit for Mobile Food Facility (MFF)State

    California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — enforced by county Environmental Health departments

    Fee not published here; ask the agency
  7. 7

    Clear the county and city layersCity

    your city and county

    Private cost or no fee
  8. 8

    Get general liability insurance and a certificate of insurance (COI)Private

    your insurer

    Private cost or no fee

Renewal timeline

  • County Health Permit (MFF)

    Every year · start paperwork 30 days before · California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — enforced by county Environmental Health departments

  • California Food Handler Card

    Every 3 years · start paperwork 30 days before · California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — enforced by county Environmental Health departments

  • City Business License

    Every year · start paperwork 30 days before · California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — enforced by county Environmental Health departments

  • Fire Inspection

    Every year · start paperwork 30 days before · California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — enforced by county Environmental Health departments

  • Commissary Agreement

    Every year · start paperwork 30 days before · California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — enforced by county Environmental Health departments

  • General liability insurance (COI)

    Every year · start paperwork 21 days before · Your insurer

Download the renewal calendar (.ics) Open the printable checklist

What changed in California

  1. San Diego County's new fee schedule: $760 a year for a full food preparation truck, $516 limited preparation, $253 packaged lunch truck, $228 prepackaged; plan review $545 for an open-preparation truck. Source

  2. Sacramento County's 2026-27 fees: Category A $201, B $402, C $480, D (full preparation) $812; new-construction plan review $792. Source

  3. San Francisco Ordinance 49-26 raised the Department of Public Health mobile food facility license to $893 a year (from $195 and $292), the mobile support unit to $781 and plan check to $251 an hour; compact mobile food operations got their own $188 to $502 classes. Source

  4. Los Angeles County rebuilt its mobile food fees into risk tiers: $325 low, $598 moderate, $761 high risk a year, with carts permitted separately as compact mobile food operations at $126 to $592. Source

  5. SB 476 (Health and Safety Code 113948): the employer pays for every food handler card and the time spent earning it, and may not require a card as a condition of hiring. Source

Read the full picture

California food truck permit guideAgencies, fees, inspections, city rules and the pitfalls, with sources.LA permitsCity layer on top of the state: zoning, fire, local business tax.San Diego permitsCity layer on top of the state: zoning, fire, local business tax.SF permitsCity layer on top of the state: zoning, fire, local business tax.

Compare every state on the permit hub or take the CSV.

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