Bensalem, PA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Township Code § 173-3(a) makes it unlawful to operate any mobile food service vehicle to sell food, service or merchandise anywhere in the Township without a mobile food vendor permit. Under § 173-3(d)(1), the Director of Building and Planning oversees issuance, suspension and revocation, and the permit must be prominently displayed whenever the vehicle operates; the requirement does not apply to prearranged private catering of four hours or less that is not open to the public. Applicants file the form required by § 173-3(d)(2), providing the vehicle owner's and operator's names and addresses, exterior color photographs, the VIN and registration, any state or county health permit, alcoholic beverage license if applicable, the operator's business license, proof of insurance, and a signed acknowledgment of compliance, plus the fee set in the Bensalem Township Fee Schedule; permit holders must report any change to that information within ten days.

Section 173-3(d)(3) requires issuance once the application is complete unless the operator's permit is currently suspended or was revoked in the preceding 12 months, with any denial issued in writing within 15 days. Permits expire December 31 of each year under § 173-3(d)(4) and renew for the fee charged to new applicants; they are non-transferable except with the sale of a controlling interest or substantially all business assets, per § 173-3(d)(5), with notice to the Township within ten days of any such sale. Section 173-3(d)(6) lets Township staff authorize an unpermitted operator found working to continue for up to two hours while location and hours rules are followed, before the required fee and permit must be obtained.