Brentwood, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Food truck operation in Brentwood requires a stack of approvals: (1) a Mobile Food Facility (MFF) permit from Contra Costa County Environmental Health, which inspects the truck annually and verifies plumbing, refrigeration, handwash sinks, and food storage; (2) a California Food Handler Card or Manager certification; (3) a California Department of Tax and Fee Administration seller's permit; (4) a Brentwood business license issued by the Finance Department; and (5) a commissary agreement showing where the truck is cleaned, loaded, and where wastewater is disposed. Propane tanks must be inspected and certified.

SB 972 (2022) substantially reformed California's rules for sidewalk vendors and mobile food facilities, requiring local governments to adopt permit processes that are nondiscretionary and based on health-and-safety concerns rather than aesthetic or competitive concerns, and it repealed the prior Health and Safety Code provisions that often blocked sidewalk food vending. Brentwood's updated rules reflect SB 972 by providing clear, objective permit standards. Catering events, private parties, and operation at farmers markets or city-sponsored events may have additional requirements (temporary food facility permit, event organizer approval). Operators should submit all documentation well in advance of first sale, since county health inspections can take several weeks to schedule during peak season.