Grand Rapids, MI Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Issued by
- City Clerk's Office
- License term
- One year from issuance
- Insurance required
- $1,000,000 general liability minimum
- Also required
- Kent County Health Dept. permits
- Applies to
- Vending on public property only
Summary
Grand Rapids requires mobile food businesses to hold a City Clerk-issued license before operating on public property, with a written application, fee, and proof of insurance.
No Business shall operate a Mobile Food Business on publicly owned property without a valid Business license required under this section. To the extent authorized by any such license granted under the provisions of this section, the licensee may conduct such licensed Business on publicly owned property only in accordance with this ordinance. Licenses issued after July 1, 2019, shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 74's Mobile Food Business Ordinance bars any business from operating a mobile food unit on City-owned property without a valid license from the City Clerk. Applicants must submit vehicle details, Kent County Health Department and state permits, a hold-harmless statement, and proof of commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence plus $1,000,000 auto liability, naming the City as an additional insured. Licenses issued after July 1, 2019 run for one year. Vending on private property instead falls under the City's Special Land Use Application process.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license is unlawful; the City Clerk may revoke a license for violations, false statements, or conduct adverse to public health and safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a food truck in Grand Rapids?
How long does a Grand Rapids mobile food license last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
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Food Truck Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kent County handle food truck permits.