Food trucks in Kent need a King County Public Health mobile food unit permit, a Kent business license, and site-specific zoning approval when operating on private property or in the ROW.
Mobile food vendors in Kent must hold a Public Health - Seattle and King County mobile food unit (MFU) permit, which requires plan review, a commissary agreement, and annual inspection. Trucks also need a Kent business license issued by the city clerk and must pay state B and O tax. Zoning under Kent City Code Title 15 allows MFUs on private commercial or industrial lots with the property owner's written permission, subject to parking and customer-queue requirements. Operating on public streets or in Kent parks requires a special right-of-way permit or park use permit. Gatherings of multiple trucks (food truck rallies) at events need an event permit through the city. Propane, generator noise, and wastewater disposal are all regulated; graywater must be discharged at a commissary, never into a storm drain.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how other cities in King County handle food truck permits.
See how Kent's food truck permits rules stack up against other locations.
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