Lafayette, LA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 70-106
- Permit fee
- $300 (application and renewal)
- Permit expires
- July 31 each year
- Minimum distance rule
- 100 ft from fixed restaurant entrance
- Enforcement
- Director; appeal to 15th Judicial District Court
Summary
Operating a food truck or trailer in Lafayette requires a $300 mobile food establishment permit from the City-Parish Consolidated Government under City Code § 70-106. Applicants must show a valid Louisiana Department of Health permit, vehicle registration, insurance, and a designated commissary, and renew annually by July 31.
A mobile food establishment permit issued by the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government shall be required to lawfully operate a mobile food establishment within the City of Lafayette and/or the unincorporated areas of the Parish of Lafayette.... [operators shall submit] Payment of a $300.00 non-refundable, non-transferrable permit fee.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Beyond the $300 fee, § 70-107 requires operators to submit proof of a base of operations or commissary, current Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles registration for the truck or trailer, a certificate of insurance in the amount LCG requires, a signed indemnification agreement, and a valid Louisiana Department of Health permit for both the truck and its commissary. § 70-117 dictates precisely where a truck can park: never in the public right-of-way, at least 100 feet from the entrance of any fixed restaurant or outdoor dining area, 50 feet from any permitted pushcart location, ten feet from a driveway, sidewalk, or building entrance, and 15 feet from a fire hydrant.
§ 70-116 bars trucks from selling anything but food or drink, running a drive-through, offering outdoor seating, or dumping grease or liquid waste on the ground, storm drains, or sidewalks, a grease-dumping violation triggers immediate permit revocation. Violations otherwise go through an informal hearing before the director, with an appeal path to the 15th Judicial District Court.
Violations & Fines
Operating a mobile food establishment in Lafayette without the § 70-106 permit, or violating placement and operating rules in §§ 70-116–70-117, can result in a fine or suspension/revocation of the permit by the director under § 70-118. Dumping grease or liquid waste in a storm drain, tree pit, or public space triggers immediate revocation under § 70-116(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Lafayette food truck permit cost?
How close can a food truck park to a restaurant in Lafayette?
Can a Lafayette food truck offer a drive-through or outdoor seating?
What happens if my food truck permit lapses in Lafayette?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette
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