Milwaukee, WI Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Food peddler license per vehicle
- Annual fee (motorized)
- $350
- Annual fee (cart)
- $315
- No sales
- 3-6 a.m. weekdays
- Issuing office
- Health dept. commissioner / city clerk
Summary
Milwaukee requires a food peddler license for any vehicle selling food on public streets, with a $350 annual fee for motorized units.
No person shall engage in the sale of any food from any vehicle, cart or carried container on a public street without first obtaining a food peddler license issued under this chapter or a mobile food license issued by the state of Wisconsin for the food being sold. A separate license shall be required for each vehicle, cart or carried container from which food is sold.
Full Breakdown
Selling food from a vehicle, cart or carried container on a Milwaukee public street requires a food peddler license from the city (or a Wisconsin mobile food license covering the food sold): a separate license per vehicle, cart or container. Applications go through the health department commissioner, who investigates before the city clerk issues the license; a denial can be appealed to the licensing committee within 10 working days. The annual fee is $350 for a motorized vehicle, $315 for a pushed, pedaled or pulled cart, and $185 for a person carrying containers. Vendors also face right-of-way rules: no sales between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. weekdays (3:30-6 a.m. weekends), and additional time and parking-duration limits inside designated limited-operation zones.
Violations & Fines
Selling without a valid food peddler license, operating outside permitted hours, or exceeding zone parking-duration limits are licensing violations handled by the licensing committee, which can warn, suspend or revoke the license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate license for each food truck in Milwaukee?
How much does a Milwaukee food truck license cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milwaukee
Compare Milwaukee to another location·View the Wisconsin food trucks & mobile vendors overview
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Food Truck Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Milwaukee County handle food truck permits.