New Bedford, MA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Section 15-72 requires every food truck operating anywhere in New Bedford, public or private property, to hold its own permit from the health department; a business with multiple trucks must permit each one individually. The annual permit fee is $600, renews automatically while the truck and holder stay in good standing, and the health department must approve or deny a complete application within 90 days. Applicants must submit a certificate of general liability insurance naming the city as an additional insured, plus the name and driver's license of every person authorized to operate the truck.

No food truck may operate within 300 feet of a licensed food establishment, except for trucks operating on private property held in common ownership with the truck's owner outside the four designated zones. m. No operator may hold more than five permitted food trucks citywide, and trucks cannot provide dine-in seating except when operating under the private-property exemption. Violations carry a $100 fine for a first offense and a second $100 fine for a second offense, plus possible suspension or revocation at the discretion of the commissioner of inspectional services and health department, with a hearing available within 45 days of a written request.