Passaic, NJ Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Section 149-12 of Chapter 149 sets the core permitting rule for every mobile food establishment operating in the City of Passaic: no person, firm or corporation may operate one within city limits until a mobile food establishment license is first obtained from the Division of Health. The license must be posted conspicuously on the truck or cart where patrons can readily see it, with no portion obstructed from view, and it is unlawful to erase, cancel, deface or alter the license once issued. City officials, inspectors and police officers who present proper identification are entitled to fully examine the license on request.

Every license the Division of Health issues carries its own registration number and expiration date, and Section 149-12G fixes the licensing period to the calendar year, a license runs from January 1 through December 31 and expires on December 31 regardless of when in the year it was actually issued, so a truck licensed in November still has to renew weeks later. License holders must notify the Division of Health in writing within 10 calendar days of any change in the owner's contact information or if the business stops operating.

On top of the per-vendor licensing rule, Section 149-15 caps the whole program citywide at no more than 35 mobile food establishment licenses issued in any calendar year, with 10 of those set aside specifically for Food Truck Row, and Section 149-17 limits any single vendor to holding one mobile food license at a time, subject to a grandfather clause for vendors who already held more when that limit took effect.