Sacramento requires mobile food vendors to obtain a Mobile Food Facility Permit from the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) and a City business operations tax certificate. Food trucks must also have a valid health permit, fire safety inspection, and vehicle registration. City Code Chapter 5.68 governs mobile food vendor operations including location restrictions and operating hours.
Food truck operators must obtain: (1) a Sacramento County EMD Mobile Food Facility Permit with annual health inspections, (2) a City of Sacramento business operations tax certificate, and (3) appropriate fire safety clearance. Food trucks must operate from an approved commissary kitchen for food preparation, storage, and waste disposal. Trucks cannot operate within 300 feet of a brick-and-mortar restaurant serving similar food during that restaurant's operating hours unless on private property with permission. Operations are limited in residential zones. The City has designated food truck-friendly zones in parts of downtown and midtown.
Operating without required permits can result in fines, vehicle impoundment, and criminal misdemeanor charges. Health violations may result in immediate closure by the County EMD. Operating in restricted locations can lead to citations and towing.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sacramento County.
See how other cities in Sacramento County handle food truck permits.
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