San Mateo County, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

San Mateo County Health Environmental Health Services (EHS) permits all mobile food facilities operating within the County, including unincorporated areas, under the California Retail Food Code (CalCode, Health & Safety Code §§113700 et seq.). Application is submitted through the MyEHS Portal or in person at 2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo. Requirements: pre-operational plan check, vehicle and equipment inspection, commissary agreement (food trucks cannot be parked/serviced at a residence per CalCode §114295), potable water and wastewater handling per code, 3-compartment warewashing sink, handwashing station with hot water, fire extinguisher (K-class for deep fryers), first aid kit, proper ventilation for cooking. At least one Certified Food Protection Manager per operation and all employees must hold a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire. Permits are valid February 1 to January 31; annual renewal requires reinspection and payment of fees (approximately $700-$1,200 depending on truck complexity). Vehicles must display the MFF sticker. Temporary event operations require additional Temporary Food Facility (TFF) permits per event.