Since 2020, Florida statute 509.102 preempts municipal and county licensing, registration, and permitting of mobile food dispensing vehicles. Operators need only state DBPR licenses to operate statewide.
Section 509.102, Florida Statutes, enacted by HB 1193 (2020), expressly preempts regulation of mobile food dispensing vehicle licenses, registrations, and permits to the state. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, licenses and inspects food trucks statewide. Local governments cannot require additional business taxes, registrations, or operating permits specific to food trucks. Cities may still apply generally applicable zoning, health, parking, and noise rules that are not duplicative of state licensing.
A city enforcing a duplicative food truck license risks injunctive relief and damages. Operators denied operation under preempted rules may pursue declaratory judgment and recover attorney fees in some cases.
See how Vero Beach's food truck permits rules stack up against other locations.
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