West Haven, CT Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Section 115-2 defines an itinerant food vending establishment as a food vending business serving food or drink from any establishment or conveyance without fixed location and without connection to water supply and sewage disposal systems, and § 115-7(B) and (C) impose the two licenses on it. The vehicle license comes from the Director of Health. The application goes to the Director on his forms with a nonrefundable fee of $50 (§ 115-8), and the applicant must produce the establishment, conveyance or vehicle for inspection. On receipt of an application the Director surveys and inspects the vehicles and equipment against the Connecticut Public Health Code and West Haven Board of Health rules, and § 115-10 sets a decision deadline of not more than 14 calendar days from a properly executed application and fee.

The annual license fee for an itinerant food vending establishment is $450 (§ 115-9). Licenses expire April 30, and renewal requires the vehicle inspection along with the fee. One-half of the annual fee is charged for licenses issued after November 1. Section 115-20 adds the Police Department layer: Sections 139-1 and 139-2 have the Police Department issue licenses for refreshment stands and itinerant food vendors, and the Department issues them in its reasonable discretion and subject to its approval, provided the vendor first holds a valid license from the Director of Health.

The Chapter 139 fee schedule lists refreshment stands at $25. A one-event stand uses § 115-12 instead: a nonrefundable $25 application fee, a $50 license fee, a term not to exceed 14 consecutive days, and renewal not more than once. Where a vendor works a street or sidewalk, § 139-11 bars vending within 20 feet of the center line of a building or driveway entrance or exit, requires 15 feet from any fire hydrant, and keeps carts, stands and conveyances 50 feet apart. Motor vehicles must conform to all parking regulations, including payment of meter fees (§ 139-3(B)).