Wilmington, DE Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Business license fee
- $151 per year
- Daily use fee
- $22 per day
- License term
- Expires after 1 year
- Designated spots citywide
- 3 to 6 spots
- School buffer
- 200 ft from K-12 schools
Summary
Operating a food truck or trailer in Wilmington's public right-of-way requires a mobile food vending unit license from the department of licenses and inspections, plus a fire safety inspection, city business license, and liability insurance before any unit can reserve a curbside spot.
Licensing process. In order for a mobile food vending unit to operate in the public right of way, a unit must:(1)First, the city fire department must inspect and approve of the mobile food vending unit.(2)Second, obtain a city business license from the finance department.(3)Submit the fire department inspection approval, valid city business license, along with all other necessary documentation including but not limited to insurance documentation and state health inspection documentation to the department of licenses and inspections. The department of licenses and inspections will review the documentation, and if all required documentation is in place, they will approve that unit to utilize the city's automated reservation system, and issue them a mobile food vending unit license. (Ord. No. 15-038(sub 1), § 1, 11-19-15)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Before selling from a mobile food vending unit in the public right-of-way, an operator must pass a fire marshal inspection, obtain a city business license from the finance department ($151 per year under Sec. 5-87 unless working a permitted special event), and submit insurance and state health documentation to licenses and inspections for a mobile food vending unit license. Licensed units then use a web-based reservation system to book one of three to six city-designated parking spots and pay a $22 daily use fee in place of meter fees. Licenses expire one year after issuance and cannot be transferred to a new owner or unit.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required license is a separate offense each day under section 5-55(e); licenses and inspections can suspend or revoke a unit's license for violating chapter 42's operating and vehicle standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate itinerant vendor license for a food truck in Wilmington?
Can a food truck park anywhere on a Wilmington street?
How long does a Wilmington mobile food vending license last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wilmington
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