Skip to content
Ask a question
All posts

What are the legal requirements for starting a food truck business in New York City?

Picture of Chris Battis By   ·  1 minute read

To start a food truck business in New York City, there are a number of legal requirements that must be met.

  1. Business Formation: First, you must choose a legal form of business for your food truck, whether it be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company (LLC). Registering your business with the New York State Department of State is required and obtaining relevant licenses from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is mandatory.
  2. Permits and Licenses: Food trucks in New York City must be licensed through the DOHMH and are subject to inspection by the department. In addition, you will need a Mobile Food Vendor license from the DCA.
  3. Health Regulations: DOHMH regulates food safety and sanitation for all food vendors, whether it be a food truck or a brick-and-mortar establishment. New York City requires that all food vendors, including food trucks, have a letter grade visible at all times showing their compliance with food safety and sanitation. DOHMH also conducts regular inspections of food vendors to ensure compliance with its rules.
  4. Zoning Regulations: You must comply with zoning regulations for the location of your food truck. You need to apply for a Street Activity Permit from the Mayor’s Street Activity Permit office for your food truck to park in a public space.
  5. Insurance: It is mandatory to carry insurance to protect your business from liabilities, including general liability insurance, commercial vehicle insurance, and worker’s compensation.
  6. Tax Obligations: Expect to pay sales tax on all sales made through the food truck. You'll also need to obtain permits from the Department of Taxation and Finance for sales tax and to collect state and local sales taxes.

In conclusion, to launch and operate your food truck business in New York City, you'll have to follow multiple legal requirements. There are a variety of nuances in the regulations between local, state, and federal jurisdictions, which makes starting and operating a food truck business complex. Thus, it is always recommended that you consult a lawyer with expertise in restaurant and food truck law to ensure full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.