Apply for a Mobile Food Vendor Truck, Trailer, or Concession License

Step 1.Check your eligibility

You are eligible if you have a valid driver's license and don't owe money to the City. We're unable to issue you a business license if you don't meet these requirements.

UNSURE IF YOU OWE?

• Check if you owe court fees, property taxes or parking tickets. Call the Treasurer's Office at 616-456-3020
• Check if you owe taxes to the City. Call the Income Tax Department at 616-456-3415

Step 2.Gather your information

Liability Insurance

You'll need commercial general liability insurance for $1,000,000 and a public liability and property damage motor vehicle policy for $1,000,000. We'll ask you to upload a copy of the certificate of insurance in the online application. If you don't have a copy, you can have your insurance agent send the certificate. Make sure to list the City of Grand Rapids on the policy as an additional insured, and also have them add the comment, "The City of Grand Rapids is additional insured".

local Health Department

You'll need to have a food permit from the Health Department in the County in which you reside before applying for your City license. Contact your local Health Department (Kent County Health Department if you live in the City of Grand Rapids) for more info on how to apply. They'll review your unit and menu, and sign off with the State of Michigan for you to get a State license for your records and an accompanying sticker for your truck.

We'll ask you to attach a copies of both the State license and sticker to your application.

Fire Inspection

You'll also need to complete a fire inspection with the Grand Rapids Fire Department before applying for your City license. Contact Lieutenant Jason Kelley to schedule an inspection. You can reach him by email at jkelley@grcity.us. Or you can give him a call: his primary phone number is 616-456-3900. If you can't reach him at that number, try 616-456-3115.

We'll ask you to attach a copy of your proof of inspection to your application.

Questions?

Have questions? Give us a call at the number listed in the Contact Us section of this page. There are many things that you need to do to apply for the license. We recommend reviewing the Mobile Food Vending Truck Checklist(PDF, 187KB) for more details.

Step 3.Choose a location

Use the Food Vending Truck Map to pick an eligible location for your food truck.

Step 4.Have your payment ready

There is a $293 license application fee for the first truck/vehicle/structure. There is an $18 fee for each additional truck/vehicle/structure you need to license. Application fees are non-refundable.

Special Event License

The fee for a special event food vending license is $224. There is a $35 fee for each additional event at which you will be operating in the City of Grand Rapids. Application fees are non-refundable.

Step 5.Complete the online application

We use a third party system called Citizen Access for business license applications. If this is your first time using this system, it's a good idea to learn How to Create a Citizen Access Account.

Your application might take some time. That's why we recommend that you gather all the required information first.

Apply in English

Step 6.We’ll review your application

It takes us 5-10 business days to process applications. Keep in mind that it may take longer to process your application if we find that you need to make changes. We'll call or email you to let you know that your license and vehicle decals are ready. You can either pick them up from the office or we'll mail it to you. Your license is valid through the season. 

Make sure to keep a copy of your license in each licensed vehicle. Your decals should be prominently displayed on each vehicle.

Your license is valid for one year from when it is issued. Make sure to note your expiration date before renewing your license.

Step 1.Check your eligibility

You are eligible if you have a valid driver's license and don't owe money to the City. We're unable to issue you a business license if you don't meet these requirements.

UNSURE IF YOU OWE?

• Check if you owe court fees, property taxes or parking tickets. Call the Treasurer's Office at 616-456-3020
• Check if you owe taxes to the City. Call the Income Tax Department at 616-456-3415

Step 2.Gather your information

LIABILITY INSURANCE

You'll need commercial general liability insurance for $1,000,000 and a public liability and property damage motor vehicle policy for $1,000,000. We'll ask you to upload a copy of the certificate of insurance in the online application. If you don't have a copy, you can have your insurance agent send the certificate. Make sure to list the City of Grand Rapids on the policy as an additional insured, and also have them add the comment, "The City of Grand Rapids is additional insured".

LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

You'll need to have a food permit from the Health Department in the County in which you reside before applying for your City license. Contact your local Health Department (Kent County Health Department if you live in the City of Grand Rapids) for more info on how to apply. They'll review your unit and menu, and sign off with the State of Michigan for you to get a State license for your records and an accompanying sticker for your truck.

We'll ask you to attach a copies of both the State license and sticker to your application.

FIRE INSPECTION

You'll also need to complete a fire inspection with the Grand Rapids Fire Department before applying for your City license. Contact Lieutenant Jason Kelley to schedule an inspection. You can reach him by email at jkelley@grcity.us. Or you can give him a call: his primary phone number is 616-456-3900. If you can't reach him at that number, try 616-456-3115.

We'll ask you to attach a copy of your proof of inspection to your application.

QUESTIONS?

Have questions? Give us a call at the number listed in the Contact Us section of this page. There are many things that you need to do to apply for the license. We recommend reviewing the Mobile Food Vending Truck Checklist(PDF, 187KB) for more details.

Step 3.Choose a location

Use the Food Vending Truck Map to pick an eligible location for your food truck.

Step 4.Have your payment ready

There is a $293 license application fee for the first truck/vehicle/structure. There is an $18 fee for each additional truck/vehicle/structure you need to license. Application fees are non-refundable.

SPECIAL EVENT LICENSE

The fee for a special event food vending license is $224. There is a $35 fee for each additional event at which you will be operating in the City of Grand Rapids. Application fees are non-refundable. Here's a look at your payment options:

MAILED PAYMENTS

• Check
• Money order

IN PERSON PAYMENTS

• Cash
• Check
• Money order
• Credit or debit cards (Visa, Discover, or MasterCard)

Step 5.Download and print the application

Fill out the PDF application and return it to us by mail or in person.

Download Application in English

Step 6.Mail or drop off your completed application

Make sure you have the appropriate payment ready. Refer to step 4 for accepted payment methods.

Step 7.We’ll review your application

It takes us 5-10 business days to process applications. Keep in mind that it may take longer to process your application if we find that you need to make changes. We'll call or email you to let you know that your license and vehicle decals are ready. You can either pick them up from the office or we'll mail it to you. Your license is valid through the season. 

Make sure to keep a copy of your license in each licensed vehicle. Your decals should be prominently displayed on each vehicle.

Your license is valid for one year from when it is issued. Make sure to note your expiration date before renewing your license.

Step 1.Check your eligibility

You are eligible if you have a valid driver's license and don't owe money to the City. We're unable to issue you a business license if you don't meet these requirements.

UNSURE IF YOU OWE?

• Check if you owe court fees, property taxes or parking tickets. Call the Treasurer's Office at 616-456-3020
• Check if you owe taxes to the City. Call the Income Tax Department at 616-456-3415

Step 2.Gather your information

LIABILITY INSURANCE

You'll need commercial general liability insurance for $1,000,000 and a public liability and property damage motor vehicle policy for $1,000,000. We'll ask you to upload a copy of the certificate of insurance in the online application. If you don't have a copy, you can have your insurance agent send the certificate. Make sure to list the City of Grand Rapids on the policy as an additional insured, and also have them add the comment, "The City of Grand Rapids is additional insured".

LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

You'll need to have a food permit from the Health Department in the County in which you reside before applying for your City license. Contact your local Health Department (Kent County Health Department if you live in the City of Grand Rapids) for more info on how to apply. They'll review your unit and menu, and sign off with the State of Michigan for you to get a State license for your records and an accompanying sticker for your truck.

We'll ask you to attach a copies of both the State license and sticker to your application.

FIRE INSPECTION

You'll also need to complete a fire inspection with the Grand Rapids Fire Department before applying for your City license. Contact Lieutenant Jason Kelley to schedule an inspection. You can reach him by email at jkelley@grcity.us. Or you can give him a call: his primary phone number is 616-456-3900. If you can't reach him at that number, try 616-456-3115.

We'll ask you to attach a copy of your proof of inspection to your application.

QUESTIONS?

Have questions? Give us a call at the number listed in the Contact Us section of this page. There are many things that you need to do to apply for the license. We recommend reviewing the Mobile Food Vending Truck Checklist(PDF, 187KB) for more details.

Step 3.Choose a location

Use the Food Vending Truck Map to pick an eligible location for your food truck.

Step 4.Have your payment ready

There is a $293 license application fee for the first truck/vehicle/structure. There is an $18 fee for each additional truck/vehicle/structure you need to license. Application fees are non-refundable.

SPECIAL EVENT LICENSE

The fee for a special event food vending license is $224. There is a $35 fee for each additional event at which you will be operating in the City of Grand Rapids. Application fees are non-refundable. Here's a look at your payment options:

IN PERSON PAYMENTS

• Cash
• Check
• Money order
• Credit or debit cards (Visa, Discover, or MasterCard)

Step 5.Visit our office to apply

Visit us on the 2nd floor of City Hall. Our address is in the Contact Us section of this page. We'll get you an application and answer all of your questions about the process. Make sure you have your payment ready. You can see our accepted payment methods in step 3 above.

Step 6.We’ll review your application

It takes us 5-10 business days to process applications. Keep in mind that it may take longer to process your application if we find that you need to make changes. We'll call or email you to let you know that your license and vehicle decals are ready. You can either pick them up from the office or we'll mail it to you. Your license is valid through the season. 

Make sure to keep a copy of your license in each licensed vehicle. Your decals should be prominently displayed on each vehicle. Your license is valid for one year from when it is issued. Make sure to note your expiration date before renewing your license.

Your license is valid for one year from when it is issued. Make sure to note your expiration date before renewing your license.