Food truck commissary requirements
Almost every health department that permits food trucks wants to know where your truck is cleaned, filled and stored. Here is how the rules differ, starting with the states that set them centrally.
States that set the rules
- California (statewide): Yes.
- Texas (statewide): Usually.
- Florida (statewide): Mobile food dispensing vehicles "must use a commercial (non-residential) location to fill up the water tank and empty the wastewater tank." Any FDACS-permitted or DBPR-licensed fixed food establishment can provide commissary services.
- Minnesota (statewide): Minnesota's mobile food unit guide says "All food storage and preparation must occur in the MFU, STF, SPF, or in a licensed food establishment." It does not set a separate commissary visit rule; local health departments may.
Counties and cities
- Los Angeles County (California): LA County's guidelines require the unit to be stored and serviced at the commissary; units serviced by a mobile support unit that won't return to the commissary must get an alternate storage location approved.
- Orange County (California): Operate out of and be stored at the approved commissary (CalCode daily servicing applies).
- Riverside County (California): Store and service the unit at the commissary whenever it is not operating.
- San Bernardino County (California): CalCode daily servicing applies; confirm specifics with the county.
- Sacramento County (California): CalCode daily servicing applies; confirm specifics with EMD.
- Alameda County (California): CalCode daily servicing applies; confirm specifics with the county.
- Sonoma County (California): Mobile food preparation units shall report to the commissary at least once each operating day for cleaning and servicing operations.
- Houston (Texas): Texas DSHS requires a servicing log showing when the vehicle took on water and disposed of waste.
- San Antonio (Texas): A MFU must visit the commissary / central preparation facility / service area once per calendar week for supplies and servicing of the unit.
- Marin County (California): CalCode daily servicing applies; confirm specifics with the county.
- San Luis Obispo County (California): CalCode daily servicing applies; confirm specifics with the county.
- San Diego County (California): CalCode daily servicing applies; the commissary letter lists the services used (prep, storage, warewashing, water, wastewater, trash, cart and vehicle storage).
- Tacoma-Pierce County (Washington): The health department's commissary requirements don't set a return frequency; confirm with your inspector.
- King County (Seattle) (Washington): The county page does not state a return frequency.
- Chicago (Illinois): The vehicle must report to the commissary at least once per day for servicing on the days the vehicle operates.
- Denver (Colorado): The affidavit asks for your intended weekly commissary schedule and how you record time there (sign-in sheet or electronic punch).
- New York City (New York): All mobile food vending units shall be cleaned and serviced at least daily at a mobile food commissary or other facility approved by the Department" (§89.19).
- Maricopa County (Phoenix) (Arizona): The commissary agreement (rev.
- Southern Nevada (Las Vegas) (Nevada): All mobile unit operators must report to their respective commissary or servicing depot daily when operating for cleaning, sanitizing and servicing.
- Nashville (Davidson County) (Tennessee): Begin and end each sale day at the commissary, servicing the unit there at the start and end of the day.
- Dallas (Texas): Dallas guidelines: "All mobile food preparation vehicles or trailers must report daily to a commissary" for cleaning, sanitizing, waste disposal, water, food storage and overnight parking.
Summaries only. Your health department's current documents are what counts.