Guides
Food truck commissary requirements by city: what gets inspected
Food truck commissary requirements differ by county. Los Angeles County, Maricopa County and San Francisco each ask for agreements, letters and inspection records.
What to take away
- County environmental health departments enforce most food truck commissary requirements in the United States.
- A written food truck commissary agreement and a food truck commissary letter are usually required before a mobile unit receives a permit.
- Los Angeles County and Maricopa County inspect the truck, the commissary and the records that connect them.
- Using an unapproved home base or skipping commissary service can suspend a permit or stop food sales.
Who has jurisdiction
County-level environmental health departments carry the enforcement burden for mobile food facilities in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sets model food code language, but local departments apply it to carts and trucks. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division regulates trucks in its unincorporated areas and many cities. Maricopa County Environmental Services Department does the same across metro Phoenix. San Francisco's Department of Public Health posts its food truck commissary requirements online. That page requires a truck to use an approved commissary for water, waste and food storage. The same page lists the exact services a commissary must provide, from potable water to greywater disposal. A truck cannot use a residential address for those services. For a Canadian comparison, see how health units check similar mobile units in Ontario, BC and Alberta.
What a home operation may and may not do
Los Angeles County does not accept a residential kitchen as a commissary for a food truck.
A home base may store sealed dry goods and paper supplies if the local department approves the address. It may not be used for washing utensils, filling potable water, dumping greywater or preparing food. All open food, cleaning and waste handling must happen at the commissary. Maricopa County applies a similar rule: the home base supports the truck, but the commissary handles food preparation and sanitation. The home base requirements sheet lists both addresses separately.
Labelling requirements
A compliant mobile food facility decal carries the permit number, the commissary name and the expiration date. Los Angeles County requires the current public health permit decal on the truck. Maricopa County requires a current permit sticker or placard with the mobile unit number and the assigned commissary. Some counties also require the commissary name and address printed on the service window or side panel. This label tells an inspector which commissary to verify before the truck opens.
Documents before you sign
Before signing a commissary contract, request the documents a health department will ask for. Use this checklist:
- Signed food truck commissary agreement with the exact service address
- Food truck commissary letter on letterhead stating hours and listed services
- Current health permit for the commissary facility
- Waste disposal contract or receipt for greywater and trash
- Water fill and cleaning schedule tied to the truck's permit number
A commissary letter is not an agreement. It confirms that the commissary will allow a specific truck to use its services on set days. Maricopa County wants those services listed separately. A separate Stocking a food truck business list can keep dry goods from turning into a home base violation.
What gets inspected
The inspection covers three connected points: the truck, the commissary and the records between them.
- The truck's refrigerator and freezer temperatures, hand sink, water tank and waste tank.
- The commissary's dishwashing area, food storage space and restroom access.
- The commissary log showing dates the truck used the facility for prep, cleaning, water and waste.
- The employee health and food handler records kept at the commissary or in the truck.
Local examples: Los Angeles County and Maricopa County
Different counties enforce different frequencies. Use this table as a field comparison, not legal advice.
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Typical commissary proof |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division | Signed commissary agreement, commissary letter, current permit decal |
| Maricopa County | Maricopa County Environmental Services Department | Written service agreement, waste disposal proof, assigned home base address |
| San Francisco | San Francisco Department of Public Health | Commissary verification with address, hours and services |
San Francisco's food truck permit page states that incomplete commissary verification is grounds to deny the permit application or suspend an existing permit.
Records to keep
Keep a commissary service log with date, time, service performed and the name of the commissary employee who signed. Save waste disposal receipts for at least the period your county requires, often 90 days or one year. Keep the signed food truck commissary agreement and the commissary letter in the truck or at the home base. Inspectors can ask for these records during a routine stop or after a complaint. Use Food truck training so staff know which log entries matter.
What happens if you skip it
If you skip a required commissary agreement or use an unapproved home base, the health department can suspend your mobile food facility permit. An inspector can issue a stop-sale order that halts all food sales until the commissary documents are corrected and the truck passes a reinspection. City by-laws can add parking and operating rules; see Street vending by-laws compared. A suspended permit prevents you from vending, even if the truck is parked legally.
Common questions
Do I need a commissary if my truck has a full kitchen? Yes. Most counties still require a commissary for water, waste, extra storage and cleaning. A truck kitchen does not replace the approved support facility.
Can a friend's restaurant serve as my commissary? Yes, if that restaurant has a current health permit and agrees in writing. The health department will inspect the restaurant's capacity before approving the arrangement.
What if I change commissaries mid-year? You must submit a new commissary agreement and letter before operating from the new address. Operating before the county updates the permit can lead to a stop-sale order.
Does a home base need a separate permit? A home base may need to be listed on the mobile permit, but it is not a commissary. It cannot be used for food prep, dishwashing or waste disposal unless the county approves it as a support facility.
