You have probably walked by or even bought lunch at one, but have you ever thought about operating your own food cart or truck in Seattle? If so, here’s what you need to know:
- Are you a registered business in the State of Washington?
- Do you have a City of Seattle business license?
- Do you have a Mobile Food Unit Permit or an exemption from Public Health – Seattle & King County?
- Are you planning on using liquid petroleum gas or an open flame to prepare the food (could require a permit from Seattle Fire Marshall if you are using an open flame)?
- Where would you like to vend? On the street/sidewalk/public plaza, private property or city park?
Dependent on where you want to vend, you will need to obtain the proper permit(s):
- Street/Sidewalk/Public Plaza – Seattle Department of Transportation
- Private Property – Seattle Department of Planning and Development
- City Park – Seattle Parks Department
The City of Seattle encourages street-food vending to increase public use, enjoyment, and safety of our public right-of-way. With proper design and management, street-food vending can be a great way to encourage walking, add vitality to the street, and promote local economic development.
For more information, please visit the City of Seattle’s Street-Food Vending website.