Food truck licenses
in Chicago, Illinois
Start with the main licenses and permits below. For a checklist based on your own business, tell us what you’re opening and how it will operate.
Researched Sep 2026
About this example
The business is a food truck operating in Chicago, Illinois, serving customers in person and online, and employing W-2 employees. It prepares and serves food, does not sell alcohol, and uses commercial vehicles for operations.
Requirement labels below refer to this setup. Conditional items depend on additional details.
Authorities researched
- Federal
- Federal Government
- County
- Cook County
- City
- City of Chicago
Details to confirm before you apply
- What is the chosen entity type (LLC, corporation, sole proprietorship)?
- Will the food truck operate in interstate commerce?
- What specific Chicago BACP license class will be applied for (Mobile Food Preparer vs. Mobile Food Dispenser)?
- Will the food truck use a commissary kitchen?
- What is the current Chicago minimum wage rate?
- Are there any additional local taxes or fees that apply?
- Confirm with the responsible agencies whether additional requirements apply in these areas: State unemployment insurance employer account; New-hire reporting; State wage withholding account; State sales tax registration; Food-handler training rules; City business license or tax registration. These areas remain unresolved in this guide.
The main licenses and permits
6 of 12- 01City of Chicago Mobile Food License (Mobile Food Preparer or Mobile Food Dispenser)Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), with Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) consultation and inspection · Chicago
A City of Chicago Mobile Food License is required to prepare and sell food from any vehicle; food sold from a food truck that is prepared in the truck requires the Mobile Food Preparer ($1,000) license, while sale of pre-prepared, totally enclosed portions requires the Mobile Food Dispenser ($700) license.
Required2 years; renewal requires a CDPH consultation and reinspection by CDPH and CFD - 02Shared Kitchen User License (Long-Term)BACP · Chicago
All Chicago Mobile Food licensees must hold a Shared Kitchen User license to service and clean the truck at a licensed commissary kitchen, and all food must be prepared/stored in a licensed brick-and-mortar food establishment, never at home.
Required2 years; renewal requires a new signed letter of intent from the shared kitchen (within 30 days), full menu, and floor plan - 03CDPH Food Service Sanitation Manager CertificateChicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), Food Protection Program · Chicago
A Person In Charge holding a CDPH food service sanitation certificate must be present whenever time/temperature-control-for-safety food is being prepared, held, or served, and the Mobile Food Preparer license application requires this certificate or proof of reciprocity.
RequiredNot published (certificate is renewed through CDPH-approved training; see provider/CDPH guidance) - 04Illinois Commercial Vehicle Registration (Secretary of State)Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services (Commercial and Farm Truck Division) · Illinois
Chicago law requires every mobile food vehicle to be registered as a commercial vehicle (B-Truck or higher weight class plate), and the vehicle may be used only as a mobile food vehicle.
RequiredAnnual registration renewal - 05LLC Annual ReportIllinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services · Illinois
A domestic LLC must file an annual report each year to remain in good standing with the state.
RequiredAnnually, due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month - 06Employer Identification Number (EIN)Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Federal
The business will hire W-2 employees, and the IRS requires an EIN to hire employees and to pay sales and excise taxes.
RequiredNone; the EIN is permanent
This example includes 6 other potential requirements. A report based on your business explains which apply, how to file, published fees and timing, and what to complete first.
Make the checklist yours
Your location, activities, and business structure can change the list. Get a free preview for your business, then decide whether to unlock the full report for $49.
Questions people ask
What city business licenses or registrations should a food truck in Chicago check?
This guide does not establish whether Chicago requires a stand-alone general business license or registration. Confirm that question with the city, in addition to reviewing the industry permits and registrations below.
How much do licenses and permits cost for a food truck in Chicago?
Most fees vary by item; see report. Several items have fees that depend on your entity type, square footage, or payroll, so the full report lists each fee as the agency publishes it.
What should I do first?
Review Employer Identification Number (EIN) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then Federal employment tax obligations (income tax withholding, FICA, FUTA) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then Business entity formation (LLC Articles of Organization, or corporation articles) (if applicable) (Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services). Confirm each item's applicability and prerequisites before applying; the report provides a suggested order for the full checklist.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a research summary of public requirements published by government agencies, each linked to its official page. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.
Related guides
Researched from official government sources on September 2, 2026 for a typical food truck. Requirements change and depend on your facts; this page is not legal advice. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.