Mobile food vendors
Food trucks and mobile food outlets add to the colour and vibrancy of Adelaide and North Adelaide. They enrich city streets, parks and laneways while providing a way for businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals to bring to life creative ventures.
Read on to discover all you need to know about operating food trucks and mobile food outlets within the City of Adelaide area, and our frequently asked questions.
Conditions
Before you head out to the streets of Adelaide with your van in tow, have a read through the City of Adelaide’s Mobile Food Vendor Operating Guidelines and terms and conditions to see what you can do.
Cost
Fees are based on space occupied per day.
Use our fee calculator to estimate your fees before applying.
Please note, your permit can also cover you to park one towing vehicle nearby for a cost of $52.50 per application.
Mobile Food Vending
Fee calculatorReady to apply?
Applications can be lodged online. Before you start, please have the following handy as you will need to submit:
- a photo of your mobile food vending vehicle and set-up (or designs showing how it will look)
- Public Liability Certificate of Currency for the amount of $20 million noting City of Adelaide as an interested party
- a copy of your Food Business Notification with the local Council where your vehicle is housed, or where the majority of the food preparation and food handling is occurring
- written proof of notification of your trade waste disposal agreement with your local Council or SA Water.
Your questions answered
Mobile food vending permits are issued on a per vehicle basis. You will need to list the registration of your MFV vehicle/set up on your permit application. This ensures that a mobile food business with multiple vehicles cannot apply for one permit to cover the entire fleet while paying the same price for a permit as a single operator. A separate permit will be required for each MFV Vehicle.
Up to six Mobile Food Vendors may trade in the city squares at any one time utilising the hard surfaces or turf within the square at Council’s discretion (excluding Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga and Hindmarsh Square/Mukata where trading on the turf is not permitted at any time).
The Mobile Food Vending permit is only applicable for on-street trading. If you wish to trade as part of an event, please contact the event organisers directly.
Mobile food vending is permitted in those streets and footpaths where there is adequate footpath space to accommodate it, while not compromising pedestrian access, safety or other street activities. There are specific guidelines outlining where MFVs can trade.
Mobile Food Vendors are required to maintain a 25-metre distance from all fixed food businesses (a food business located in bricks and mortar venue). Mobile Food Vendors may trade within 25 metres of a fixed food business if they have written permission from the business owner. This distance is only applicable when the fixed food business is in operation.
No. It’s not possible for Council to reserve locations for Mobile Food Vendors or coordinate locations for MFVs.
Parking for towing vehicles may be permitted for a fee upon application, in a legitimate parking space that allows parking for 1 hour or more. The permit for towing vehicles must be clearly displayed and is valid only whilst the vendor is operating (including set up and pack down).
Please note: the towing vehicle is never to be parked next to the trading van/truck.
Mobile Food Vendor Permit holders are required to comply with all health and food safety aspects of their entire operation as contained in the Food Act 2001, Food Safety Standards 3.2.2 and Food Safety Standards 3.2.3
As part of the application process, MFVs must include Proof of Notification of a food business from the local Council where the majority of food preparation and food handling occurs.
The City of Adelaide's Environmental Health Services Team conduct regular and random inspections and you must allow them access when requested.
A Mobile Food Vending Permit may be cancelled or amended if the permit holder fails to comply with the permit conditions outlined in the guidelines.
Need more information?
If you have any questions regarding Mobile Food Vendor Permits, please contact us: