Food trucks in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has no statewide food truck permit. Each local board of health issues the food permit for a Mobile Food Establishment under the state retail food code (105 CMR 590), and a truck needs a separate permit from each city or town where it intends to operate. Operators who sell from place to place may also need a Hawker and Peddler license from the state Division of Standards or a municipal licensing agency, and trucks must meet Section 50.8 of the state fire code, 527 CMR 1.00, with each local fire department deciding whether to require its own permit.
Who issues food truck permits in Massachusetts
Licensed by county or city health departments
Under the state retail food code the local board of health may require a Servicing Area, an operating base where the truck returns regularly for cleaning, waste disposal, water and food. Boston requires a written commissary agreement, and Worcester requires every mobile unit to hold a commissary kitchen permit. Source ↗
DOR charges a 6.25% sales tax on meals, and its definition of a restaurant includes canteen trucks or wagons and street wagons or carts. Cities and towns that adopted the local option meals excise add 0.75%, for 7% in total. Meals tax is reported on a Meals, Food & Beverage (MFB) account in MassTaxConnect. Source ↗
The Department of Fire Services guide (updated June 2025) summarizes 527 CMR 1.00, Section 50.8: cooking that produces smoke or grease-laden vapor needs a Type I hood with a fire suppression system serviced semi-annually by a certified person, trucks must keep 10 feet from buildings, vehicles, other food trucks and combustibles, LP-gas systems must be inspected before each use, and containers installed on vehicles may not exceed 200 gallons. A propane cylinder on the ground over 42 lbs needs a separate permit. Each fire department may decide whether to require its own permit. Source ↗
Food truck cities in Massachusetts
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Questions and answers
Do I need a food permit in every Massachusetts town where my truck sells?
Yes. DPH guidance says each Mobile Food Establishment needs a separate permit from the local board of health for each mobile unit and from each municipality where it intends to operate. Plans, including the menu, layout and equipment, go to the local board of health for approval.
Does a Massachusetts food truck need a commissary?
It depends on the town. The local board of health may require a Servicing Area. Boston requires a written commissary agreement, and Worcester requires a commissary kitchen permit for every mobile unit.
Do I need a Hawker and Peddler license?
If you sell to people passing by from town to town or from place to place, generally yes. The Division of Standards issues the state Hawker and Peddler license to individuals. It costs $62 per year as listed on mass.gov on 2026-10-03, must be renewed annually, and needs a Certificate of Character signed by the police chief where you live. Food sellers also need a local board of health certificate and a DOR sales tax registration. Some cities, such as Cambridge and Worcester, issue their own local license too.
What fire rules apply to food trucks in Massachusetts?
Section 50.8 of the state fire code, 527 CMR 1.00. Key points include a Type I hood with fire suppression for grease-producing cooking, a 10-foot clearance from buildings, vehicles and other trucks, LP-gas checks before each use, and a separate permit for a ground propane cylinder over 42 lbs. Check with the local fire department for its permit.
Sources
Facts checked against official sources on October 3, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the agency before you apply.
- www.mass.gov/info-details/mobile-food-establishment-questions-and-answers
- www.mass.gov/how-to/hawker-and-peddler-application
- www.boston.gov/departments/small-business-development/food-trucks
- www.boston.gov/departments/small-business-development/how-get-food-truck-permit
- www.cambridgema.gov/inspection/foodandsanitarypermits/mobilefoodtruck
- www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/economicopportunityanddevelopment/smallbusinessassistance/smallbusinessprograms/foodbusinessincubatorprogram/foodtruckvendingincambridge