Florida
Miami-Dade food truck permits: the Florida DBPR mobile food dispensing vehicle license
In Florida, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Division of Hotels and Restaurants licenses Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicles. Miami-Dade (District 1) licenses renew on October 1. State law limits what local governments can charge for food-truck licenses; you should still check location, property, and Certificate of Use rules with Miami-Dade County and the city where you park.
Last checked 2026-11-09 (America/New_York).
Official fees and sources
We only use verifiable sources. Every fee below links to its official page or PDF. Where an amount is not published, we point you to the office that issues it.
| Item | Amount | Term and source |
|---|---|---|
| DBPR application fee (new or change of ownership) Paid in addition to the license fee when applying for a new license or a change of ownership. |
$50 | Application myfloridalicense.com Food Service Fees |
| Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle, hot dog cart, or temporary commercial kitchen — full-year license Full-year fee applies if you apply during the renewal period (about two months before expiration) or more than six months before the next renewal. District 1 (Miami-Dade / Monroe) annual renewal date is October 1. The published fee includes the $10 Hospitality Education Program fee. |
$347 | Staggered annual license; Miami-Dade renews October 1 myfloridalicense.com Food Service Fees |
| Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle — half-year license If you apply six months or less before the next renewal period, you may pay the half-year fee. The $10 HEP fee is not prorated (it is already built into the published amounts). |
$178.50 | Half-year myfloridalicense.com Food Service Fees |
The path, in order
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1. Apply for the DBPR Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle license
Use the Division of Hotels and Restaurants application for a mobile public food service establishment. Pay the $50 application fee plus the $347 full-year (or $178.50 half-year) license fee according to when you apply relative to the October 1 District 1 renewal date. DBPR lists plan review at $0. Read the official MFDV guide and application packet before you submit.
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2. Understand what the state license does — and does not — cover
Florida Statute 509.102 addresses mobile food dispensing vehicles and limits certain local license, registration, permit, and fee requirements. It does not mean you can ignore all local rules about where and when you may operate. Check current location, parking, property-owner permission, and any Certificate of Use or zoning requirements with Miami-Dade County and the municipality (City of Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, and others each have their own rules). Contact those offices for current CU or site fees.
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3. Arrange a commissary or servicing arrangement if your operation needs one
Check water, wastewater, and food-prep support requirements in the DBPR MFDV guide and with the division. We list only kitchens with a verifiable public address and website; use the suggest-a-kitchen form if you have a Miami-Dade commissary to add.
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4. Check fire and propane rules with the local fire authority
Propane, hood, and suppression requirements are enforced locally. Check with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue or the municipal fire department where the vehicle is stored and operated. Contact the local fire authority for current fees.
Fire, propane, and commissary notes
DBPR Customer Contact Center: 850.487.1395; [email protected]; 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011.
The official fee page notes that the expiration date does not change regardless of when you apply, and that licenses in different districts expire on different dates.
- Miami-Dade Certificate of Use or zoning fees for mobile operations — contact Miami-Dade for current amounts.
- City of Miami or other municipal location, parking, or vending-site fees — contact the municipality for current amounts.
- Local fire / propane inspection fees — contact the fire authority for current amounts.
Nearby commissaries and shared kitchens
We do not yet list a kitchen in Miami with a verifiable public name, address, and website. Use the suggest a kitchen form if you know a good one, and check the official sources below.
Official sources
- DBPR Hotels and Restaurants — Food Service Fees
- DBPR Guide to Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicles
- Florida Statute 509.102
FoodTruck Ready is not affiliated with Miami-Dade County or the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). It is a practical summary by Thirty and Beyond, LLC. Check the linked official sources before you spend money or start construction.