Commercial Compliance Hub
Check requirements

18 permits · verified 2026-10-27

What permits do you need to open a food truck in Arlington County?

In short

A food truck in Arlington County, VA has 8 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 10 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Arlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax Division charges $500 a year, per the Police Department's Guidelines for Vendors (updated 07/08/2026) and County Code §11-38 for the peddler and itinerant merchant license tax (vendor's tag). 11 of the 18 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-27 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a food truck in Arlington County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Peddler and Itinerant Merchant License Tax (Vendor's Tag)Arlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax Division$500 a year, per the Police Department's Guidelines for Vendors (updated 07/08/2026) and County Code §11-38Annual2026-10-27
Food Establishment Plan Review and Pre-Operational Re-Inspectiononly if it applies to youArlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program$40 plan and specification review fee on each submission; $100 re-inspection fee if the facility does not pass the pre-scheduled pre-operational inspection.One-time, per construction, remodeling or conversion project2026-10-27
Mobile Food Unit LicenseArlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program$40 license or annual renewal fee; a unit that is new, remodeling or changing owner also pays the $40 plan review fee ($80 total). An additional $50 late fee applies to renewals received after June 30.July 1 to June 30; renewal fee due in June, late fee after June 302026-10-27
Temporary Food Establishment Licenseonly if it applies to youArlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program$40 per application, for an operator not otherwise licensed as a food establishment or mobile food unit, under County Code §9.2-10.B as amended by Ord. No. 26-08Per application; apply at least 10 business days before the event2026-10-27
Vendor Permit (Police)Arlington County Police Department, Courts, Licensing & Compliance Office$20 per vendor permit (one for each employee who conducts sales), plus a $10 Sheriff's Office fingerprinting fee for new applicants, paid in cash.Annual; all permits expire February 28 each year2026-10-27
Fire Operational Permits (Kitchen Hood, Mobile Food Unit, Repair Garage, Child Day Care, Place of Assembly)only if it applies to youArlington County Fire Department, Office of the Fire MarshalCommercial kitchen operation requiring a Type I hood $175 (not required for an occupancy with a valid place of assembly permit, or for a mobile food unit with a valid MFU permit). Mobile Food Unit $175. Automotive repair garage $175 (repair garage and service station combined $175). Child daycare facility: approved capacity up to 50 $150; 51–500 $200; over 500 $300. Place of assembly: capacity 50–500 $200; over 500 $300.Annual (the Fire Marshal's hood page calls the hood permit "an annual permit")2026-10-27
Food Establishment PermitVirginia Department of Health, Division of Food and Environmental Services$40 a year; a new establishment also pays $40 for plan reviewannual — no more than twelve months from issue2026-09-03
Certified Food Protection Manageronly if it applies to youVirginia Department of Health, Division of Food and Environmental ServicesNo feeno state-set period — the certifying programme sets its own2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Arlington County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Certificate of Occupancy (Zoning) — Partial Occupancy or Change of Business or Use, Office and CommercialArlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning DivisionsVaries — formula on the Arlington County pageOne-time, per occupancy or change of business or use; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 20272026-10-27
Business License (BPOL) Registration and Gross-Receipts TiersArlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax DivisionVaries — formula on the Arlington County pageAnnual; register within 75 days of starting operations, then file a renewal return by March 1 each year2026-10-27
Certificate of Occupancy (Building)Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division$232 per certificate, for buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings, plus the 2% levy and 10% automation enhancement surcharge, under the FY 2027 ISD fee scheduleOne-time, per occupancy; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 20272026-10-27
Building Permit (Commercial and Other Non-Residential Buildings)only if it applies to youArlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services DivisionVaries — formula on the Arlington County pagePer permit; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 20272026-10-27
Sign Permitonly if it applies to youArlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning DivisionsVaries — formula on the Arlington County pagePer permit; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 20272026-10-27

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

VA registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youVirginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk$100 one-time filingno expiry, but a $50 annual registration fee is due every year2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youVirginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the ClerkVaries — formula on the VA pageno expiry, but an annual registration fee and a free annual report are due2026-09-03
Annual Registration Feeonly if it applies to youVirginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the ClerkVaries — formula on the VA pageannual — the last day of the twelfth month after the month of formation2026-09-03
Dealer's Certificate of RegistrationVirginia Department of TaxationNo feeindefinite — valid until the business closes or the certificate is revoked2026-09-03
General Business License — Local BPOL License (Virginia)only if it applies to youVirginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the ClerkVaries — formula on the VA pageannual — usually due 1 March2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

How much does it actually cost to permit a food truck in Arlington County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 18 records listed for a food truck in Arlington County, VA, 8 apply to every business of this type and 10 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

Of the 8 that always apply, 3 carry a flat fee, coming to $772.00. That is a floor, not a total. 11 of the 18 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Food Establishment Plan Review and Pre-Operational Re-Inspection: $40 plan and specification review fee on each submission; $100 re-inspection fee if the facility does not pass the pre-scheduled pre-operational inspection.

Mobile Food Unit License: $40 license or annual renewal fee; a unit that is new, remodeling or changing owner also pays the $40 plan review fee ($80 total). An additional $50 late fee applies to renewals received after June 30.

Vendor Permit (Police): $20 per vendor permit (one for each employee who conducts sales), plus a $10 Sheriff's Office fingerprinting fee for new applicants, paid in cash.

Fire Operational Permits (Kitchen Hood, Mobile Food Unit, Repair Garage, Child Day Care, Place of Assembly): Commercial kitchen operation requiring a Type I hood $175 (not required for an occupancy with a valid place of assembly permit, or for a mobile food unit with a valid MFU permit). Mobile Food Unit $175. Automotive repair garage $175 (repair garage and service station combined $175). Child daycare facility: approved capacity up to 50 $150; 51–500 $200; over 500 $300. Place of assembly: capacity 50–500 $200; over 500 $300.

The other 7 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Arlington County permits page and the VA state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Arlington County?

Permits for a food truck in Arlington County, VA come from 9 separate offices: Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning Divisions, Arlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax Division, Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program, Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division, Arlington County Police Department, Courts, Licensing & Compliance Office, Arlington County Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal, Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk, Virginia Department of Health, Division of Food and Environmental Services, Virginia Department of Taxation. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a food truck need in Arlington County that other businesses do not?

3 of the 8 permits particular to a food truck here apply to no other business type we cover in Arlington County: Peddler and Itinerant Merchant License Tax (Vendor's Tag), Mobile Food Unit License and Vendor Permit (Police).

Peddler and Itinerant Merchant License Tax (Vendor's Tag)

County Code §11-38 requires all peddlers and itinerant merchants doing business in the county to pay a business license tax of $500 annually before commencing business, and defines a peddler to include a person who carries goods from place to place and sells and delivers them at the same time. The county's current Guidelines for Vendors, a Police Department document updated 07/08/2026, states as step 1 that vendors must register with the Commissioner of Revenue at 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 200, and that "The vendor's tag, which is issued by the Commissioner of Revenue costs $500 and is issued in the name of the business owner." The same guideline says proof of Virginia retail sales tax registration must be shown to the Commissioner of Revenue. Under §11-38, the plate issued as the license must be conspicuously displayed at all times. The Police vendor permit is a separate requirement, recorded on its own.

Mobile Food Unit License

A food truck based in or operating in Arlington County needs a Mobile Food Unit license from the Environmental Health Program. County Code §9.2-10.B, as amended by Ord. No. 26-08 (effective July 1, 2026), sets a $40 application or annual renewal fee for each Mobile Food Unit, due in June or on initial application, with an additional $50 for renewals received after June 30. The program's Mobile Unit Licenses page states that licenses "are valid from July 1 to June 30 of the next year" and lists "$40 for renewals" and "$80 for mobiles that are new, remodeling, or changing owner (includes $40 license fee and $40 plan review fee)". The same page notes a separate $175 fire inspection fee, which is the Fire Marshal's Mobile Food Unit operational permit recorded under the fire permits record. The Police vendor permit and the Commissioner of Revenue's vendor's tag are separate requirements.

Vendor Permit (Police)

The Police Department's Vendor Permits page states: "The cost is $20 for the permit and $10 for fingerprinting (new applicants only)" and "All permits expire on February 28 of each year." County Code §30-3.B sets the $20 permit fee. The county's Guidelines for Vendors (updated 07/08/2026) explains the sequence: register with the Commissioner of Revenue for the vendor's tag, apply in person at the Courts, Licensing & Compliance Office (1425 N. Courthouse Rd., 2nd Floor; 703-228-4292) with an application, government identification and, for food sellers, a food manager's certificate and food vendor's health license, then be fingerprinted by the Sheriff's Office, where "There is a $10 fee for this service which must be paid in cash." The guideline states that a vendor's permit is necessary for each employee of the vendor who conducts sales. The county's FY 2027 Adopted Tax & Fee Compendium lists vendor licenses at $20.

Shared with other businesses in Arlington County

  • Food Establishment Plan Review and Pre-Operational Re-Inspection — Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program, $40 plan and specification review fee on each submission; $100 re-inspection fee if the facility does not pass the pre-scheduled pre-operational inspection., One-time, per construction, remodeling or conversion project. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
  • Temporary Food Establishment License — Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program, $40 per application, for an operator not otherwise licensed as a food establishment or mobile food unit, under County Code §9.2-10.B as amended by Ord. No. 26-08, Per application; apply at least 10 business days before the event. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Fire Operational Permits (Kitchen Hood, Mobile Food Unit, Repair Garage, Child Day Care, Place of Assembly) — Arlington County Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal, Commercial kitchen operation requiring a Type I hood $175 (not required for an occupancy with a valid place of assembly permit, or for a mobile food unit with a valid MFU permit). Mobile Food Unit $175. Automotive repair garage $175 (repair garage and service station combined $175). Child daycare facility: approved capacity up to 50 $150; 51–500 $200; over 500 $300. Place of assembly: capacity 50–500 $200; over 500 $300., Annual (the Fire Marshal's hood page calls the hood permit "an annual permit"). Also required for restaurants, coffee shops, auto repair shops and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Food Establishment Permit — Virginia Department of Health, Division of Food and Environmental Services, $40 a year; a new establishment also pays $40 for plan review, annual — no more than twelve months from issue. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Certified Food Protection Manager — Virginia Department of Health, Division of Food and Environmental Services, No fee, no state-set period — the certifying programme sets its own. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.

The other 5 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Arlington County, VA; what each one involves is set out on the Arlington County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across VA and are covered on the VA state page.

How does a food truck compare with other businesses in Arlington County?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 5 of these permits. A food truck also needs Peddler and Itinerant Merchant License Tax (Vendor's Tag), Mobile Food Unit License and Vendor Permit (Police). A coffee shop needs Beer and Wine Retail On-Premises Local License Tax, Food Establishment License and County Board Use Permit, which a food truck does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Arlington County, VA, compared with a food truck
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a food truckOnly a food truck needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops8533
Restaurants9534
Auto repair shops3172
Retail stores3172
Childcare centres6175
Contractors and trades3083
Fitness studios2082
Salons and barbers2082
Veterinary clinics1081

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the retail stores page and restaurants page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Arlington County permits page and the VA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Guidelines for Vendors In Arlington County (UPDATED: 07/08/2026)Arlington County Police Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  2. Arlington County Code, Chapter 11 — LicensesArlington County Board · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  3. Arlington County Code, Chapter 9.2 — Food and Food Handling (Code Updated April 2026)Arlington County Board · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  4. Mobile Unit LicensesArlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  5. Vendor PermitsArlington County Police Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  6. Arlington County Code, Chapter 30 — Peddlers, Vendors and CanvassersArlington County Police Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  7. Tax & Fee Compendium – FY 2027 AdoptedArlington County Department of Management and Finance · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.