Before vending in Fairfax County, food truck operators must first obtain the necessary permits and licenses. The following steps are required to ensure that the business has complied with all applicable regulations before operating in Fairfax County.
ALL food trucks must obtain a Food Establishment Permit from the Fairfax County Health Department. Applications are accepted by mail or in person at 10777 Main Street, Suite 111, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. Applications and additional information are available online.
The Food Safety Section requires the following to apply for a Food Establishment Permit for a food truck:
Note: The Health Department also issues the Virginia Department of Transportation Land Use Permit for Mobile Food Vending (LUP-MFV). For more information, refer to Step 2 below.
Food trucks are permitted to sell food in three different types of locations within Fairfax County. Permitting requirements and responsible agencies will differ based on the type of location in which you plan to operate.
The Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has issued a Land Use Permit for Mobile Food Vending (LUP-MFV) to Fairfax County that allows mobile food vending in designated right-of-way locations. The Fairfax County Health Department has established a process for the owner/operator of a mobile food unit to operate in these locations. You may view a list of approved designated right-of-way locations and apply for a permit by filling out a Mobile Food Vending Zone Agreement.
Food trucks may park on and vend from private property (office parks, shopping centers, etc.) only when both the property owner and the food truck have obtained permits from the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development, Zoning Administration Division. The Zoning Administration Division is located at 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 807, Fairfax, Virginia 22035, 703-324-1314.
All applications for food truck permits on private property must be submitted electronically through the PLUS application portal.
For additional information on how to use the PLUS application portal, please visit the DPD PLUS Information & Support page. Instructional videos are available on the Fairfax County PLUS - YouTube channel.
If you have technical questions (e.g. account setup, password issues) regarding the PLUS system, please contact the Help Desk:
Food trucks may vend in select Fairfax County parks provided that the vendor obtains a Mobile Food Vendor Permit from the Fairfax County Park Authority. The Park Authority allows selected food trucks to work in designated Fairfax County parks provided the truck has been issued a Mobile Food Vendor Permit. To apply, contact the Park Authority, Park Services Division - Mobile Food Vending located at 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 927, Fairfax, Virginia 22035. Park vending locations, the application form and additional details on the permitting process can be found online. Permits are awarded on a competitive basis. Applicants are not guaranteed that they will be awarded a permit.
The Park Authority requires the following to apply for a Mobile Food Vendor Permit:
A solicitor's license is required for each food truck employee who interacts with the customers. Food truck employees can obtain a Solicitors License from the Department of Cable and Consumer Services, Regulation and Licensing Branch located at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 127, Fairfax, Virginia 22035.
The Regulation and Licensing Branch requires the following from food truck employees to apply for a solicitor's license:
Food trucks are prohibited from being stored in any residential district or residential area of a planned district when not in use and will constitute a violation of the Zoning Ordinance if they are found to be parked on residential lots. As part of the application process, you must agree to abide by the standards found in subsection 4102.8.E of the Zoning Ordinance, as described below:
(1) Food trucks may be permitted on property owned and controlled by the County, Park Authority, or Fairfax County Public Schools or in conjunction with the approval of an administrative permit for a special event and are not subject to the standards in subsections (2) through (6) below. The use must comply with all applicable regulations, including the Health Department and the Department of Cable and Consumer Services requirements.
Standards when permitted by administrative permit:
(2) Food trucks may be operated from an approved location, subject to the following procedures:
(a) The owner of property on which a food truck may be located must file a food truck location permit application with the Zoning Administrator;
(b) Each year, the owner or operator of any food truck doing business in the County must file a food truck operation permit application with the Zoning Administrator. The permit application must be accompanied by the written consent of the private property owner or authorized agent authorizing the food truck to be located on their approved food truck location and by a copy of the property owner’s food truck location permit. If a food truck operates on more than one site, only one food truck operation application is required to be obtained from the Zoning Administrator for such food truck, provided that the property owner has obtained a food truck location permit for that site, the food truck operator has written consent from the property owner or authorized agent to operate on that site, and the food truck is operating in conformance with that approval. The operation of any food truck is subject to all Health Department and Department of Cable and Consumer Services permits/licenses; and
(c) Upon the finding that the application complies with the standards set forth in subsection (4) below, the Zoning Administrator will approve the permit application.
(3) Food trucks are permitted as an accessory use in the following locations:
(a) In the commercial areas of a planned district;
(b) In any industrial or commercial district;
(c) On any construction site with an active building permit and ongoing construction activity;
(d) In conjunction with any approved nonresidential use in a residential district or a residential area of a planned district, limited to 45 days per calendar year per approved location. This time limitation may be exceeded with special exception approval in accordance with subsection 8100.3, special permit approval in accordance with subsection 8100.4, or as specifically permitted with an approved final development plan or proffers; and
(e) In conjunction with an agritourism use or a farm winery, limited brewery, or limited distillery.
(4) All food trucks must be located and operated in compliance with the following standards:
(a) Food trucks must be located on private property with the written consent of the property owner or authorized agent holding an approved food truck location permit;
(b) The number of food trucks at any one location at the same time is limited as follows:
1. No more than three food trucks are permitted on a lot containing:
a. A principal use consisting of a minimum of 25,000 square feet of gross floor area;
b. A construction site with an active building permit and ongoing construction activity;
c. An approved nonresidential use in a residential district or residential area of a planned district; or
d. An agritourism use or a farm winery, limited brewery, or limited distillery.
2. No more than one food truck is permitted on all other lots containing a principal use consisting of less than 25,000 square feet of gross floor area; and
3. Additional food trucks may be permitted in conjunction with other approved temporary uses and any proffered condition, development condition, special exception, or special permit.
(c) Food trucks may only operate for a maximum of four hours in any one day at any one location, including set-up and break-down, except as specified in subsection (h) below;
(d) Food trucks may not be located in any fire lane, travel lane, entrance/exit, or any required parking space;
(e) Food trucks must be located on a level, paved, or gravel surface with safe pedestrian access;
(f) The vicinity around the food truck must be kept clean and free of debris;
(g) Trash receptacles must be provided; and
(h) In addition to the standards above, food trucks in conjunction with an agritourism activity or a farm winery, limited brewery, or limited distillery must be located and operated in compliance with the following standards:
1. Food trucks located on less than 20 acres may operate for a maximum of four hours in any one day at any one location, including set-up and break-down;
2. Food trucks located on 20 acres or more may operate for a maximum of eight hours in any one day at any one location, including set-up and break-down; and
3. Food trucks must be located 100 feet from all property lines.
(5) Any food truck location permit or food truck operation permit is revocable by the Zoning Administrator because of the failure of the property owner or the food truck operator to comply with any of the provisions of this subsection 4102.8.E.
(6) The sale of goods or services from any vehicle other than a food truck are subject to all the regulations for the zoning district in which the sale is conducted, but this regulation does not prohibit any vending from vehicles on public streets that is not otherwise prohibited by law.
(7) Each food truck must be in substantial conformance with any proffered condition, development plan, special exception, or special permit for the site on which it operates. If any proffered condition, development plan, special exception or special permit approval specifically precludes food trucks or otherwise regulates food trucks, including the location, hours of operation, or number of food trucks, the zoning approval will govern that aspect of the food truck location or operation in lieu of the standards in this Section 4102.8.E. Unless otherwise specified in any zoning approval, all provisions of this Section 4102.8.E apply.
Standards when permitted by special exception or special permit:
(8) The Board or BZA, as applicable, in conjunction with the approval for a nonresidential use in a residential district or a residential area of a planned district, may allow food trucks in excess of 45 days per calendar year.