The City of Grinnell welcomes Mobile Food Units and Food Trucks to our community. Grinnell hopes to increase the number of food options for its residents and visitors by making it easier for Food Trucks and Mobile Food Units to operate and serve. Over the past decade, food trucks have only become more and more popular. First only being available near large construction sites or large sporting venues in large cities, Food Trucks can now find success anywhere they can find hungry mouths. A few major benefits of making it easier for Food Trucks to operate locally include giving aspiring entrepreneurs a solution to start their own small business and giving the communities they serve in additional affordable options to quality foods. 

Food Truck Permit Application

Some key requirements per Grinnell’s Mobile Food Units and Food Truck Regulations state that:

• All Food Trucks that operate in Iowa are required by the State to become a licensed “Food Truck Business” from the Food and Consumer Safety Bureau of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. The City of Grinnell will require a copy of that license from every Food Truck Business that intends to operate as part of the permit approval process for obtaining a Food Truck Permit, and the permit must also be displayed for the public to see while the Food Truck is in operation. 
• The City of Grinnell also requires a copy of a background check completed within one year of the date the application is submitted.
• Fees: The Fees for operating a Food Truck within the City of Grinnell are $25.00 per 30 days of operation, or $250.00 to operate for a year (365 calendar days)
• Food Trucks are only permitted to operate on private property unless part of an event outlined below. 

Below are the regulations which apply to operating a Mobile Food Unit within the City Limits and obtaining a Food Truck Permit: 

CHAPTER 126 MOBILE FOOD UNITS AND FOOD TRUCKS 

1. Definitions: 

• FOOD TRUCK: A motorized vehicle specially equipped to prepare and sell consumable food or drink items 
• FOOD TRUCK PERMIT: Written authorization by the City to operate a food truck as provided in this section 
• MOBILE FOOD UNIT: A mobile apparatus specially equipped to prepare and sell consumable food or drink items 
• OPERATE: To offer for sale food and beverage items; it does not mean either loading or unloading food or beverage items in bulk or other materials

The terms Food Truck and Mobile Food Unit shall be synonymous with each other, and either term may replace the other wherever used within these regulations. 

2. Allowed Operation: No person or entity may operate a food truck or mobile food unit without a food truck permit as provided herein unless exempted per section 4. Food Trucks are only permitted to operate on private property unless part of an event outlined in section 4. Failure to obtain a permit by any individual or entity to operate a Food Truck Business will result in that individual or entity being subject to the provisions listed in Chapter 3 of this Code. 

3. Permit: 

A. An application for a food truck permit shall be submitted to the Building and Planning Director for review and shall include the following: 

• Name of Food Truck Business 
• Owner’s name of Food Truck Business 
• Address and contact info of Owner of Food Truck Business 
• Location(s) where the Food Truck intends to operate 
• Timeframe the Food Truck Business intends to operate at the given location(s) 
• Copy of the license approving the operation for a Food Truck Business from the Food and Consumer Safety Bureau of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals or another governing Local Health Department agency for Poweshiek County. 
• Copy of a background check completed within 1 year of the date the application is submitted. 

B. Bond and Insurance: Any person applying for a Food Truck Permit shall be required to file a cash bond, surety bond, or provide proof of liability insurance in the sum of at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) conditioned upon the faithful performance of the conduct of the business for the benefit of any person defrauded or cheated or any damages as a result of the operation of the Food Truck Business. 

C. The Building and Planning Director or designee shall grant or deny the application for a permit in writing within thirty (30) calendar days after the application being filed. The Building and Planning Director or designee shall grant the application and issue a permit if the requirements set forth in these regulations have been met.

4. Permit Exemption: A Food Truck Permit shall not be required for the following: any Food Truck that is part of a special event hosted or sponsored by the City of Grinnell, Chamber of Commerce, or located on the campus of Grinnell College. 

5. Fees: Fees for food truck permits shall be set by resolution of the City Council. Businesses that have a permanent structure within the Corporate Limits of the City of Grinnell will still be required to obtain a permit to operate a Food Truck Business but will be exempt from paying any permit fees.

Application to apply for a permit to operate a Mobile Food Unit or Food Truck. Applications and all associated materials can be submitted to Tavis@grinnelliowa.gov