The Florida food truck night checklist.
A food truck night goes wrong in predictable ways: a truck that is not actually licensed, an insurance certificate that expired last month, a propane setup the fire marshal would shut down, or a generator with nowhere to plug in. This is the complete list of what to collect and confirm from every truck before it serves at your event, based on what Florida DBPR and local fire authorities actually require and what experienced organizers ask for.
For breweries, HOAs, churches, office parks, and venues hosting food trucks in Florida.
Compliance documents
These are the documents that protect you. Collect them before you confirm the truck, not the week of the event.
- DBPR or FDACS license. Food trucks preparing food to order carry a Florida DBPR Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle license (type 2014); trucks selling only prepackaged items may be licensed by FDACS instead. Ask for the license number and verify it is current. You can check any truck’s license status and full inspection history free at venumark.com/search.
- Certificate of insurance (COI). General liability coverage naming your organization. Check the expiration date against your event date, not today’s date. Common venue requirements run from $300,000 to $1,000,000 in general liability.
- Fire extinguisher or suppression documentation. A current fire extinguisher service tag at minimum; trucks with fryers or flat tops should carry a hood suppression system with a current inspection certificate. Local fire marshals check this at public events.
- Propane and generator declaration. How many propane cylinders, what size, how they are mounted, and whether the truck runs a generator. This determines spacing, orientation, and whether your site can host the truck at all.
- W-9 (optional). Only needed if you are paying the truck directly and issuing a 1099.
Menu and service
- Menu. The actual event menu, not the website menu. Confirm pricing and any items you want excluded or featured.
- Service window. Exact start and stop times for service. A truck that packs up an hour early at a four-hour event is the most common complaint organizers log.
- Setup arrival time. Most trucks need 45 to 90 minutes from arrival to first order. Set the arrival time from the service start, not the event start.
- Contact person and emergency contact. The person who will physically be on the truck that day, with a cell number, plus a backup. The booking email is rarely the person driving.
Site and utilities
- Power needs. Shore power (and what amperage) or onboard generator. If generator, confirm where it exhausts and how loud it runs relative to your seating.
- Water needs. Most trucks carry onboard fresh water for a single service. Confirm whether they need a potable water connection for longer events.
- Wastewater plan. Gray water cannot go in your storm drain or landscaping. Confirm the truck hauls its wastewater out; it is their responsibility, but it is your property.
- Trash and grease disposal agreement. Who provides cans, who hauls, and an explicit statement that fryer grease leaves with the truck. Grease dumped in a venue dumpster is a real and expensive pattern.
Money
- Payment and deposit terms (optional). Some venues charge a flat pitch fee, some take a revenue percentage, many charge nothing because the truck draws customers. Whatever the deal is, write it down before event day.
Frequently asked questions
What documents should I collect from a food truck in Florida?
At minimum: the DBPR (or FDACS) license number, a certificate of insurance valid through your event date, current fire extinguisher or suppression documentation, and a propane and generator declaration. Add a menu, service window, arrival time, utility needs, wastewater plan, and a day-of contact to cover operations.
Do food trucks in Florida need a license?
Yes. Food trucks that prepare food to order are licensed and inspected by Florida DBPR as Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicles (license type 2014). Trucks selling only prepackaged, non-hazardous items may fall under FDACS instead. Every DBPR inspection is a public record.
How do I check a Florida food truck inspection history?
Search the truck by name, license number, or city at venumark.com/search. Every report is free and consolidates the DBPR record into a 0 to 100 score, letter grade, violation breakdown, and current license status. The state source is the DBPR public records search at myfloridalicense.com.
What insurance should a food truck have for my event?
General liability coverage with your organization named on the certificate. Requirements vary by venue: small private events commonly require $300,000; cities and larger venues commonly require $1,000,000. Verify the expiration date falls after your event date.
What do I need to know about propane and generators?
Ask every truck to declare cylinder count, size, and mounting, plus generator use before you assign spacing. Local fire marshals inspect propane setups at public events, and a truck with an uninspected suppression system over a fryer is the most common day-of shutdown.
Related resources
Collect all of this with one link.
Post one event application link on VenuMark. Vendors apply with licenses, insurance, fire docs, and Florida DBPR inspection history attached, and you see a ready or not-ready status on every applicant. Free to start.