Food Truck Commissary Requirements
Check commissary, central preparation facility, water, wastewater, grease, trash, storage, and servicing records before inspection.
Quick answer
Many food truck programs expect an approved commissary or central preparation facility for food prep, storage, cleaning, water, wastewater, grease, trash, and overnight parking. Keep signed agreements and servicing logs ready.
The commissary proves support for the truck
A food truck is mobile, but the support system is not. Agencies often want to know where the truck stores food, fills water, dumps wastewater, washes equipment, disposes grease, parks overnight, and prepares food that cannot safely happen on the truck.
The agreement should match the real menu. A commissary that works for prepackaged snacks may not support raw proteins, hot holding, refrigeration, or high-volume dishwashing.
Servicing records matter after approval
A signed commissary form is the start, not the whole compliance file. Keep records showing when the truck was serviced, where water came from, where wastewater went, and who handled cleaning or storage.
Inspectors may ask for proof after the first permit is issued, especially after complaints, menu changes, ownership changes, or renewal.
Review before menu or location changes
Changing the menu, adding catering, changing commissaries, parking in a new city, or operating at events can change the commissary burden.
Before accepting a new location or menu item, check whether the current commissary agreement still covers food source, storage, refrigeration, warewashing, water, wastewater, grease, and trash.
Common commissary mistakes
The common mistakes are signing with a kitchen that cannot support the real menu, parking the truck somewhere different overnight, failing to keep servicing logs, and assuming a commissary in one county works for every operating city.
Ask the commissary to confirm exactly what is included: prep space, dry storage, cold storage, water fill, wastewater dump, grease disposal, trash service, restroom access, parking, and written verification for inspectors. Save the answer before signing or renewing, and keep the latest signed version in the truck's permit folder.