Georgia Food Truck Permit and License Requirements by County

Starting a food truck business in Georgia means navigating a layered system of permits and licenses. Some are issued at the state level, others at the county or city level. There is no single "food truck license" you can grab and hit the road with. You'll need multiple approvals from multiple agencies, and the exact requirements vary significantly depending on where you plan to operate.

This guide breaks down what you actually need, who issues it, what it costs, and where to apply. County-by-county specifics are included where requirements differ most.

Disclaimer: This content is informational only and does not constitute legal, tax, or regulatory advice. Requirements change. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing agency before filing. Consult a qualified attorney or CPA for complex situations.

Step 1: Form Your Business Entity First

Before you apply for a single permit, get your business structure in order. Most food truck operators in Georgia form an LLC for liability protection. You'll register with the Georgia Secretary of State and obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Both of these are required when applying for licenses and a business bank account.

Georgia LLC filing fee: $100 online via the Georgia Corporations Division
Annual registration fee: $50 per year
EIN: Free, applied for at IRS.gov

You'll also need to register your business name in Georgia if you're operating under a trade name different from your legal entity name (a DBA or "doing business as" filing).

Step 2: State-Level Requirements (Apply to All Georgia Food Trucks)

These apply regardless of which county or city you operate in.

Georgia Department of Agriculture, Food Service Permit

If your food truck prepares food from scratch (cooking, cutting, assembling), you are classified as a Food Service Establishment under Georgia law and must be permitted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA).

Who regulates: GDA Food Safety Division
Annual permit fee: Varies by operation type and gross sales. Typically ranges from $100 to $300+ annually. Check the current fee schedule at agr.georgia.gov/food-safety
Inspection required: Yes. A GDA inspector will inspect your truck before your permit is issued and conduct annual follow-up inspections.
Plan review: Required for new or significantly modified trucks before operation

Key requirement: Your food truck must have access to a licensed commissary kitchen. This is a commercial kitchen where you store food, prep, and clean up at the end of each service. The commissary must also be GDA-approved. This requirement is non-negotiable in Georgia.

Georgia Sales Tax Registration

Food sold for immediate consumption is taxable in Georgia. You must register with the Georgia Department of Revenue for a Sales and Use Tax Certificate before your first sale. Registration is free.

Georgia Department of Driver Services, CDL Considerations

Most food trucks do not require a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) because they fall under the 26,001 lb. threshold. However, if your rig is large or you're towing a trailer that pushes combined weight over that limit, check with the Georgia DDS.

Step 3: County-Level Requirements

This is where requirements diverge significantly. Georgia has 159 counties. The major metro counties are the most active for food trucks and have the most developed, and sometimes most complex, permitting systems.

Fulton County (Atlanta Metro)

Food trucks operating in unincorporated Fulton County must obtain a Fulton County Business License and comply with Fulton County Board of Health regulations. However, most food truck activity in Fulton County actually falls within incorporated city limits (City of Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, etc.), which means city permits apply.

Fulton County Business License: Required for unincorporated areas. Apply through the Fulton County Government
Health permit: Fulton County Board of Health issues a separate health permit for mobile food units operating in unincorporated areas

City of Atlanta (Fulton/DeKalb Counties)

Atlanta has one of the more structured food truck frameworks in the state. Operators within city limits need:

Atlanta Business License (Occupation Tax Certificate): Required annually. Apply through the City of Atlanta Office of Revenue. Fee is based on gross receipts.
Mobile Food Truck Vendor Permit: Required to operate on public streets. Atlanta has designated food truck zones. Check current rules with the Atlanta Department of City Planning.
Fulton or DeKalb County Board of Health Permit: Depending on which side of the county line you're operating.

Note: Atlanta periodically updates its food truck ordinances. Always verify current zoning and vending rules directly with the City of Atlanta before finalizing your location strategy.

DeKalb County

Unincorporated DeKalb requires a county business license and a DeKalb County Board of Health permit for mobile food units. Cities within DeKalb (Decatur, Brookhaven, Tucker, etc.) each have their own licensing requirements on top of county-level health permits.

DeKalb County Board of Health: dekalbcountyga.gov/board-of-health
Business license: Apply through the DeKalb County Finance Department

Gwinnett County

Gwinnett County is one of the busiest food truck markets in metro Atlanta. Requirements include:

Gwinnett County Business License: Required for operating in unincorporated Gwinnett. Fee varies by business type and revenue.
Gwinnett County Environmental Health Permit: Mobile Food Service Establishment permit issued by Gwinnett County Environmental Health. Annual inspections required.
City permits: Cities like Lawrenceville, Duluth, Norcross, and Suwanee each have their own business license requirements if you operate within their limits.

Cobb County

Cobb County Business License: Required for unincorporated Cobb County operations
Cobb & Douglas Public Health: Issues mobile food service permits. Contact cobbanddouglasph.com for current fees and inspection scheduling
City of Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw: Each requires separate city business licenses for in-city operations

Chatham County (Savannah)

Savannah has become an increasingly popular food truck market. Operators need:

City of Savannah Business License: Required through the City of Savannah Revenue Department
City of Savannah Mobile Food Vendor Permit: Savannah regulates where food trucks can operate, including specific rules around the Historic District
Chatham County Health Department Permit: Required for food safety compliance

Savannah's Historic District has additional restrictions on food truck placement and hours. Contact the City of Savannah directly for current ordinance details.

Richmond County (Augusta)

Augusta-Richmond County Business License: Augusta operates as a consolidated city-county government. Obtain a business license through the Augusta, Georgia Government
Richmond County Health Department: Issues mobile food unit permits
Zoning compliance: Required. Verify approved locations with Augusta Planning & Development.

Clarke County (Athens)

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government: Issues a single business license for city and county operations. Apply at athensclarkecounty.com
Athens-Clarke County Environmental Health: Issues mobile food service permits
University area restrictions: Operating near UGA campus involves additional coordination with University and city zoning rules

Step 4: Additional Permits You May Need

Fire Safety Inspection

Many Georgia counties and cities require a fire safety inspection of your truck, particularly if you operate cooking equipment with open flames or deep fryers. This is often handled through the local fire marshal's office. Fees and requirements vary by jurisdiction.

Commissary Agreement

As mentioned above, you need a signed commissary agreement with a licensed commercial kitchen. Keep this documentation ready; the GDA and local health departments will ask for it. If you're still searching for a commissary, commercial kitchen rental options are available in most major Georgia metro areas.

Zoning and Location Permits

Operating on private property (parking lots, business campuses, events) typically requires landowner permission in writing. Operating on public property (streets, parks) requires a vending permit from the city or county. Some Georgia cities have specific food truck zones or lottery systems for prime spots.

Special Event Permits

If you plan to operate at festivals, farmers markets, or private events, the event organizer typically handles the overall event permit, but you may still need to show proof of your health permit and business license. Some large events require vendors to obtain their own temporary food service permits from the local health department.

Estimated Startup Costs: Georgia Food Truck Permits

Permit / License	Issuing Agency	Estimated Cost	Frequency
Georgia LLC Formation	GA Secretary of State	$100	One-time
GA LLC Annual Registration	GA Secretary of State	$50	Annual
GDA Food Service Permit	GA Dept. of Agriculture	$100–$300+	Annual
Sales Tax Registration	GA Dept. of Revenue	Free	One-time
County Business License	County Government	$50–$400+	Annual
County/City Health Permit	Local Health Dept.	$100–$300+	Annual
Fire Safety Inspection	Local Fire Marshal	$0–$150	Annual
City Vending/Vendor Permit	City Government	$50–$500+	Annual/per event

Budget reality: Plan for $500–$1,500+ in annual permit and licensing fees alone, not counting your one-time formation costs. Major metro areas like Atlanta trend toward the higher end of that range.

Key Official Resources

Bottom Line: How to Approach Your Georgia Food Truck Permitting

Form your LLC and get your EIN first. You'll need both for nearly every permit application.
Secure your commissary agreement. You can't get your GDA permit without it.
Apply for your GDA Food Service Permit and schedule your inspection.
Register for Georgia Sales Tax with the Department of Revenue.
Identify every county and city where you plan to regularly operate and contact each jurisdiction's business license office and health department to confirm current requirements.
Get your fire inspection done if required by your local jurisdiction.
Keep all permits current and on the truck. Health inspectors can and do ask to see them.

The permitting process is genuinely manageable. It's just time-consuming because of how many separate agencies are involved. Start the GDA permitting process early, since inspections require scheduling lead time. For help structuring your business entity correctly from the start, review Georgia business license and permit requirements to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

If your food truck operation is complex (multiple trucks, employees, catering contracts), consider working with a Georgia business attorney and CPA to make sure your entity structure, tax registrations, and contracts are set up correctly from day one.