Start a Food Truck in Illinois
A step-by-step guide to opening a food truck in Illinois.
Information last reviewed 2026-11-09.
1. Write down your concept and numbers
Decide what you will sell, who will buy it and what each plate costs you. A short menu you can cook fast is the best start for a truck.
2. Set up your business
Form a business entity (many owners choose an LLC), get a federal tax ID (EIN) and open a business bank account.
3. Choose and equip your truck
Buy or lease a truck, trailer or cart and have it fitted with the cooking, refrigeration, hand-washing and fire-safety equipment your local health department requires.
4. Get your permits and licenses
Rules differ by state, county and city, so check the details for your area below.
- In Chicago you need a City of Chicago Mobile Food License, and the vehicle gets a final inspection by the Chicago Department of Public Health. The Fire Department may also be involved. Food prepared on the truck needs a Mobile Preparer license, and the city offers a free pre-application vehicle assessment.
- A permit from a suburb does not let you sell in Chicago, and the reverse is also true.
- Outside Chicago, mobile food operations are licensed and inspected by the local health department. Sources disagree on whether the Illinois Department of Public Health also issues a state license, so ask your local health department what applies.
- Illinois requires food handler training for most food workers, and you will collect state and local sales tax.
Official and local sources
Rules and fees change. Confirm with the agency before you apply.
5. Arrange a commissary and insurance
Many areas require a licensed commissary kitchen for prep, water and waste. Get general liability and commercial auto insurance before you operate.
6. Plan where you will sell
Look at breweries, markets, offices, festivals and events. Add your stops to a schedule so customers can find you.
7. Sign up for EasyEats
EasyEats is the point of sale built for food trucks. Take orders and card payments from one tablet, let customers order ahead, and post your locations so people can find you.
Food truck associations
Chicago Food Truck Association (CHIFTA) The primary organized collective representing food truck operators across the Chicago metropolitan area. CHIFTA focuses on event booking, private and corporate catering coordination, and promoting local mobile culinary businesses. Street Vendors Association of Chicago (SVAC) An advocacy and grassroots organization dedicated to street and mobile food vendors in Chicago. SVAC provides education, technical assistance, licensing support, and community advocacy to improve legal protections and economic opportunities for micro-vendors and cart operators. Midwest Food Truck Association (MFTA) A regional multi-state coalition with dedicated chapters in northeastern Illinois (covering Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, and Joliet) and southwestern Illinois (covering the Metro East and St. Louis border areas). It coordinates regional events, cross-border regulations, and vendor peer networks. Illinois Food Truck Association (IFTA) Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) The statewide hospitality trade association. While primarily composed of brick-and-mortar operators, the IRA maintains specific policy positions on mobile food vending and is the main lobbying organization influencing municipal and state-level food service codes and health ordinances throughout Illinois.