To get a food truck permit in Boston, you need to gather some important papers and get special permissions. Then, you can send in your application. The yearly fee for the permit is $500.

Here's what you need to do:

• Get Health and Fire Permits: Before you build your food truck, you can talk about your plans with Inspectional Services. You can call Tom McAdams at 617-961-3293 for help. Once your truck is built, it needs to be checked.

  • For a fire permit, call the Fire Department at 617-343-3447 to set up a check-up. They do checks Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 11 AM. Bring your food truck to Fire Prevention at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02218. The fee for a fire permit check is $150.
  • For a health permit, Inspectional Services does checks Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 9:30 AM. You don't need to make an appointment before you visit. Bring your food truck to Inspectional Services Department at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02218. You will need to bring several documents, including your menu, proof of a commissary (a licensed place where you get your food ready and keep it), proof that someone on your truck is a Certified Food Manager, and your health permit application. If you didn't pay the $100 yearly health permit fee earlier, you must pay it at the check.

• Other Important Papers: Before you apply for a food truck permit, you also need:

  • A Hawker and Peddler License.
  • A Business Certificate.
  • A Certificate of Liability Insurance.
  • A business plan.
  • A written agreement from your commissary. A commissary is a licensed place, like a community or church kitchen, where you get your food ready and keep it. You have to go there twice a day.

• Apply for the Food Truck Permit: You can apply in three ways: online, by email, or in person. The yearly application fee is $500, and you should make your check payable to the City of Boston.

  • Online: Fill out the application on the Boston.gov website.
  • By Email: Send your application and papers to foodtrucks@boston.gov. You will still need to mail or bring your $500 check to the Office of Small Business Food Truck Coordinator at 43 Hawkins Street, Boston, MA 02114.
  • In Person: Bring your application, papers, and payment to the Office of Small Business Food Truck Coordinator at 43 Hawkins Street, Boston, MA 02114. Their office is open Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM.

• Find a Location: After you send in your application, you can start looking for a place to park your food truck.

  • For public spots, you can try to get one through a lottery system.
  • For private spots, you need to get permission from the person who owns the property.

• Permit Approval and Pickup: It takes about two weeks for your permit to be approved. You can pick up your permit at Public Works, 1 City Hall Square, Room 714, Boston City Hall, Boston, MA 02201. Their office is open Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM.

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