Information about City of Boulder Mobile Food Vehicles Licenses

Learn how to apply for a Mobile Food Vehicles license and process checklist.

Information about Mobile Vending Carts, as distinct from Mobile Food Vehicles, is available on the Mobile Vending Carts page.

Mobile Food Vehicles are allowed to operate within the Zones described below, noting that they may not operate within 150 feet of a residential area (this includes homeowner's lots, driveways, yards, etc.) and also not within 150 feet of a brick and mortar restaurant unless it provides written approval from said restaurant(s) to the Regulatory Licensing Division prior to any operations.

Mobile Food Vehicles may operate for a period not to exceed four hours at any given location.

Location requirements: May operate with a license on any lot as follows:

  • Zoning Districts and Maximum Number per Lot: In the Mixed Use, Business, Downtown, or Industrial zoning districts, no more than four mobile food vehicles. This does not apply to organized events discussed below.
  • Public Streets: Allowed in the public right-of-way in the IS-1, IS-2, IG, IM, IMS or P zoning districts.
  • Organized Events: Allowed in any public right-of-way or public property as part of a special event permit. Allowed on private property, public right-of-way or public property as part of a special festival event permit.
  • City Parks and Airport: In any city park with approval from Park and Recreation and certain areas at the Boulder Airport.

Distance requirements: The following distance requirements apply:

  • 150 feet from any residential zoning districts, unless allowed in a city park, organized event or at the airport as discussed above.
  • 150 feet from any existing restaurant, unless waived in the BC-1 zone per the code.
  • 200 feet between each mobile food vehicle in the public right-of-way. This does not apply during organized events discussed above.

Check a location on the City of Boulder Zoning Map

Review the full regulations within Section 9-6-5(d) of the Land Use Code. Updates to the language for clarity can also be accessed within Ordinance 8745 and Ordinance 8751.

  • As far as the fire inspection C.R.S. § 29-11.6-103 provides that a valid fire safety permit that has been issued to a mobile food establishment in one city is valid in any other city. We honor this and do not require a separate fire inspection.
  • With regard to the health code inspection, C.R.S. § 29-11.6-104 states that a mobile food establishment that has a valid and active Denver retail food license is considered to have a valid state health department license and is permitted to operate the mobile food establishment within any other city. We honor this and do not require a separate health department inspection.
  • As to the Mobile Food Vehicles License, C.R.S. § 29-11.6-104 also explains that a mobile food establishment with a Denver retail food license that is operating in a another city must be in compliance with the other city’s ordinances, resolutions, regulations, zoning codes, or other codes of the other city and is subject to inspection and enforcement by the local government. We honor this and require a Mobile Food Vehicles License/Permit pursuant to Boulder ordinance B.R.C. § 4-20-66. The fees for the license covers our staff time for review, processing, tracking, enforcement, and issuance of licenses.

Mobile Food Vehicles (MFV) Overview

  • On April 26, 2011, Boulder City Council passed an ordinance allowing mobile food vehicles, under certain conditions, in some areas of the City of Boulder. As of June 1, 2011, in order to legally operate a mobile food vehicle, you must obtain a mobile food vehicle license from the City of Boulder.
  • Please see the main BRC section on MFVs (and any other related sections) to understand how it affects MFV businesses: BRC 9-6-5(d).
  • The licensing process takes approximately 4 weeks, from application submission to license issuance. MFV licenses are valid until March 1st of the applicable year.
  • The MFV process for parks is currently under review. For information about MFVs in city parks, please contact Rosa Wright at wrightr@bouldercolorado.gov.
  • Current Licensed Mobile Food Vehicles

License Term and Applicable Fees

  • Mobile Food Vehicle licenses are valid for a two-year period and expiring on March 1 of the second year of the license term. Licenses applied for and approved after March 1 of a given year will be valid for less than 2 years.

  • Please refer to the Boulder Municipal code for the current fees for obtaining a Mobile Food Vehicle License. Please note that there is an application fee and the annual license fee will be applied twice, one fee for each year.

How to Apply for a Mobile Food Vehicle License

Register for a City of Boulder Customer Self Service Portal Account

Register at City of Boulder Customer Self-Service Portal

Registration Instructions

Mobile Food Vehicle License Application

Obtain or Renew a Colorado Retail Food Establishment License for your Mobile Food Vehicle - this is separate from the City of Boulder issued license and is provided by Boulder County or any other County in Colorado

For New Licenses: Fill out applications for City Business License for Sales and Use Tax, for Renewal Licenses inquire with Sales Tax Staff as to the status of your City Business License at 303-441-3050 or by email at salestax@bouldercolorado.gov.

Please note: you must have applied for your sales tax license prior to submitting your MFV application to the Licensing Division.

Mobile Food Vehicle Application

Solicitud de licencia para vehículo de comida móvil

Required Documentation to be submitted with the application:

  • Web registration confirmation for City of Boulder new business license or copy of existing Boulder business license
  • Copy of a valid Colorado Retail Food Establishment License for the mobile food vehicle
  • Copy of the food vehicle's valid vehicle insurance for motor vehicle (and trailer, if applicable)
  • Certificate of insurance signed by agent with auto, general liability, and property damage insurance and naming the city and its officer as additional insured on liability policy for $1 million liability (see example on website)
  • Copies of valid driver's licenses for all drivers and Motor or State Issued ID's for Human Powered mobile food vehicles
  • Current copy of the mobile food vehicle registration for Motor Vehicles
  • Fire Inspection of Vehicle and/or Trailer with Inspection Approval Date per Chapter 9-6-5(d)(1)(E) and 4-1-9 BRC
  • Additional Attachments: Include all attachments with your uploaded application to the Online CSS portal. Incomplete applications will be returned

Please allow a minimum of four weeks processing time. The Licensing Division will make every effort to process the applications quickly. If approved, the license will be emailed to you at the email address provided in CSS.

Incomplete applications will be returned. If an application is denied, licensing will send a denial notice via email through the CSS portal.

City of Boulder will now accept truck inspections from participating Fire Marshals as long as you include a certificate of inspection. If you are still in need of an inspection, please contact foodtruckinspection@bouldercolorado.gov or call 720-564-2118 for the application and questions. More information can be found on the Fire Department's Community Outreach, Education and Permits page.

Apply & Pay Online

Submit completed application and payment online through the City of Boulder Customer Self-Service Portal.

Example of a Certificate of Insurance City of Boulder

Video: Pay an Invoice

*NOTE* During the application process the system will ask for a premise address. If your address is not in the City of Boulder, please use the following address: 1136 Alpine

To ensure that you receive emails with pdf's of completed forms, please add NoReply-Formstack@bouldercolorado.gov to your safe sender list in your email.

Have Questions?

The Regulatory Licensing Division holds virtual application clinics every Wednesday morning from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., which you may attend virtually to ask miscellaneous license application questions:

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