Mobile Retail Food Establishments

Mobile Retail Food Establishments are also known as "food trucks." According to Chapter 8.24 of the Municipal Code, these are mobile establishments that sell or convey foods (foods includes beverages) directly to the ultimate consumers and includes, but not to be limited to, any place where food is prepared, mixed, cooked, baked, smoked, preserved, bottled, packaged, handled, stored, manufactured, and sold or offered for sale (Ord. 89-03 § 1, 1989).

Standards

Per Chapter 18.09 of the Municipal Code, mobile retail food establishments must meet the following standards:

• The mobile business operator must obtain permission of the owner of the property upon which the business is going to operate;
• All operating locations must be approved by the City Department of Planning and Community Development;
• The operating vehicle or structure must be removed from the site of operation at the end of the business day and the operator shall store/park the vehicle or structure in a manner consistent with applicable provision of the Municipal Code;
• No furniture such as tables or chairs shall be set up on site in conjunction with the mobile business;
• Drive-through facilities are not allowed;
• Besides signage existing on the mobile vehicle or structure, additional signage is not allowed;
• An applicant for a mobile retail food establishment must obtain a business license, and must include a site plan to scale with the business license application that demonstrates:
  1. Adequate parking exists on the subject site (including parking for existing plus proposed uses). The mobile retail facility shall occupy a maximum of two (2) parking spaces;
  2. Traffic impacts can be mitigated; and
  3. The establishment will not be placed within a right-of-way or drive aisle. If the establishment is placed within a loading dock, it must move if the loading dock is needed for the primary use.
• The mobile retail food establishment must meet the requirements of Kitsap County Health District.

Operation Zones

Note: Operation of a mobile retail food establishment is restricted to specific locations on the island. Before you apply for a business license, contact Planning and Community Development to determine if a potential site is zoned appropriately for the operation of a food truck.

Apply for Business License for Food Truck

To apply for a business license for a food truck:

• Apply for a City of Bainbridge Business License at: 

• Submit to the City of Bainbridge Island as an addendum to the application:

1.  A letter from the owner of the property giving the food truck permission to operate.

2.  A site plan to scale for the property fully demonstrating:

• Adequate parking exists on the subject site (including parking for existing plus proposed uses) and that the food truck will only occupy a maximum of two (2) parking spaces;
• Traffic impacts can be mitigated; and
• The establishment will not be placed within a right-of-way or drive aisle.

3.  Proof the food truck meets the requirements of Kitsap County Health District.

Please include your Washington State UBI number in your submission. The above information can be emailed to businesslicensing@bainbridgewa.gov or delivered to 280 Madison Avenue N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.

Note: If you wish to operate the food truck in more than one location on the island, each location must be individually approved by Planning and Community Development. You must attach to your Business License Application the required site information outlined above for each location.

Note: If the food truck has an existing valid business license and wishes to operate the truck at an additional location, submit a signed letter requesting an addendum to the business license for each proposed new location providing the required site information outlined above.