Mobile Food Vans

Food trucks and crowd of people in street

Mobile food vending vehicles are considered retail food businesses under the Food Act 2003 NSW, as they sell food directly to the public.

This includes mobile food vans that are:

Selling food on private land (with landowner permission and correct zoning)
Operating on permitted Council land under a Section 68 approval
Trading on public roads as street vendors
Garaging, maintaining, or storing food and equipment (i.e. within a "home jurisdiction")
Attending festivals, markets, or events.

Operating Requirements

All mobile food vending vehicles must comply with the Guidelines for Mobile Food Vending Vehicles and the Food Standards Code (Code 3.2.2 and 3.2.3). The mobile food vehicle may need to be inspected by Council’s Environmental Health Officer before trading commences.

Food businesses operating mobile food vending vehicles may need to appoint a Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) if the food they prepare and serve is:

Ready-to-eat
Potentially hazardous i.e. needs temperature control
Not sold and served in the supplier's original package

The business needs to ensure an FSS is appointed and the FSS certificate is available in the vehicle before commencement of operation. Please see Food Safety Supervisor for information on how to obtain a certificate.

Notification Requirements

To operate a mobile food van in the City of Ryde your will need to register your mobile food vehicle prior to commencing operation. The registration process will vary depending on how you are intending to trade.

Operating within Council parks or public roads

You must complete the mobile food van registration form(PDF, 138KB) and submit to cityofryde@ryde.nsw.gov.au for assessment.

A Council Environmental Health Officer will then contact you to:

Arrange a vehicle inspection
Assess compliance with relevant guidelines
Issue the applicable approval to operate.

Note: Approval will not be granted to sell within 200 metres of any business selling the same or similar products or on any prohibited roads(PDF, 34KB).

Operating from Private Land

You must complete the fixed food business registration form and submit to cityofryde@ryde.nsw.gov.au for assessment.

Your business will be added to Council’s routine food safety inspection program and inspected at least once per financial year.

Council or private events

For events operated by the City of Ryde area, please visit our Events page.

For privately run events, provide your business details to the event organiser, who will liaise with Council on your behalf.

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