Find information below regarding food trucks in Davenport including applications, licensing and other frequently asked questions:
Online Application For Mobile Food Unit License & Permit / Printable Version
Online Application For Mobile Food Unit Special Occurrence Permit/ Printable Version
Contacts
General Program Questions
Sarah Ott
Assistant to the City Administrator
(563) 326-6167
sott@ci.davenport.ia.us
General Application Questions
Brian Krup
Deputy City Clerk
(563) 326-6163
bkrup@ci.davenport.ia.us
Fire Inspection Questions & Scheduling
Lt. James Morris
Fire Prevention
(563) 326-7808
f576@ci.davenport.ia.us
FAQs
I have a mobile food unit and want to vend in the City of Davenport. Where should I start?
All mobile food units operating in Davenport are required to have a mobile food unit license issued by the City of Davenport. To be issued a license, the vendor must: 1) complete an application 2) Provide proof of auto and liability insurance (click to view requirements) 3) show proof of a valid Scott County Health Department permit and 4) pass a fire inspection performed by Davenport Fire personnel.
What is the cost of operating a mobile food unit in the City of Davenport?
All mobile food units are required to obtain a $55 annual mobile food unit license. Additionally, if you wish to operate on any public property including the designated mobile food zones, parks, or in special occurrence situations, you must also obtain a $550 annual mobile food unit permit. The total annual cost would be $605 for both the license and permit.
If I obtain the mobile food unit permit, where am I allowed to operate?
For vendors who have the mobile food unit permit in
addition to the license, there are currently two existing mobile food unit
zones: Downtown/K-Square and East 2nd Street/Iowa Street. For
2018 Kaiserslautern Square (K2) & the Bechtel Park. The K2 zone is
operational Monday-Thursday from 6 AM – 4 PM, and the Bechtel Park is
operational on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 PM – 11 PM. Additionally, some
opportunities to vend in Parks could be possible and will be posted on the
City’s website and communicated through the local Food Truck Association.
I only want to vend on private property, what do I need?
If you only want to vend on private property, you will only need to obtain a $55 mobile food unit license from the City of Davenport.
I’m a business and want to have a mobile food unit in front of my business in the right-of-way (street), what do I need to do?
If you’re a business and want to have a mobile food unit set up in the street in front of your business, you need to fill out the special occurrence application and pay the $100 fee. The application should list all dates/times that you would like to have a vendor present. The City will send a notification to all businesses within 200-feet of your establishment and will calculate any protest rate. The application will then go before the City Council for final approval at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting. Once approved, you will be issued a special occurrence permit.
What are the Fire requirements, and what will be evaluated during my fire inspection?
Please click here for a link to the form that Davenport Fire personnel will use to complete your inspection along with references to all necessary Fire/Building codes.
I heard there is a local Food Truck Association, and I want to join. What do I do next?
There is a local Food Truck Association non-profit focused on marketing and special events. You can reach them at qcifta@gmail.com.
I’m a business and want to have mobile food units on my private property for an event. Who should I contact?
The City can’t organize food trucks for private events; however, it is recommended that you reach out to the Food Truck Association for a list of all vendors and to get the next steps.