Let Safe Food Trucks Operate Without Unnecessary Commissary Requirements
We believe North Carolina should make it easier for small food businesses to get started and succeed.

If a food truck passes its health inspection, it should be allowed to operate.
We want to end unnecessary requirements that force food truck owners to pay for a commissary kitchen when the truck itself can safely prepare, store, and serve food.

Many small food businesses cannot afford to pay for a separate kitchen every month. This extra cost can make it harder for people to start a business and create jobs.

We Are Not Asking for Less Food Safety
We want the same goal: safe food and healthy communities.

If a food truck:

Passes its health inspection;
Has safe and approved equipment;
Keeps food at the proper temperatures;
Has proper handwashing and cleaning facilities;
Stores food safely;
Follows sanitation rules; and
Meets other reasonable health and safety requirements,
then the business should be allowed to operate without being forced to rent a commissary kitchen simply because it is a food truck.

Give Food Trucks a Chance
North Carolina already has a model that gives certain small food businesses a simpler way to operate: the Cottage Food Law.

We believe North Carolina should study and expand this idea for mobile food businesses.

A “Cottage Food Model for Food Trucks” could allow qualifying food trucks to operate directly from their approved mobile unit when the unit passes inspection and meets clear health and safety standards.

Instead of asking:

“Do you have a commissary kitchen?”

the focus should be:

“Is your food operation safe and compliant?”

If the answer is yes, small business owners should have a fair opportunity to operate.

Modernize the Rules
We are asking North Carolina lawmakers and local officials to create a simpler system that:

Removes unnecessary commissary kitchen requirements;
Allows qualifying food trucks to operate from their inspected mobile unit;
Keeps strong health and sanitation standards;
Creates clear rules that every food truck can understand;
Reduces unnecessary costs for new businesses; and
Gives entrepreneurs a real chance to start and grow.
Food safety should come first—not unnecessary costs.

If a food truck can pass inspection and safely serve the public, let that food truck operate.

Let's make North Carolina a place where small businesses can start with a good idea, hard work, and a safe operation—not thousands of dollars in unnecessary requirements.

Safe food. Fair rules. Lower barriers. More opportunity.