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Food Truck Costs in California

Aggregated from 1,802 ZIP codes · Data updated March 2026

Best Markets in CA ›
65
Avg Opportunity Score
Good
39 Million
Total Population
$87 Thousand
Avg Median Income
617
Registered Food Trucks

California has 617 registered food trucks across 1,802 ZIP codes, serving a population of 39 Million. Median household income averages $86,920 — 11,920 above the national median.

Good numbers overall. A 65/100 state average means most California markets are workable. Some are genuinely underserved. At 0.3 food truck businesses per ZIP on average, the right neighborhood can give you real breathing room.

Permit and licensing fees in California average $6,866 per year across the cities we track. Bakersfield runs cheapest at $2,960; San Francisco tops out at $13,350. These are annual totals covering business license, health permit, and mobile vendor fees, pulled from municipal fee schedules — not estimates.

Top ZIP Codes in California

See all 20 ›
#1
ZIP 92677 Pop. 64 Thousand
100
score
#2
ZIP 92675 Pop. 35 Thousand
100
score
#3
ZIP 92673 Pop. 30 Thousand
100
score
#4
ZIP 92663 Pop. 22 Thousand
100
score
#5
ZIP 92660 Pop. 35 Thousand
100
score
#6
ZIP 92657 Pop. 10 Thousand
100
score
#7
ZIP 92656 Pop. 53 Thousand
100
score
#8
ZIP 92653 Pop. 30 Thousand
100
score
#9
ZIP 92651 Pop. 23 Thousand
100
score
#10
ZIP 92649 Pop. 36 Thousand
100
score

Permit Costs

Los Angeles, CA
Business License $320
Health Permit $635
Mobile Vendor Permit $4,250
Fire Permit $295
Annual Renewal $2,400
San Diego, CA
Business License $280
Health Permit $580
Mobile Vendor Permit $3,800
Fire Permit $270
Annual Renewal $2,200
San Jose, CA
Business License $350
Health Permit $620
Mobile Vendor Permit $4,500
Fire Permit $310
Annual Renewal $2,500
San Francisco, CA
Business License $500
Health Permit $750
Mobile Vendor Permit $8,500
Fire Permit $400
Annual Renewal $3,200
Fresno, CA
Business License $150
Health Permit $380
Mobile Vendor Permit $1,500
Fire Permit $170
Annual Renewal $1,100
Sacramento, CA
Business License $200
Health Permit $450
Mobile Vendor Permit $2,200
Fire Permit $210
Annual Renewal $1,500
Long Beach, CA
Business License $270
Health Permit $560
Mobile Vendor Permit $3,500
Fire Permit $265
Annual Renewal $2,100
Oakland, CA
Business License $320
Health Permit $600
Mobile Vendor Permit $4,000
Fire Permit $300
Annual Renewal $2,400
Bakersfield, CA
Business License $140
Health Permit $360
Mobile Vendor Permit $1,300
Fire Permit $160
Annual Renewal $1,000

Source: Municipal fee schedules, 2024–2025

Best Markets

See the top 20 ZIP codes in California ranked by opportunity score with full breakdowns.

Best Food Trucks Markets in California

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Data sources: Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023, USDA National Walkability Index 2021, County Business Patterns 2022, FDIC Summary of Deposits 2023.