WHat do you have to do to be street vendor? Licensing, prep,

All -

There have been many a times I have wondered what kind of licenses and permits you need to run a food cart.

Anyone familiar with the process?

J.R.

If you seek a site at a Chicago park or on the lake front: http://chicago.parkconcessions.com/faqs.html

Hmm.

What about to roam around in front of bars. Late night. Or perhaps in one of the neighborhoods during the day?

Your best bet to get all the correct information call the Chicago Department of Health and ask.
Paulette

Or googling them...

jpeac2 wrote:What about to roam around in front of bars. Late night.

You need a license to do that?

Chicago Dept. of Business Affairs wrote:Food - Mobile

License Information

A Mobile Food License is required to sell food items directly from a vehicle, such as a catering or ice cream truck. All food must be pre-prepared and pre-packaged. Mobile food vehicles are prohibited in some wards of the City. Check with the Chicago Department of Revenue for the rules in your area.

Fee: $275
Municipal Code Reference: 4-8 and 7-40
Inspections: Health (Food Protection)


Potential Taxes

Employer's Expense Tax
Fountain Soft Drink
Personal Property Lease Transaction Tax
Restaurant Tax
Use Tax for Non-Titled Personal Property
Use Tax for Titled Personal Property

For specific business tax information see Taxes.

Disclaimer:The information on this page is intended to provide general licensing and tax information for City of Chicago business owners. The above listed taxes are those typically remitted by licensees engaging in this specific type of business. However, because every business is different, there may be additional taxes that you may be required to collect and/or remit. Please refer to the complete Tax List to determine which taxes apply to your business activity. Nothing contained within these pages shall to any extent substitute for the independent investigations and the sound technical and business judgment of the business owner.

I don't know when same things change in this world o street food vendors, but I when to the city of Chicago about the permit to sell food on streets... they give me a big bunch of papers at the end I found out that the hours for sale are not the best ones to make it profitable and also I found the streets where they will let you sale are not the ones you may be interested, so many exclusions, besides, just raw thinks, like vegetables and fruit, that's according to the law, now I know why so many simply decide do it whit out permission. And the parks and the beach it's completely different and you should go to the park district for this information.