Last reviewed Oct 2026 against the official sources below. Rules and fees change, so check with your local office before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.
In the City of Columbia, a food truck needs an annual temporary use permit, a city business license (with a $10 zoning fee on top of license fees), a fire inspection, and written permission from each property owner. Trucks run on private property, no more than 10 consecutive hours a day, at least 100 feet from a restaurant door unless the restaurant consents, and not between 9 pm and 9 am within 400 feet of residential zoning. Outside city limits, Richland County’s Business Service Center handles business licenses.
Where can food trucks park in Columbia?
Columbia’s food truck standards are in Section 17-4.4(j) of the city code, summarized in a handout from Planning and Development Services. The rules cover trucks on private property. The truck must be in a zoning district that otherwise allows the business, and you need written permission from the property owner or authorized lease holder for every location you use.
Keep these in the truck while you operate: your temporary use permit, the property owner’s permission letter, and any restaurant consent letter (see below).
The key operating rules
| Rule | What Columbia requires |
|---|---|
| Permit | Temporary use permit, renewed every year, with a copy kept in the truck |
| Hours | No more than 10 consecutive hours in a calendar day |
| Near homes | No operating from 9:00 pm to 9:00 am if the parcel is within 400 feet of residentially zoned land |
| Near restaurants | At least 100 feet from the door of a lawfully established eating place, unless that restaurant’s owner gives a letter of consent |
| Clean-up | Remove all business materials from the parcel when you are not operating |
Questions about zoning go to Columbia’s Zoning Division: 1401 Main Street, 3rd Floor · 803-545-3333 · zoning@columbiasc.gov.
Columbia business license for food trucks
Columbia’s Business License Division licenses food trucks that operate in the city. According to the city, you need:
- A City of Columbia business license application. A $10.00 zoning fee applies on top of the business license fees.
- A written permission letter from the owner of the property where the truck will operate.
- Proof of your state food permit. The city page still says “DHEC approval letter”; retail food permits now come from SCDA, so ask the division which document it wants.
- Fire inspection approval. Inspections are by appointment at the commissary listed on your application. Trucks that do not pass have 30 days to fix problems. Trucks that pass get a sticker to display near the service window, and you keep the inspection report in the truck.
- Registration with the SC Department of Motor Vehicles.
- A completed Food Service Questionnaire.
Selling at a group event in the city? The same page notes that food vendors who prepare food or drinks at group events must remit Columbia’s 2% hospitality tax by the 20th of the month after the event.
Unincorporated Richland County
If you sell outside Columbia and other town limits, licensing goes through the Richland County Business Service Center. The county’s process for new businesses works like this:
- Submit the New Business License Application and Business Clearance Form at the Business Service Center.
- Get zoning approval. Zoning confirms your business type is allowed at the location, and the license is not issued without it.
- Get any other approvals staff tell you apply, such as the Fire Marshal or building inspections.
- Return with your approvals and staff issue the license.
The county page does not spell out rules specific to food trucks, so ask the center what a mobile food unit needs for the locations you have in mind. Richland County Business Service Center: 2020 Hampton St., First Floor, Suite 1050 · 803-576-2287 · bsc@richlandcountysc.gov.
Blythewood, Forest Acres, Irmo and nearby towns
Every incorporated town around Columbia issues its own business license and sets its own zoning. That includes Blythewood, Forest Acres and Irmo, plus Cayce and West Columbia across the river in Lexington County. A Columbia license does not cover them. Before you book a stop, call the town hall and ask three things:
- Do I need a business license or a per-event permit here?
- Are food trucks allowed on this property’s zoning, and are there hour or distance limits?
- Do you need a fire inspection or proof of my SCDA permit?
Find or list trucks in the Midlands
Looking for lunch? Browse food trucks in Columbia, SC or plan an event with food truck catering in Columbia. Run a truck? Claim your free listing so customers can follow your stops.
Sources we checked
- City of Columbia Planning & Development: Food truck requirements, Sec. 17-4.4(j) (PDF)
- City of Columbia Business Licensing: Food trucks
- City of Columbia Food Service Questionnaire (PDF)
- Richland County Business License
- SCDA Retail Food Safety
Checked Oct 2026. Found something out of date? Email support@forkandcurb.com.
Frequently asked questions
Can food trucks park on the street in Columbia, SC?
Columbia’s food truck standards in Section 17-4.4(j) cover private property, with written permission from the property owner. For public streets, parks or other public property, ask the City of Columbia Zoning Division at 803-545-3333 before you set up.
How far does a food truck have to be from a restaurant in Columbia?
At least 100 feet from the door of a lawfully established eating place, unless that restaurant’s owner gives a letter of consent. Keep a copy of the letter in the truck.
Can food trucks operate late at night in Columbia?
Not near homes. From 9:00 pm to 9:00 am, a truck may not operate on a parcel within 400 feet of residentially zoned land. Trucks are also limited to 10 consecutive hours a day.
What does a Columbia food truck business license cost?
Columbia charges its regular business license fees plus a $10.00 zoning fee. License fees vary, so contact the City of Columbia Business License Division for your amount.
Who licenses food trucks outside Columbia city limits in Richland County?
The Richland County Business Service Center, after zoning approval. Towns such as Blythewood, Forest Acres and Irmo each issue their own licenses.