Pre-Inspection Preparation

Annual inspections are a necessary part of all mobile food vending. If you are going to succeed, you need to know how to prepare for and pass a health inspection.

Food Truck: Scheduling Inspection

Submit your paperwork 8 weeks prior to start of operation or current permit end date. There is a waiting list for inspections so submit your paperwork early! In order to schedule an inspection, you must submit the following documents to the department of health:

  1. Commissary Agreement

  2. Menu

  3. Route Sheet 

  4. DMV Registration

  5. Standard Operating Procedures

  6. Permit Fees

You can email these documents to the department. Veggielution’s contacts for this are Zebry (zebry.martinez@cep.sccgov.org) and Riccardo (ricardo.munoz@cep.sccgov.org). Email both and CC the food truck inspector, Yvonne. You can also submit these documents in person.

Food Cart: Scheduling Inspection

Submit your paperwork 2 weeks prior to start of operation (when you plan to start selling from the cart) or your current permit’s end date. In order to schedule an inspection, you must submit the following documents to the department of health:

  1. Commissary Agreement 

  2. Menu

  3. Route Sheet 

  4. Standard Operating Procedures

  5. Permit Fees

You can email these documents to the department. Veggielution’s contacts for this are Zebry (zebry.martinez@cep.sccgov.org) and Riccardo (ricardo.munoz@cep.sccgov.org). Email both and CC the food cart inspector, Peder. You can also submit these documents in person.

Tip: Schedule your appointments for after 10AM. Traffic can be heavy. Give yourself enough time to arrive and set up before your inspection time, especially if you are renting a truck that morning.  

Preparing for an Inspection

Refer to the MFF Self Inspection Checklist to help you prepare for your annual inspection. 

Have a ‘trial run’ a week before your inspection. Set up your MFF in order to check everything is working and refrigerators and water are getting to the right temperature.

Have another trial run the day before your inspection; you can never be too careful!

Transporting Carts

If you need a rental truck to transport your carts, make sure you book this as soon as you have the date for the inspection. 

Preparing your food facility

For inspections, always make sure you have the following ready:

  • Hand soap and paper towels

  • Water/ propane/ gas

  • Generator for power

  • Electric cables

  • Batteries fully charged plus back ups

  • Checks to pay any outstanding balances

  • Laminated / framed information sheet on each cart

  • Truck: grease in fryer (clean)

  • Thermometers

  • Fire extinguishers

The Day of the Inspection

Arrive at the department early and set up the truck and carts as you would during an event. (See: Preparing for an Event)