St. Petersburg Food Truck License Requirements (2026)

📋 Your checklist

State

1. Florida Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle (MFDV) license (DBPR Hotels & Restaurants)
   Food trucks are licensed by the state. Florida law stops cities and counties from requiring their own separate food-truck license or permit fee. Fee: $347 a full year ($178.50 half year).
   ⏰ Renews every year on February 1 (Pinellas County district)
   Source: Florida DBPR: Hotels and Restaurants food service fees · Florida DBPR: Hotels and Restaurants district offices and expiration dates · Florida Statutes §509.102 (food trucks; state preemption)
2. Business name and entity filings (Sunbiz)
   LLCs and corporations file an annual report ($138.75 for an LLC). Using a name other than your legal name? Register it as a fictitious name.
   ⏰ Annual report: May 1 ($400 late fee). Fictitious name: renew every 5 years
   Source: Florida Division of Corporations: File Annual Report · Florida Statutes §865.09 (fictitious name registration)

Local (St. Petersburg / Pinellas County)

1. City of St. Petersburg Business Tax Receipt
   Required to do business inside city limits. Renewal notices usually mail in July, but the tax is due even if you never get one.
   ⏰ Due by September 30; 10% late in October, up to 25%
   Source: City of St. Petersburg: Business Tax Receipts
2. Pinellas County
   Pinellas County itself does not issue a business tax receipt (repealed in 1995). Your city receipt is what you need locally.
   ⏰ None
   Source: Pinellas County: Occupational Licenses/Business Tax Receipts