Food Truck Permit Requirements in Silver Spring, MD

Complete permit and license guide for starting a food truck in Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland.

Verified 2026-09-02 6 stops $600–$1,500 est. 3–6 weeks to obtain all permits and pass inspections
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Maryland

2 stops

  1. Maryland Comptroller — Sales Tax Registration

    Required for all businesses selling taxable goods or services in Maryland (6% state rate; Maryland has no local sales taxes). Retail product sales are taxable. Some services are also taxable — notably cleaning of a COMMERCIAL or industrial building (janitorial/commercial cleaning) under Md. Tax-General §11-101(m): commercial cleaning businesses must collect 6% on the service itself, while residential cleaning is not taxable. Sales of photographs (portrait/wedding) are taxable as tangible personal property. Registration with the Comptroller of Maryland is free.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online via bFile)

  2. Maryland Department of Health — Food Service Manager Certification

    Maryland food service facilities are licensed by county health departments under COMAR 10.15.03. The counties covering Annapolis (Anne Arundel), Baltimore, and Silver Spring (Montgomery) require a certified food service manager (accredited exam such as ServSafe) for moderate/high-priority facilities, including caterers and food trucks — the requirement is county-administered, not a single statewide MDH rule.

    Official government source

    $80–$150 (exam and course)1–2 days

City of Silver Spring / Montgomery County

3 stops

  1. Montgomery County - Mobile Food Service Facility License

    All food trucks operating in Silver Spring must be licensed by Montgomery County DHHS Licensure & Regulatory Services (Silver Spring is unincorporated and has no city health department). The mobile unit must pass an inspection before the license is issued; county food service facility licenses expire January 31 and must be renewed each year.

    Official government source

    Fees vary by facility type per the Licensure & Regulatory Services fee schedule (mobile itinerant plan review is $55); confirm the current license fee with Montgomery County L&R (240-777-3986)About 10-14 business days for application approval, plus the unit inspection

  2. Montgomery County — No General Business License (activity-specific licenses only)

    Silver Spring is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, so all local permits come from the county. Neither Maryland nor Montgomery County requires a general business license. Only specific activities are licensed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court License Department — e.g., retail sales require a Trader's License; garages, vending machines, and construction have their own licenses. Most service businesses need no county business license; confirm any activity-specific license with the Clerk's License Department (licenses expire April 30 annually).

    Official government source

    $0 for most businesses; Trader's License (retail only) fee varies by inventory valueNot applicable for most businesses; Trader's License typically issued within days

  3. Commissary Agreement

    Under COMAR 10.15.03.25, a Maryland mobile food service facility must operate from an established base of operations (commissary) providing potable water and hoses, wastewater disposal, food storage, and utensil washing — the only exemption is a unit offering solely prepackaged frozen desserts. Montgomery County DHHS Licensure & Regulatory Services licenses mobile units serving Silver Spring and requires the unit to pass inspection before licensing; confirm base-of-operation documentation with L&R (240-777-3986).

    Official government source

    No county fee for the base-of-operation arrangement itself; commissary rental is a private market costArrange before applying; L&R responds on applications within 10-14 business days

Terminus

Open for business — est. $600–$1,500 · 3–6 weeks to obtain all permits and pass inspections

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