If you searched for HB 2118, you probably read that Arizona abolished city food truck licences. It did not. House Bill 2118, introduced in the 2026 session, would have stopped cities and towns from requiring a local mobile food vendor licence and removed their licensing authority from state law. The Governor vetoed it in March 2026. An earlier version of this article described it as law, which was wrong, and we have rewritten it.
What HB 2118 would have done
The bill would have barred cities and towns from requiring a local mobile food vendor permit or licence, and removed the city and town licensing allowance from ARS 36-1761(D). Trucks would have needed only their county health permit, fire inspection and tax licences. Since the veto, none of that changed.
The law that actually applies: HB 2371 of 2018
House Bill 2371, signed in 2018, is the Arizona food truck law. It created ARS 9-485.01, which limits cities, and amended ARS 36-1761 and ARS 11-269.24.
What cities cannot do
A city may not require a special permit that other mobile or temporary vendors in the same zoning district do not need. It may not impose a distance from restaurants except through building, fire, street and sidewalk codes. It may not ban trucks from legal parking, including metered spaces, though it can limit the number of spaces, vehicle size and time. And it may not require its own fire inspection when the truck passed one with another Arizona city or town fire department within twelve months. Cities over 50,000 people must take applications online.
What cities can still do
Cities can restrict trucks at airports and transit facilities, in residential zones and within 250 feet of them, enforce their zoning, run special event permits and require their tax licence. Under ARS 36-1761(D) they can also license mobile food vendors if the licence includes a background check or fingerprinting, which is why Phoenix, Scottsdale and Glendale fingerprint owners and Mesa runs a background check.
What counties can and cannot do
The county where the commissary is located licenses the truck, and that licence has reciprocity in every county. Another county may still require you to apply for its permit and pay its fee, but may not make you pass another inspection, may not require fingerprinting, and may not limit stays on private property below 96 consecutive hours.
What it means in practice
Budget for city licences where you plan to work: Phoenix $350 plus $30 a year for one private site, Mesa $135, Scottsdale $350 then $50 a year, Chandler $100 plus $10 per responsible party. Keep your fire inspection paperwork in the truck, because one passed inspection a year should cover every city. And use the restaurant distance rule in your favour: no Arizona city can keep you away from a restaurant just to protect it.
Where to go next
Our Arizona food truck permits guide covers county fees, including Maricopa’s new August 2026 schedule, and each city guide has local detail.
Arizona food truck permits 2026 · HB 2118 and the law that actually applies · Phoenix · Tucson · Mesa · Chandler · Gilbert · Scottsdale · Glendale · Sedona
Frequently asked questions
Is Arizona HB 2118 law?
No. HB 2118 of the 2026 session would have barred cities and towns from requiring a local mobile food vendor licence. The Governor vetoed it in March 2026.
What law governs Arizona food trucks?
House Bill 2371, enacted in 2018, which created ARS 9-485.01 and amended ARS 36-1761 and the county statute ARS 11-269.24.
Can Arizona cities still require a food truck licence?
Yes, if the licence includes a background check or fingerprinting. Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Chandler and Gilbert all license trucks.
Can a city stop a food truck parking near a restaurant in Arizona?
No. Cities may not impose distance limits from restaurants except through building, fire, street and sidewalk codes, and may not ban trucks from legal parking spaces.
Does a fire inspection in one Arizona city count in another?
Yes. A city may not require its own fire inspection if the truck passed one with another Arizona city or town fire department within the last twelve months.
Building for Arizona
We build trucks to pass Arizona county and fire inspections the first time, with cooling sized for the summer. Custom food trucks start at $55,000 and trailers at $40,000. Call or text 719-722-2537.
Jacob Varghese
Zion Foodtrucks
719-722-2537
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We design and build custom food trucks and trailers compliant with the regulations on this page. From a single phone call to keys-in-hand in 6 to 8 weeks for most builds.
Built in Woodland Park, Colorado. Delivered to operators in CO, AZ, NE, MT, and WY.