Starting a Food Truck in Lincoln: The Formal Path and What It Takes
Recent Nebraska Builds
Real rigs we have built and delivered to Nebraska operators.
Ram Promaster Coffee Van
Omaha, NE
Read the video transcript: Omaha Coffee Van
Welcome to Design Food Trucks. Today we have a relatively quick and uh simple project. Still pretty cool. Thought I'd show it off. Um this is a Ram ProMaster van which we converted to a coffee truck, coffee van. This one's going to Omaha, Nebraska. And uh it's uh it's simple in that we did not do the walls inside. Customer did not want us to. They would like to do that themselves. Um but in other respects it is complete. Um so it is a food truck. That is of course the window. That is a 6ft self-closing window. Right there is how you fill water. That is how you drain water. You pull the plunger. Water comes out. Um goes lights. This door we had to cancel and we had to do that because uh if you can see otherwise it would clash against the the window. the shore power connection capable of 220 watts which is what 220 amp volts my not watts uh that's what uh this whole truck needs let's go inside quite a simple um interior can see it's bare It's rare in that it it doesn't have walls. Um it does have electrical wiring which we did like we always do. It has 220 like I mentioned lights both interior and exterior plumbing system. Hand wash sink. Three compartment sink water heater and water pump. That is how you drain water and the fresh water and gray water tanks. As always, self-closing window. An espresso machine is going to be located here. And the espresso machine would require 220, which is what that is for. That is actually the removable shelf. um the outdoor shelf that is of course they would need additional equipment like grinders maybe a few other piece of equipment which is what that is for. You can see our wiring very nice and tidy and it's always as always in conduits. If you have any questions or if you would like um something like this, nothing is too small. Um, contact us through our website zanfuttros.com or through our uh phone number 72092653. Thank you. Have a nice day.
Cargo van conversion to a full mobile coffee operation.
16ft Mexican Food Truck
Omaha, NE
Read the video transcript: Omaha Mexican Food Truck
hello and welcome to Mile High food trucks today we have another beautiful food truck that we are about to ship this one is a Mexican theme this one's actually slightly different in that this is also a box truck well this used to be a box truck uh which we have converted into a food truck check out the cool graphics on the outside also in it is a 9500 W Predator generator which we Mount them typical to um many other food trucks that we have built in that it a generator box that is on the inside so that it doesn't get stolen we also build um custom extension cords so they can connect the generator to the truck or the truck to the wall these are of course made out of six cug wire custom cables another difference here is that this truck the customer requested that the um the the gas tank the propane tank be on the outside they want it to be replaceable so this one has a 100 lb tank similar to food trailers on the rear of the trailer it's of course also wrapped check out the cool graphics on the outside right here is the 5T um 5T service window with self closing door course of course that is we can lift pass the product and it will come down by itself to keep the box out LED lights on the inside and outside right there is where you fill the water so you open that and you put in a garden house to fill the water tanks for a tank singular in this case right there is how you drain the water similar to RVs so you take the cap off you pull the plunger and the water would fall down from the 40 lb uh gray water tank which is mounted in the bottom of the tra truck the truck has about 100,000 mil used to be a FedEx truck you can see the AC on the roof which is uh rbac of course and the 1650 CFM uh exhaust fan oh something I forgot to mention was this sh power Inlet you can connect to to your house or a commissary this way on the side of the 1650 CFM fan is a small uh grease catch pan so the grease doesn't run down the side of the truck let's go inside and see the interior of this beautiful food truck and to get to the inside is a RV door that we put in of course the much like most FedEx trucks the back of this truck was uh much like that uh it had a rollup door which of course we demolished and uh uh we framed it in and we added this 32 in wide um RV window RV door and the RV door also has a screen so you can actually just have the screen door on to give a little bit more ventilation now let's go see the inside of this beautiful food truck let's start in the front right there let me turn the AC off right there is the uh three compartment sink NSF approved obviously to comply with the regulations below that is the freshwater tank as that I mentioned earlier 30 Gall 8 Gall water heater electric hand wash sink with Splash GS the soap dispenser and the uh towel dispenser check out the plumbing on the bottom of this we of course make sure that that nothing leaks the water pump that is the service window the interior of it you lift this thing pass the product and it closes by itself this also has a refrigerator and a freezer of course all equipment are mounted to floor as well as to the walls with washes so they're not going anywhere when the truck is in transit right there is the uh the carbon monoxide and the propane uh sensor in case there is a propan or a carbon monoxide Le inside the truck the AC that I just shut off right there is the breaker panel just like all the other food trucks that we built every single piece of equipment has its own breaker so if the refrigerator was to fail it's not going to take out something else and all the wiring is in these conduits this way you can drill into any of the walls to hang like a bracket or a shelf or anything also the wires are not going to get damaged due to chafing that is a 36 in mega top sandwich prep it's got a lot of little trades for the toppings next to that is a propane um steam table next to that is a uh two burner stuff 48 in griddle this is a Mexican food truck of course uh Mexican food uses griddle extens siing the 8 foot um 7 foot in the skis I apologize uh Hood type one with fire separation andil as always these are the individual drops of course this comes certified and installed by uh certified hands tags everywhere more Outlets that's the interior of the generator box you can of course keep something on top of it if you like the floor is of course aluminum diamond plate all the walls are stainless steel that brings us to the end of the tour of this beautiful food truck if you have any questions would like a food truck for yourself um get in touch with us at uh mile highcustom food trucks.com or Zion food trucks.com thank you and have a nice day
Custom 16-foot Mexican food truck.
22ft Cameroonian BBQ Trailer
Lincoln, NE
Read the video transcript: Lincoln Cameroonian BBQ
hello and welcome to Mile High and Zion food trucks today we have this beautiful 22 ft barbecue trailer it's actually an African barbecue trailer that we're shipping out today let's check out its many features it's kind of uh noisy outside so we starting in on the inside here we have a 10 ft hood of course with fire suppression um two friers 40 lb each of them and a fairly large gr uh large range the range has six burners and a 24in griddle and two ovens that's just the box that the TV came in we'll show you the TV later this is a freezer an undercounter freezer worktop freezer so they can do their um cutting and other stuff here a table a service table that is that's the service vendor self closing of course as with every other trailer Inside the walls or truck inside the walls is 1 in of insulation 9/16 in of plywood and the cooking wall is stainless the other walls they are uh F FRP every single circuit is of course um separately isolated with individual Breakers lights for inside and outside that's the switch for the uh fan itself AC remote that's the AC with heat three compartment sink hand wash sink soap and towel dispensers all the plumbing is on the inside right here the gray water tank and the fresh water tank of course pump water heater so of course locks away little microwave over there that's the bottle for the fire separation system and uh twin refrigerators the customer wanted a double door um this this trailer is not tall enough for a double door refrigerator so we got them two separate um individual refrigerators the floor is aluminum diamond plate LED lights of course and uh the walls as I mentioned is FP here stainless steel on this side let's go outside and uh see the how the outside on the outside of this trailer of course is the beautiful wrap which is of course cameroonian uh themed on top is the big fan which is I think 1650 CFM um with the little drip tray catch tray on top so the grease doesn't run down the side of the the trailer the generator box which houses the actual generator inside generator is of course on slides up front is is the shore power Inlet the water inlet gray water drain right there and of course the two LP cases on this side is of course the service window and the menu display which is of course both of these are lockable and can be secured this is the the business end of the trailer which is of course a charcoal and that is inside a porch it has a door to access the kitchen of course there is a porch light as well as well as a an outdoor rated electrical box in case they wanted to connect something else here that brings us to the end of this tour a beautiful 22 ft African food truck if you have any questions or if you would like a a food truck build for yourself get in touch with us through www zood trucks.com or migh food trucks.com thank you and have a nice day
22-foot BBQ trailer built for high-volume Lincoln catering.
Lincoln runs a formal Food Truck Pilot Program. They want you organized, they want you compliant, and if you are, they make space for you. We’ve built trucks for Lincoln operators and watched them succeed. The path is clear if you know what to expect.
The city’s progressive about food trucks-they’ve set aside zones, they’ve got infrastructure, and there’s real foot traffic. But you’ve got to follow the program.
Permits, Licensing, and the Lincoln Framework
Let’s start with what Lincoln actually requires. The Food Truck Pilot Program sits with the City Clerk’s Office. You’ll need:
An annual occupation tax of $50. Per-employee fee of $25 for each employee. An annual city permit of $50. Daily metered parking will run you about $10 per day depending on location.
Liability insurance is $500,000 minimum-that’s less aggressive than some cities, but don’t go below it. Your insurance agent can quote you in an afternoon.
The state still requires a permit: $122 initial, $61 for renewals. You’re dealing with two permits-state and city-but the state comes first. Get that approved, then apply to Lincoln.
Contact the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department at (402) 441-6280. They handle the health side. Have them on speed dial.
Health Department – 30-Day Lead Time
You need a Mobile Food Unit Permit from Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. Here’s the critical part: your application has to be received 30 days before you plan to operate. Plan for that timeline.
All your employees need Food Handler Permits. That’s straightforward-online course, quick certification. Budget a few hours per person.
Your commissary is mandatory, same as everywhere else. You need a licensed commercial kitchen. Lincoln’s got options, but you’ve got to have one before you’re approved.
One difference from some cities: Lincoln limits you to 4 hours at any single metered space unless you’re at a special event. That keeps truck operators moving and prevents anyone from monopolizing a spot.
Where You Can Operate – The Zones
Lincoln’s got designated food truck zones. They don’t mandate you operate only there, but these are the moves:
Tuesday: Centennial Mall and R Street. That’s near UNL. Students and campus traffic. College towns work.
Wednesday: Goodhue Boulevard and H Street. Close to the State Capitol. Government workers, lunch crowds, foot traffic.
Thursday-Friday: 8th and M Streets in the Haymarket district. That’s where the money is. Haymarket’s got restaurants, bars, late-night traffic, weekend crowds. If you can get a regular Thursday-Friday spot there, lock it in.
You’re allowed in B-3 and B-4 commercial zoning districts. Downtown parallel-metered stalls work. You’ve got to be at least half a block from an established restaurant, but Lincoln’s not unreasonable about this-they know you’re not the same business as a brick-and-mortar place.
Check Chapter 10.46 of the Lincoln Municipal Code. It’s titled VENDOR’S TRUCKS. Read it. It’s not dense and it’ll answer specific questions.
The 4-hour limit applies to metered spaces. That’s the rule. Some operators do multiple spots in a day-breakfast at one location, lunch at another, evening service elsewhere. It works if you’ve got the logistics.
Fire Code and Suppression Systems
Nebraska requires fire suppression systems on food trucks. Lincoln Fire & Rescue conducts inspections. The system’s got to meet NFPA and State Fire Marshal approval-same standard as Omaha and everywhere else.
Your propane has to be securely mounted with adequate ventilation. No shortcuts. Regulators, commercial-grade hoses, proper venting. We build this into every truck and Lincoln will verify it.
Get inspected before you operate. Lincoln Fire & Rescue will catch issues and tell you what to fix. It’s better to know now than to get shut down mid-service.
The Lincoln Food Truck Scene
Lincoln’s got momentum. Wild Wednesdays is a series in South Haymarket-that’s an organized event with established demand. You’ll see trucks lined up.
UNL campus is strong territory. Students eat and they’ll try new vendors. Campus nearby events, late-night service-it works.
Haymarket is the hub. It’s got restaurants, bars, outdoor space, and traffic that sustains food trucks. Guys like Rosari’s Kitchen (pupusas), Mary Ellen’s BBQ, and Harper’s Smokehouse have figured it out. Papi Churros operates seasonal (May through August) and does solid numbers.
The Haymarket Market itself is worth knowing about. It’s where foot traffic concentrates. If you can secure a spot nearby, do it.
We built a couple of rigs for Lincoln operators we want you to see:
Read the video transcript: Lincoln Cameroonian BBQ
hello and welcome to Mile High and Zion food trucks today we have this beautiful 22 ft barbecue trailer it's actually an African barbecue trailer that we're shipping out today let's check out its many features it's kind of uh noisy outside so we starting in on the inside here we have a 10 ft hood of course with fire suppression um two friers 40 lb each of them and a fairly large gr uh large range the range has six burners and a 24in griddle and two ovens that's just the box that the TV came in we'll show you the TV later this is a freezer an undercounter freezer worktop freezer so they can do their um cutting and other stuff here a table a service table that is that's the service vendor self closing of course as with every other trailer Inside the walls or truck inside the walls is 1 in of insulation 9/16 in of plywood and the cooking wall is stainless the other walls they are uh F FRP every single circuit is of course um separately isolated with individual Breakers lights for inside and outside that's the switch for the uh fan itself AC remote that's the AC with heat three compartment sink hand wash sink soap and towel dispensers all the plumbing is on the inside right here the gray water tank and the fresh water tank of course pump water heater so of course locks away little microwave over there that's the bottle for the fire separation system and uh twin refrigerators the customer wanted a double door um this this trailer is not tall enough for a double door refrigerator so we got them two separate um individual refrigerators the floor is aluminum diamond plate LED lights of course and uh the walls as I mentioned is FP here stainless steel on this side let's go outside and uh see the how the outside on the outside of this trailer of course is the beautiful wrap which is of course cameroonian uh themed on top is the big fan which is I think 1650 CFM um with the little drip tray catch tray on top so the grease doesn't run down the side of the the trailer the generator box which houses the actual generator inside generator is of course on slides up front is is the shore power Inlet the water inlet gray water drain right there and of course the two LP cases on this side is of course the service window and the menu display which is of course both of these are lockable and can be secured this is the the business end of the trailer which is of course a charcoal and that is inside a porch it has a door to access the kitchen of course there is a porch light as well as well as a an outdoor rated electrical box in case they wanted to connect something else here that brings us to the end of this tour a beautiful 22 ft African food truck if you have any questions or if you would like a a food truck build for yourself get in touch with us through www zood trucks.com or migh food trucks.com thank you and have a nice day
This is a 22-foot Cameroonian BBQ trailer we built for a Lincoln operator. That’s a real cooking platform. Full-service BBQ operation with solid capacity. This is the kind of truck that justifies a Friday night spot in Haymarket.
This is an all-electric food truck. Lincoln’s got progressive policy on sustainability and electric vehicles. If you’re building new, electric is worth serious consideration. It cuts fuel costs, zero emissions comply with environmental policy, and you stand out. Plus, some events prefer electric operators. We’re building more of these every year.
Timeline and Execution
You’re looking at 6-8 weeks if you’re organized. State permit approval, health department pre-inspection and approval, commissary verification, city permit issuance-these overlap but they’re sequential requirements.
Don’t miss that 30-day window. If the health department says they need your application 30 days before you want to operate, that’s your hard date.
Build in buffer. If you’re targeting opening in June, you want all permits by May 1. That gives you two weeks to solve problems.
What We Build for Lincoln
We specialize in food trucks that work for real operators in real markets. Lincoln’s compressed seasons and specific zones mean your truck has to be flexible and efficient.
Custom food truck builds are our core business. Whether it’s BBQ, Mexican, coffee, or something specific to your concept, we build it right.
Food trailer builds are popular for Lincoln-trailers park more easily in tight downtown spots and you keep your personal vehicle separate.
Electric trucks are relevant here. Lincoln’s progressive. If you’re serious about being different and complying with the city’s sustainability goals, electric works.
We offer financing so you’re not maxing credit cards. Operational food trucks in Lincoln can generate revenue fast-we can help you finance the build and you start paying back from sales.
Next Step: Get Real Numbers
Stop guessing. Get a free quote on your Lincoln food truck. We’ll walk you through the build, the truck size that makes sense for your concept, timelines, and what it costs. We’ll also talk through the Haymarket zone strategy with you-we know what’s worked for other operators.
You’ve got real opportunity in Lincoln. The city’s organized, the zones are established, and there’s consistent foot traffic. Let’s build your truck right and get you operating.
