Kearney has UNK, a busy I-80 interchange and a downtown that has embraced food trucks. Its ordinance, effective January 2025, is one of the clearest in the state. This guide was rewritten in October 2026.
The health license
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture licenses food trucks everywhere except Douglas County, Lincoln and Lancaster County, and the Central District Health Department area around Grand Island. LB245 of 2025 caps the state mobile unit fee at $122 initial and $61 a year, with annual fees due on 1 August, and Nebraska now uses the 2022 FDA Food Code.
Building a food truck for Kearney? See what a fully-equipped, inspection-ready truck actually costs with our free build & cost calculator.
Buffalo County is not a contracted area, so the Nebraska Department of Agriculture licenses Kearney trucks, and the city asks for a copy of that permit.
The Kearney city permit
Under Ordinance 8702 a city permit is required on public and private property. The application sets the permit at $100, expiring on 31 December, and the downtown district at $80 a day or $1,000 a year. On public property you need $1 million and $2 million insurance naming the city.
Where you can and cannot park
No customer lines in traffic lanes, no parking near intersections or driveways, written owner consent on private property, and written HOA or neighbour authorisation in the R-1, R-1D and R-2 zones. Pick up trash within 20 feet and no amplified sound. Downtown, trucks operate only at city approved events, business sponsored events in front of that business, or public lots with approval.
Fire inspection
The ordinance requires operable fire suppression equipment. Inspectors look for a Type I hood with a UL 300 suppression system serviced every six months, Class K and ABC extinguishers, propane cylinders secured outside the cab with leak tested lines, and a propane alarm.
Sales tax
7 percent combined, 5.5 percent state and 1.5 percent city, plus Kearney’s 1 percent restaurant and drinking place occupation tax, which the ordinance applies to food trucks.
Where trucks sell in Kearney
UNK campus events, downtown Kearney events, the Platte River crane season, I-80 traffic, Yanney Park and private catering.
In order
Get the state license from the Department of Agriculture. Apply for the Kearney permit with a copy of it, and the downtown add on if you want downtown. Register for sales tax and the restaurant occupation tax.
Common Reasons Food Trucks Fail Kearney Inspections
Propane certification missing or expired. Most common failure. Fire department always checks. Missing certification equals immediate failure.
Ansul system not operational or outdated. Used trucks often arrive with discharged or uncertified Ansul systems.
Commissary kitchen not licensed. Some operators try to use unlicensed spaces. Buffalo County checks; unlicensed kitchens result in denial.
Temperature control issues. Refrigeration must hold cold at 41 degrees or lower. If coolers aren’t cold enough, you’ll be cited.
Handwashing station not properly installed. Must be separate from prep sink and have hot water. Some operators forget hot water connections.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a food truck permit in Kearney?
$100 a year, expiring 31 December. Downtown adds $80 a day or $1,000 a year.
Can food trucks operate in Kearney neighbourhoods?
In the R-1, R-1D and R-2 zones only with written HOA or neighbour authorisation.
Does Kearney’s restaurant tax apply to food trucks?
Yes, the 1 percent restaurant and drinking place occupation tax applies to trucks under the ordinance.
Related guides
Nebraska food truck permits · Omaha · Lincoln · Bellevue · Grand Island · Fremont · Hastings · Norfolk
Building a truck for Kearney
We build every truck to pass the plan review, the health inspection and the fire inspection on the first visit: a Type I hood with suppression installed by a licensed company, a three compartment sink and a hand sink with hot water, tanks sized for a full day, and propane in secured cylinders with a leak detector. Custom food trucks start at $55,000 and trailers at $40,000. Call or text 719-722-2537 with your menu.
Jacob Varghese
Zion Foodtrucks
719-722-2537
Zion Foodtrucks builds custom food trucks, trailers, and concession trailers from our shop in Monument, Colorado and delivers them ready to pass inspection across the Mountain West. Owner Jacob Varghese and our team work with first-time owners every day, sourcing the vehicle and handling the full build so you do not have to. Questions about permits or your build? Call or text Jacob at 719-722-2537 or see our custom build services.
Free Food Truck Permit & Inspection Checklist
We put together a printable checklist covering every permit and inspection a mobile food business typically needs. Tell us where to send it and it is yours.
Next steps: free build & cost calculator · 2026 food truck cost guide · food truck financing
Already Have a Truck? We Do the Compliance Work Too
Passing an inspection is one thing, staying current is another. We handle the recurring items out of our Colorado shop:
- LP gas pressure testing, $350. Required annually, and again after any modification.
- Fire suppression inspection and service, $300. The code interval is every 6 months, not annual, which catches a lot of operators out.
- Hood and exhaust cleaning, with the written report and logbook entry inspectors ask to see.
Booked together they are one visit and one day off the road instead of three. Call or text 719-722-2537.
Ready to build your truck?
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.