Nebraska is a straightforward state for a food truck once you know which office licenses you, and a 2025 law changed the fees and the Food Code. This guide was rewritten in October 2026 from the statute and the health departments’ own pages; an earlier version gave rough fee ranges that we could not support.
Who licenses you
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 Zion Foodtrucks. 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.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture licenses food establishments, including mobile units, everywhere except three areas where it contracts with a local health department: Douglas County (Omaha), Lincoln and Lancaster County, and the Central District Health Department around Grand Island. If your truck is based in one of those, you apply locally; everywhere else NDA’s sanitarians cover the state. There is no statewide reciprocity rule, so if you work regularly in a second jurisdiction, ask that department what it needs.
Building a food truck for Nebraska? See what a fully-equipped, inspection-ready truck actually costs with our free build & cost calculator.
LB245, signed on 29 April 2025, raised the statutory caps. For a mobile food unit the maximum is now $122 for the initial permit and $61 a year per unit, and a commissary is $122 initial and $171 a year. The director sets the actual fees each year up to those caps, so check NDA’s current schedule when you apply. The truck’s fee attaches to its operator’s permit, usually the commissary. A mobile food establishment that does not return to a commissary each day needs its own permit and pays the full annual fee. Annual fees are due on 1 August whatever the issue date; paying more than a month late adds 50 percent, then 100 percent the next month, and the permit is void if fees are unpaid 90 days after the due date.
Local departments charge their own fees. Douglas County listed $569 a year for a mobile food and drink vendor in the 2025 to 2026 cycle, with drink only units at $243, and Lincoln charges $210 per mobile unit. Our Omaha and Lincoln guides have the detail.
The Food Code and the truck
LB245 moved Nebraska to the 2022 FDA Food Code, excluding some sections, including the certified manager requirement. NDA’s food truck requirements ask for a wastewater tank 15 percent larger than the fresh water tank, a fresh water inlet of three quarters of an inch or less, hand sink water at 85 degrees or more, a three compartment sink, and no home prepared food. Hoods are referred to the State Fire Marshal. Submit a request for permit about 60 days before you open and pass the inspection before you sell.
Managers and food handlers
The state does not require a certified food protection manager; NDA’s guidance says at least one person should be one. Local rules go further. Lincoln requires a $20 food handler permit, valid two years, for every food worker, and a $30 food protection manager permit for managers. Douglas County launched food handler training in January 2026 under an Omaha ordinance: workers certify within 30 days of hire, $20 for two years.
Fire and propane
Fire inspection is local. Lincoln requires a mobile food preparation vehicle operational permit from its Bureau of Fire Prevention for trucks with grease or smoke producing appliances, renewed every 31 December. Omaha Fire inspects trucks too. In both cities the inspector looks for a Type I hood with a UL 300 suppression system, Class K and ABC extinguishers, and secured propane with leak tested lines.
Sales and occupation tax
The state sales tax is 5.5 percent, plus 1.5 percent in Omaha for 7 percent combined and 1.75 percent in Lincoln for 7.25 percent. Both cities add a restaurant occupation tax: 2.5 percent of food and beverage receipts in Omaha, extended to food trucks in 2016, and 2 percent in Lincoln, paid monthly or quarterly.
Business setup
A Nebraska LLC costs $100 to file online with the Secretary of State, with a biennial report due by 1 April in odd numbered years. Workers’ compensation is required from the first employee.
In order
Find out which department covers your base. Line up a commissary. Request your permit about 60 days ahead, pass the inspection, and get the fire permit where your city requires one. Register for sales tax and any city occupation tax. Then get food handler training sorted for Omaha or Lincoln.
Common Mistakes Nebraska Food Truck Operators Make
We’ve fielded calls from entrepreneurs stalled at every step. Here’s what goes wrong most often:
Not checking zoning first. Some neighborhoods prohibit food trucks outright. One operator in Omaha secured his health license only to learn he couldn’t operate in his target neighborhood without a conditional-use permit. He lost two months.
Underestimating commissary kitchen cost. New operators often assume they can use a home kitchen. Nebraska law requires a licensed commercial kitchen. Home use isn’t an option.
Buying a used truck without fire inspection. Many used food trucks from other states don’t meet Nebraska code. You can’t just import one from another state. Budget to have it fully re-inspected and updated before you operate.
Skipping the health department pre-inspection meeting. Call your health department before you build your truck or sign a lease. A 15-minute phone call can save you thousands in redoing work.
Confusing county and city requirements. You need both. Sometimes they overlap; sometimes they conflict. Always contact both your county health department and your city planning office.
On video: trucks we built for Nebraska
Walkthrough of the all electric coffee van, Hastings.
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
Walkthrough of the 16ft Mexican food truck, Omaha.
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses food trucks in Nebraska?
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture, except in Douglas County, Lancaster County and the Central District around Grand Island, where NDA contracts with the local health department. A truck based in Omaha deals with the Douglas County Health Department, one based in Lincoln with the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department.
How much is a food truck permit in Nebraska?
LB245 of 2025 set the state maximum for a mobile food unit at $122 for the initial permit and $61 a year per unit, with the director setting the actual fee each year up to those caps. Local departments charge their own amounts: Douglas County listed $569 a year for a mobile food and drink vendor in the 2025 to 2026 cycle, and Lincoln charges $210 per mobile unit.
When do Nebraska food permits renew?
NDA annual fees are due on 1 August every year. Douglas County mobile permits run from 1 April to 31 March. Lincoln bills on its own cycle.
Does Nebraska require a certified food manager?
Not statewide. NDA’s food truck guidance says at least one person should be a certified food protection manager, which is a recommendation. Lincoln requires food handler permits for every worker and a manager permit for managers, and Omaha requires food handler training within 30 days of hire since January 2026.
Which Food Code does Nebraska use?
The 2022 FDA Food Code, adopted by LB245 in 2025, with some sections excluded, including the certified manager requirement.
What sales tax does a Nebraska food truck charge?
The state rate is 5.5 percent plus local sales tax, so 7 percent in Omaha and 7.25 percent in Lincoln. Omaha adds a 2.5 percent restaurant occupation tax that applies to food trucks, and Lincoln a 2 percent restaurant and bar occupation tax.
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 detector. We have delivered trucks across Nebraska, including an all electric coffee van to Hastings. Custom food trucks start at $55,000 and trailers at $40,000. Call or text 719-722-2537 with your menu and where you plan to sell.
Jacob Varghese Zion Foodtrucks 719-722-2537
Written & reviewed by the Zion Foodtrucks build team
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.
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.
