No, the Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts program is an approval to trade on Council land, such as on road reserves and public parks.
Learn more about fixed premises licences.
Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts
Apply for your food truck or coffee cart to trade on Council land in Brisbane. Explore the Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts program.
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About the Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts program
Experience the convenience and freshness of food and coffee on the go, with easy access to over 100 local and iconic locations across Council’s road reserves, parks, sports grounds, and foreshore areas. Our program celebrates the city's dynamic outdoor culture, providing residents and visitors with unique culinary experiences.
Benefits include
- Boost your business visibility and prestige as part of the program.
- Easily connect with customers through the new bnefoodtrucks website.
- Easy access to over 100 sites with one approval.
- Pre-book your sites and timeslots through the new mobile trader portal.
Apply to join
If you have a mobile food vehicle and want to trade from Council land, you can apply for a Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts consent.
Before you apply
You must meet the following criteria for a Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts consent:
- be a registered business
- have a current mobile food business licence (for food trucks only)
- have public liability insurance of at least $20 million.
Choose a location
You must trade from an approved location that is booked in advance. Find approved locations, trading times, and any restrictions around the use of generators and cuisine types in the below document.
Choose from Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 based on your business's needs and budget.
| Tier | Description |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Neighbourhood parks, roadside locations near employment hubs, and sports fields. |
| Tier 2 | Busier sites with public toilets, playgrounds, and picnic tables, plus access to all Tier 1 sites. |
| Tier 3 | Access all program locations (Tier 1, 2 and 3) including iconic destinations in urban areas, providing greater opportunities to reach a broad range of customers. |
Once you have your consent, you can trade from any of the locations in the Tier you have chosen.
Understand the fees
Application fees
| Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $160 each application |
| Application renewal fee | $77 each application |
| Application amendment fee | $77 each application |
Occupation fees
| Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $450 per year |
| Tier 2 | $1,650 per year |
| Tier 3 | $2,200 per year |
These fees do not attract GST.
How to apply
Complete the Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts application form.
You will need:
- your mobile food business licence number and ABN
- a copy of your public liability insurance (Certificate of Currency)
- the vehicle’s registration details, dimensions and Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM)
- your choice of Tier (1, 2 or 3).
You can pay the fee using a Visa or Mastercard.
After you apply
If your food truck or coffee cart meets the requirements, you will be emailed a Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts consent notice and an official program magnet to display on your food vehicle.
You will also be emailed an information kit and user guides to help you get the most from the program.
More information
For more information about the Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts program:
- phone Council's Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263)
- email BNE Food Trucks.
Frequently asked questions
Learn more about how to apply for a fixed or mobile food licence.
To operate a food truck permanently on your property, you must have a fixed premises business licence.
A mobile food vehicle permanently on private property is considered a ‘restaurant’ under Brisbane City Plan 2014. This means it may require planning approval.
Learn more about fixed premises licences.
No. The previous Gourmet Food Truck program has been discontinued. To trade from Council land, you will need to apply for a Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts consent.
A flexible three tier approach provides greater flexibility to food truck and coffee cart operators who all have different needs and budgets.
Find out more about the approved locations and tiers.
Over 100 approved locations are included in the Brisbane Food Trucks and Coffee Carts program.
You can propose a new trading location to be included in the program for Council to assess and consider. If you already have a consent and a profile on the booking system, click ‘propose new location’. If you are not part of the program, please send an email.
No. Drive-up sites are no longer available. To trade from Council land, you must use the approved trading locations by pre-booking your trading dates and times.
Council regulates the trading locations and times to ensure food trucks and coffee carts can operate safely while protecting our public spaces and considering the needs of local residents.
Site assessments for each location considered nearby permanent food and drink establishments and included restrictions on some cuisine types to minimise impacts on established businesses.
Your trading location is secured by pre-booking your trading location and time on the new vendor portal. Official parking signs are installed at all approved locations to ensure these sites remain available for food trucks and coffee carts in the program.
Queensland Government design and word limits must be followed for traffic and parking signs. The parking signs apply to all food trucks and coffee carts within the program.
Detailed assessments and consultations determined which sites were suitable for inclusion in the program. The assessment considered site access, safety, foot traffic, potential visitor numbers and site facilities to determine suitability for the program and the appropriate Tier level.
It also considered nearby permanent food and drink establishments and included restrictions on some cuisine types to minimise impacts on established businesses.