Food Truck Service Guidelines

Beaufort County Welcomes Food Trucks!

We are currently reviewing our food truck policies and hope to revise and clarify. This is an interim step to provide clarity to guide your operations until our review of mobile food service is complete. 

Food Truck / Trailer operations are expected to adhere to these conditions: 
  1. Required to maintain documentation of the necessary approvals from SC DHEC and any other agency documentation necessary to provide food service. 
  2. Required South Carolina Retail License. https://scbos.sc.gov/
  3. Required to possess a current Beaufort County Business License (a Hawker and Peddler License does not allow a mobile food service to stay in one location; it must be mobile)  as determined and issued by the Licensing Official. 
  4. Required to collect and remit Hospitality Taxes in the same manner as other food service enterprises. 
  5. Required to possess confirmation of permission from the owner (or authorized agent) of the property where the unit is parked. This permission should include a legible name, signature, and phone number of the authorizing individual. 
  6. Required picture of unit.
  7. The unit must be parked in a location that does not create traffic or safety problems and does not interfere with the activities of other businesses or otherwise interfere with other lawful activities or violate any statutes, ordinances, or other laws. Must immediately comply with requests or directives to relocate the unit for such reasons. 
  8. The vehicle cannot be left unattended or left at a sales site overnight. 
  9. Owner/operator is responsible for identifying suitable access to restrooms for employees. 
  10. Owner/operator is responsible for removing their garbage and keeping surroundings free from litter. Must provide own waste receptacles. No garbage is to be left onsite. 
  11. Sales to general public are permitted on parcels zoned T2RN, T2RC, T4HC, T4VC, T4HCO, T4NC, C4CCMU and C5RCMU. A zoning permit is required and will list approved areas for each location in which the business would like to operate.
  12. Assuming conditions 1-10 above are met, truck / trailer can cater occasional private special events on private property within other zones. However, in those cases, sales should be limited to event attendees only (not to the general public).  
  13. Owners of Commercial properties are required to contact the Zoning Department and provide 3 copies of the site plan showing the area that the trucks will be parked, provide the sign off form    from the fire marshal (Fire Safety Standard Form) and a narrative describing the proposed use. 
  14. Should you be interested in being a food vendor at a Beaufort County Parks and Recreation sponsored special event, contact the Beaufort County Parks and Recreation at 843-255-6710.
  15. The County has identified locations within the unincorporated boundaries that are able to accommodate this type of business. There is no limit on how often a food truck can operate within a permitted area; however it may not use the same location daily on a weekly basis. The County encourages operators to rotate among the permitted sites. Conditions 1-10 apply in these situations as well.
  16. Food Truck Guidelines submit with the New Business Package. 

These conditions are subject to change as the county continues its review of the regulatory policies for this type of business activity. 

Food Truck Zoning Area Maps