How to Fill Out the Chicago Food Truck License Application (Field by Field, 2026)
A field-by-field walkthrough of Chicago's Mobile Food Vehicle license application through BACP — exactly what to enter in each section, the documents to attach, and the small mistakes that get applications kicked back.
This is the granular companion to our Chicago food truck permit deep-dive: that guide covers the whole process; this one walks the actual application, field by field. Chicago's Mobile Food Vehicle license application through BACP is detailed, and a couple of small errors — an undated commissary letter, the wrong license type — send it back. Here's exactly what to put where.
Before you start: pick the license and the channel
- MFD vs MFP — decide first, because it routes your whole application. MFD ($700/2yr) = serve only sealed, pre-packaged food made at a licensed kitchen. MFP ($1,000/2yr) = any on-board preparation. If in doubt, it's MFP — full breakdown in our MFP vs MFD guide.
- Where to apply — online at ChicagoBusinessDirect.org, or in person at the BACP Small Business Center, 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 800 (appointment: 312-744-6249).
Section 1 — Business Information Sheet
The applicant/owner identity section. Enter:
- Full legal name of each applicant/owner (match your government ID exactly)
- Residence address and mailing address (if different)
- Date of birth and SSN or ITIN
- Day and evening phone, email
- Government photo ID for all owners, controlling persons, and registered agents
Common mistake: leaving out a co-owner. Every controlling person needs to be listed with an ID — adding one later restarts review.
Section 2 — Business details
- Legal business name and DBA / assumed name (the public-facing name)
- Business address
- Federal EIN
- Illinois Business Tax (IBT) number — from the Illinois Department of Revenue (register via MyTax Illinois). This is not your EIN.
- Illinois sales tax number / IDOR account
Common mistake: confusing the IBT with the EIN, or applying before you've registered for Illinois sales tax. Register first so the numbers exist.
Section 3 — Vehicle details
- VIN (vehicle identification number)
- License plate number
- Make / model / year
- Storage location if not the commissary
Common mistake: a plate/VIN mismatch with your registration — they cross-check it.
Section 4 — Operation details
- Menu — every item you'll serve
- Menu style — this must be consistent with your MFD vs MFP choice (e.g. don't select MFD with cook-to-order items)
- Commissary name and address
Common mistake: a menu that contradicts the license type — cooked-to-order items on an MFD application is an automatic flag.
Section 5 — Required attachments
This is where most kick-backs happen. Attach:
| Document | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Commissary agreement letter | Must be dated within 30 days of submission, signed, from a Chicago-licensed kitchen (what it must include) |
| GPS affidavit | Names your GPS provider; Chicago requires a live tracking device |
| Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate | Chicago's city certificate (in addition to the state CFPM — see food manager certification) |
| Certificate of insurance | Must name the City of Chicago as additional insured (COI guide) |
| Floor plan / equipment list | Matches your menu and prep flow |
The single most common error: a commissary letter older than 30 days. Get it signed close to your submission date, not months ahead.
After you submit
BACP reviews the application and routes you to the CDPH health inspection and (for cooking units) a Fire Department inspection. Plan for the health inspection — refrigeration temps, handwashing, the cab/prep divider. The full sequence and timeline is in the Chicago deep-dive.
Fill it from your profile
Notice how much of this application is the same data every Chicago truck enters — legal name, EIN, IBT number, VIN, commissary address, insurance details. If you also apply in other cities, you re-enter all of it on every form. AutoFill PDFs saves that vendor profile once and fills the Chicago application — and any other city's — automatically, so you only add what's unique. Then double-check the dated items (commissary letter, COI) and submit.
Related Chicago guides
- Chicago Food Truck Permit: the complete process
- MFP vs MFD: which license do you need?
- What a commissary letter must include
- Chicago permit page — fees, timelines, official links
Based on Chicago BACP Mobile Food Vehicle licensing requirements, verified June 2026. The city updates forms and requirements — confirm the current application and attachments at ChicagoBusinessDirect.org or with BACP before submitting.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I fill out the Chicago food truck license application?
- Apply through ChicagoBusinessDirect.org (or in person at the BACP Small Business Center, 121 N. LaSalle, Room 800). You complete a Business Information Sheet (applicant name, addresses, DOB, SSN/ITIN, contact), then your business details (legal name/DBA, EIN, Illinois Business Tax number, sales tax number), vehicle details (VIN, plate, make/model/year), operation details (menu, MFD vs MFP, commissary), and attach the required documents — commissary letter dated within 30 days, GPS affidavit, food manager certificate, and a certificate of insurance naming the City of Chicago as additional insured.
- MFD or MFP — which Chicago license do I apply for?
- Mobile Food Dispenser (MFD, $700/2yr) is for serving only pre-packaged food sealed at a licensed kitchen — no preparation on board. Mobile Food Preparer (MFP, $1,000/2yr) is for any on-board preparation, including cooking, assembling, or portioning. If you do anything beyond handing over sealed packages, you need MFP. Choosing wrong gets the application kicked back.
- What documents do I attach to the Chicago food truck application?
- A commissary agreement letter dated within 30 days of submission, a GPS affidavit naming your tracking provider, your Chicago Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate, a certificate of insurance with the City of Chicago named as additional insured, your menu, and a floor plan/equipment list. A government photo ID is required for all owners/controlling persons.
- What is the IBT number on the Chicago application?
- IBT is your Illinois Business Tax number — the registration number the Illinois Department of Revenue issues when you register for sales tax through MyTax Illinois. It's different from your federal EIN. Register first (it's free) so you have the number before you apply.
- Where do I submit the Chicago food truck license application?
- Online at ChicagoBusinessDirect.org, or in person at the BACP Small Business Center, 121 N. LaSalle Street, Room 800 (appointment recommended: 312-744-6249). The same business information and attachments apply either way.
Jackie Kotarba is a ServSafe Certified Instructor and Proctor licensed in all 50 states and a working health inspector who provides food manager certification and food-safety training. She brings 15+ years in hospitality — including running her own restaurant and launching the Chicago Pierogi Wagon food truck — to the permit and food-safety guidance on AutoFill PDFs.
Related guides
What Is a Commissary Letter? The Food Truck Requirement Explained (2026)
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