Getting Health Dept. Approvals

Getting Health Dept. Approvals

Check with your Local Health Dept.

They will tell you about local codes to which you and your new cart must conform. Obtain a printed copy of these health codes for future reference.

Take with you the schematics and details of your hot dog cart (print these off from our site). Since they may want to know the technical specifications such as materials of construction, equipment installed, water capacity, and other features to compare with their codes and regulations.

Be professional, friendly, polite, and patient. Take notes. Ask questions if you do not fully understand any points. Certainly, It is easier and less costly to ask questions first than to pay fines later.

Commissary

Many hot dog vendors step around local health codes by making a deal with a nearby commissary. A commissary is a restaurant or deli that will provide you with food preparation and storage services. By getting them to set aside some storage area for your food and prepare some of the condiments, you avoid the hassle and worry of having to meet many difficult regulations! In some areas the local laws require that a hot dog cart operator must work from a commissary.

See the section of this site Health Department Links for a list of helpful links to various Health Department websites in the U.S. and Canada. These often have good detailed information for foodservice businesses. We have included clues and directions to get you to the places you need to go.

You can also go to your local city and your county health department website and search for information. Look for headings or search for info using the terms food handling, food protection, food manager certification, food service certification, mobile vendor, hot dog vendor, permits, and licenses.

Often these local city governments offer short training courses on starting a small business in their city and food handling certification courses. These courses usually take between 6 and 15 hours and generally cost between $100 and $400. Often city business permits can be procured online. A food handling course varies in length from 1-3 days.

See the section Health Guidelines for a plain language comprehensive guidebook on how to run a hotdog cart within the parameters required by most health departments in North America.

California Retail Food Code

Customers in California must now conform to the new California Retail Food Code which came into effect in July of 2007. The new Cal Code is the most comprehensive set of health department legislation affecting mobile food vendors in the United States. To help our customers accommodate these new regulations, we have set up a special website to deal exclusively with hot dog carts in California.

WHY CHOOSE US

Experience

We bring decades of real-life hot dog hot dog slingin’ experience! We design carts that we have loved and used for years and are confident you will feel the same way.  

Quality

Each cart is assembled by our team of skilled craftspeople and thoroughly inspected before it leaves our manufacturing facility. 

 

Support

We are available 24/7 to support you in your new business venture. Our warranty / extended warranty are the best in the business and will give you the extra security you may need when making this exciting investment.