The expression of interest opens 9am 15 January 2026 and closes 5pm 6 March 2026. See How to submit an EOI for how to get involved.
The food van program allows operators to access designated on-street spaces within our municipality for ongoing trade.up to two years. We also permit trade from some privately owned spaces, where the food van operator can obtain written consent from the property owner.
We run an expression of interest (EOI) process for all of our on-street locations. If vacancies arise in the program, we keep a reserve list of traders, or run subsequent EOIs for the vacant locations. You can submit a registration at any time to be informed of the next EOI.
If you want to place a food card on a footpath to trade, see our Footpath street trading permit.
Program criteria
To be considered for this program, you will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- a current certificate of registration of food premises for your food van
- current public liability insurance cover of $20 million
- a food van which fits within a standard vehicle parking bay when in operation (including generator), and trade is from the passenger (left hand) side of the vehicle
- a registered business name and able to provide the vehicle licence plate number
- written consent from the property owner to use the space (privately owned spaces only).
A permit is required under the Activities Local Law 2024. Permits are issued for up to 2 years.
How to submit an EOI
Food van permits are handled via an EOI process, with permits offered for up to two years. If a space becomes available, we keep a list of reserves to offer the position to. If the reserve list is exhausted, we will run an EOI to fill the location and communicate to those who have submitted a registration for the program, to advise the EOI is open.
If you are interested in submitting an EOI, you must meet the program criteria, as well as respond to the following assessment criteria:
- History and experience - Provide a summary of your history and experience
- Food van operations - How does the food van operate, including number of employees, how you prepare food and your ability to consistently activate the space.
- Catering to a large crowd - What capacity do you have to cater to a large crowd?
- Waste management - What is your Waste Management Plan?
- Sustainability - What power source does your food van use to operate (generator, solar panels, gas, etc.)?
- Marketing and promotion - How will you promote your food truck at the proposed location? Provide a copy of your full menu, including current prices.
- Menu/products - What is your menu including price list, type of offering and variety?
In addition, you will need to provide the following:
- Photos and / or design drawings of your food van, both inside and out.
- Your top three preferred locations to trade. We recommend viewing your preferred locations prior to making a submission. See Site information and fees
- At least one reference or letter of support for your business from another Council or event organiser.
- You have read and understood the permit terms and conditions (DOCX 29 KB).
- A copy of your Food Trader registration and certificate of public liability insurance for $20 million.
You will need to provide all of the required information for your application to be assessed. EOIs will be scored against other submissions, based on the quality and level of detail provided. The more information you provide will help us to review your EOI submission.
To help you understand what is involved in submitting an EOI, we have outlined the approximate timeframes and steps below.
Expression of interest for all locations:
- The EOI period has opened, and a submission deadline date is listed on the food van webpage.
- Once the deadline has passed, EOIs that have been completed in full will be assessed by an internal panel, against the requirements, to determine ranking of submissions, and preferred locations. This usually takes 3 to 4 weeks.
- Successful submissions will be contacted about locations, to ensure all locations are filled, and to book site inspections. This usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.
- Unsuccessful submissions will be notified. This usually takes one week.
- City of Melbourne portal accounts will be created on behalf of operators, and permits drafted to commence once the existing permits at the location have expired. You will also be required to submit a Statement of Trade via FoodTrader External link. This usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.
Submit an EOI application
How to register
You can register for the next EOI, or to use privately owned space by providing basic information about your food van via a registration form, including confirming your eligibility for the program.
Registration to fill vacant location
- Registration is submitted using the link below.
- If the registration has been completed in full, it will be assessed against the eligibility criteria and outcome provided to you. This usually takes approximately a week. If a location within the program becomes available, we will contact you to let you know of the EOI opening so you can make a submission.
- If the location you are registering for is a privately owned space, you will need to provide a letter of written consent from the property owner. We will contact you to discuss the registration and next steps.
Submit a registration
Site information and fees
We have various sites across the municipality included in the food van program. Food van operators can only trade in designated on street locations under a City of Melbourne food van permit. If you are looking to trade from a privately owned / managed space, please submit a registration so we can review the proposed location, to determine if a permit is required.
When completing your EOI submission, you’ll be asked to select your first, second and third preferred site number from the list below. Some sites can accommodate multiple food vans.
Note: it is important to visit your preferred sites, to ensure the sites can accommodate your food van.
| Site number | Location | Number of spaces | Category | Monthly fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Kilda Road adjacent to State Theatre (Arts Centre) | 2 | Premium | $1100 |
| 2 | St Kilda Road adjacent to NGV | 2 | Premium | $1100 |
| 3 | Boathouse Drive, East of rowing sheds | 2 | Standard | $216 |
| 4 | East side of Lansdowne Street, 50 m north of Wellington Parade | 1 | Standard | $216 |
| 5 | East side of Birdwood Avenue adjacent to Gate D of RBG, near Domain Road intersection | 2 | Standard | $216 |
| 6 | North of the main Zoo entry, off Elliot Avenue | 1 | Standard | $216 |
| 7 | East side of Royal Parade adjacent to toilet block, near Park Street | 2 | Standard | $216 |
| 8 | Alexandra Avenue, adjacent to toilet block 107, between Swan and Anderson streets | 2 | Standard | $216 |
Fees are charged monthly in advance, with the first payment required prior to the permit commencing.
Failure to pay the monthly permit fee within 14 days of the invoice date may lead to the permit being suspended or cancelled.
There will be a one-off site inspection fee of $216 for food vans shortlisted in the EOI. This is for a site inspection with our team to review the location and your set up, prior to the permit being issued to ensure suitability.
All fees and charges are subject to annual review as part of City of Melbourne's fees and charges review process. On occasions, locations within the food van program are suspended due to works, events, or other impacts. We will endeavour to advise you in writing with as much notice as possible.
There are other opportunities to operate a food van within the City of Melbourne, including at markets, events and festivals, or privately managed public spaces.
Examples of spaces not managed by the City of Melbourne include:
- Queen Victoria Market
- Federation Square
- Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
- Royal Exhibition Centre.
We will not issue a City of Melbourne food van permit to operate at markets, events and festivals.
To enquire about trading at one of these locations or at an event, market or festival within the municipality, you will need to contact the event organiser or relevant location directly. You can find more information on City of Melbourne events here:
There will be occasions when food van permits will need to be suspended to allow for events such as New Year’s Eve or works to take place. When required, permit holders will be notified via email of the impacts to trading days and times.
Failure to pay monthly permit fees for 2 consecutive months, will result in cancellation of your permit, and your location filled by a new operator. Notification of the permit cancellation will be made in writing.
FAQs
No, sites do not have access to power or water, and food van operators must be self-sufficient to trade at all locations, within the existing bays. It is also preferred for food vans to use sustainable practices and energy sources were possible.
No, food vans are only allowed to remain on site during the permitted times of operation, and must be fully removed outside of these times. If you have a caravan/trailer, you will not be permitted to park the towing vehicle at the food van location.
You should outline how you plan to manage and dispose of waste generated while your food van is operating. It is expected food packaging will be placed in existing street bins by customers. You should outline how you plan to manage and dispose of all other waste generated while your food van is operating, and how you will minimise the volumes going to landfill.
We want to know about your social media presence, branding and how you plan to draw in customers. Let us know how you interact online, or if you use promotions such as meal deals or specials to attract customers.
If the site you want to use is not one of our on-street locations, please use the registration form to provide us with your details and preferred location.
Note: you will be required to provide a letter of consent from the landowner and may require additional consent depending on the location.
One of our team can assist you and provide more information once you have registered.
