Food truck fire inspection checklist: what the fire marshal checks
Short answer
The fire marshal checks six things: the hood and suppression tag, the extinguishers, the propane system, the generator, the electrical and how far you park from buildings. Most US rules trace back to NFPA 96 and NFPA 58. Austin charges $222 for the inspection and charges it again after a fail, so walk this list before the appointment.
Last reviewed by the Trailer3D editorial team · How we source prices
| System | What gets checked | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hood and suppression | Grease-producing appliances protected by fire-extinguishing equipment; current tag | NFPA 96, 10.1.2; Austin |
| Hood operation | Cook only with the exhaust running; hood and ducts clean | NFPA 96, 12.1.1 and 12.4 |
| Extinguishers | Class K plus 2A:10BC, held in a vehicle bracket, per NFPA 10 | NFPA 96, 10.9; Prosper |
| Propane piping | Pressure test on new or modified piping; flexible connector from regulator to fixed piping | NFPA 58, 16.6.10 and 16.6.8.1 |
| Propane cylinders | Leak test at every cylinder change, paperwork kept on the unit | NFPA 58, 16.11.5 and 16.11.3 |
| Gas detection | Tested monthly where installed; LP system checked by eye daily | NFPA 96, 17.8.2.2 and 17.8.2.3 |
| Generator | Exhaust 12 ft from openings, air intakes and exits; barrier from the public; refuel only when closed | NFPA 96, 17.6.2.3(1), 17.6.2.2, 17.8.3 |
| Electrical | Complies with NFPA 70; GFCI outlets; no extension cords as permanent power | NFPA 96, 17.9.1; Prosper |
| Site | 10 ft from buildings, structures, vehicles and combustibles; no public seating inside | NFPA 96, 17.2; NFPA 1, 50.8.3.2 |
Why trucks actually fail
Prosper, TX publishes its top violations, and almost none of them are exotic. On the electrical side: outlets without GFCI protection, missing breaker filler plates, multi-plug adaptors, and extension cords standing in for permanent power. On propane: an expired TxDOT 10-year tank certification, vertical cylinders with no bracket, and no flexible connector. Fuel cans stored in the passenger compartment. Cooking equipment that is not listed for commercial use.
Then the big ones: no Type I hood, no hood suppression, or a suppression system past due for re-certification. Extinguishers rolling loose instead of sitting in a vehicle bracket.
Read that list again and notice how many are build decisions. A residential range, a cheap power strip, a cylinder strapped to the bumper. The builder made those calls, and you pay the re-inspection fee.
Propane: where most of the paperwork lives
NFPA 58 wants a pressure test on any new or modified piping (16.6.10) and a leak test on the cylinder connections every time a cylinder is swapped (16.11.5), with the record kept on the unit (16.11.3). NFPA 96 adds a daily visual check of the LP system (17.8.2.3) and a monthly test of the gas detector where one is installed (17.8.2.2).
Austin goes further. It caps propane on the vehicle at 200 lb for cooking, bans cylinders on rear bumpers, exterior sides or below the frame, and wants the relief valve at least 3 ft horizontally from doors, windows, intakes and exhaust. Flex hose is limited to 60 in per appliance and may not pass through walls. A licensed LPG plumber must sign a Propane System Inspection Report every year, and new units need a listed propane alarm.
Our food truck propane calculator helps you size tanks without going over a cap like Austin's.
Generator and parking distances
The generator exhaust must sit at least 12 ft from openings, air intakes and means of egress (NFPA 96, 17.6.2.3(1)), and the generator needs a barrier between it and the public (17.6.2.2). You refuel only when you are not operating (17.8.3).
The truck itself needs 10 ft of clearance from buildings, structures, other vehicles and combustibles (NFPA 96, 17.2). No public seating inside the truck (NFPA 1, 50.8.3.2). Event organizers pack trucks tight, and the 10 ft rule is the one that gets bent until an inspector walks the row.
Know which code edition your city uses
The NFPA fact sheet references the 2024 editions of NFPA 1, 58, 96 and 70. Maryland's state fire marshal checklist still points to NFPA 1 (2021) Chapter 50. Section numbers and some details shift between editions, so ask your fire marshal's office which edition they enforce and get their checklist. Lenexa, KS and Austin both publish one.
Failed already? Here is the order to fix it
A common story from new owners: the builder sold it as turnkey, and the fire marshal failed it for no hood suppression, an expired tag or no gas detector. On a suppression installers' forum, one thread has an installer and the local fire authority arguing over whether a food truck hood counted as Class 1. That argument is cheaper to have before the steel is cut.
It can get worse than one bad inspection. In Colorado a court ordered the owners of Denver and Brothers Custom Food Trucks to pay $4.5 million after trucks arrived late, never arrived, or came with equipment that failed Denver Fire inspections.
Fix the paperwork items first (tags, propane report, tank certification), because those are a phone call. Then the bracket and GFCI items, which are a day of work. Hood and suppression changes take longest, so book the installer the same day you get the fail notice.
The builder handoff packet
Do not make final payment until you hold these: the suppression tag with install date and fusible link date, the propane pressure test record and the annual propane inspection report where your city requires one, the tank certification dates, an electrical sign-off, and the listing labels or spec sheets showing every cooking appliance is listed for commercial use.
If you are collecting quotes through Trailer3D, put this packet in your plan notes so each of the up to 4 builders prices it in from the start.
Questions
What does the fire marshal check on a food truck?
The hood and suppression tag, extinguishers, propane system and records, generator placement, electrical (GFCI, no extension cords) and clearance from buildings and vehicles.
What is NFPA 1 Chapter 50?
It is the chapter of the NFPA 1 Fire Code covering commercial cooking, including mobile food units. Some states, such as Maryland, still reference the 2021 edition, so ask which one your city enforces.
How far must a food truck be from a building?
NFPA 96 section 17.2 calls for 10 ft of clearance from buildings, structures, vehicles and combustibles.
Do food trucks need a propane leak detector?
Many cities require one. Austin requires a listed propane alarm on new units, and NFPA 96 requires a monthly test of the gas detection system where one is installed.
How much is a food truck fire inspection?
It varies by city. Austin charges $222 and charges again after a fail, a late arrival or a no-show.
Sources
- NFPA: Food Truck Safety fact sheet (hosted by North Davis Fire District)
- Town of Prosper, TX Fire Marshal: Top reasons hot food units fail inspections
- City of Austin: Fire mobile vending
- Maryland State Fire Marshal: Mobile food vehicle checklist
- City of Lenexa, KS: Mobile food truck inspection checklist
- Food Truck Operator: Court orders $4.5 million judgment against food truck builders
- r/KitchenSuppression (mirror): Food truck hood thread
Describe it once and up to 4 verified builders who serve your area send quotes. Free, no obligation.
