Food Truck Equipment Checklist for a New Food Franchise
A food truck equipment checklist for a new food franchise: what health codes require, what to buy on Amazon versus custom-install, and how to size each piece.
By FranchiseFeast EditorialAI-assisted, source-checkedPublished July 11, 2026Updated October 15, 2026
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are Amazon affiliate links; buying through them costs you nothing extra. It never changes which products we recommend, and prices always come from Amazon, not from us. Details in ourfull disclosure.
A food truck is a commercial kitchen packed into a vehicle, and the equipment list splits cleanly into two kinds of things: gear you buy off the shelf and drop in, and systems that have to be custom-built, installed, and inspected. Knowing which is which saves you from two expensive mistakes, ordering a part you legally cannot self-install, and assuming a custom system is a simple purchase. This checklist walks the whole build, flags what health codes require, and marks every category as buy-it or build-it.
One caveat first: the requirements below come from South Dakota DOH, Houston Health Department, and the City of Houston Fire Marshal; they are not a guarantee for your address. Confirm your final list with your local health department and fire marshal, and against your franchisor’s build specification, before you spend.
The checklist at a glance
| Item | Code basis (named source) | Buy or build | Where to buy / guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griddle | City of Houston Fire Marshal: grease-laden vapors require ventilation and suppression; electric UL-197/UL-710B exception | Buy unit; install ventilation | Card below |
| Fryer | City of Houston Fire Marshal: Type K rated 2A:K if deep-frying; hood rule and exception below | Buy unit; install ventilation | Card below |
| Undercounter refrigerator + refrigerator thermometer | South Dakota DOH: below 41F and a thermometer in each unit; Houston Health Department: commercial grade | Buy | Undercounter refrigerator guide |
| Type I hood and suppression | South Dakota DOH: Type I hood for smoke, steam, or grease vapors; City of Houston Fire Marshal: suppression for grease-laden vapors, with electric-appliance exception below | Build and install | Check your local code; hood specialist |
| 3-compartment sink | Houston Health Department: immerse largest equipment and utensils; South Dakota DOH: limited-menu exemption | Buy basin; install plumbing | 3-compartment sink guide |
| Handwash sink | South Dakota DOH: hot/cold running water, soap, and paper towels | Buy basin; install plumbing | Handwash sink guide |
| Fresh and waste water tanks | Houston Health Department: no potable-tank size requirement, waste tank 15% larger; South Dakota DOH: waste tank at least 15% larger | Buy tanks; install plumbing | Check your local code; truck builder |
| Generator or power station | Check your local code | Buy; electrician for hardwiring | Power options; load sizing |
| Surge protection | Check your local code | Buy; match electrical installation | Surge protection guide |
| ABC extinguisher | City of Houston Fire Marshal: 3A:40BC minimum | Buy; inspect and mount | Extinguisher guide; match the rating your jurisdiction requires |
| Class K extinguisher (if deep frying) | City of Houston Fire Marshal: Type K rated 2A:K | Buy; inspect and mount | Extinguisher guide |
| Extinguisher brackets | Check your local code | Buy; match cylinder and mount | Bracket guide |
| Hot-holding warmer | South Dakota DOH: above 140F; check your adopted code | Buy | Card below |
| Probe thermometer | Check your local code; South Dakota DOH’s cited requirement is for a thermometer in each refrigerator | Buy | Card below |
| Shelving | Check your local code | Buy; secure mounting | Shelving guide |
| POS | Not a code item | Buy hardware; arrange processing | POS guide |
| Propane leak detection | Check your local code | Buy; coordinate with propane installer | Leak detector guide |
| Propane tank warmer | Check your local code | Buy; confirm compatibility | Tank warmer guide |
| Serving window | Check your local code | Build and install | Serving window guide |
| Menu board | Check your local code | Buy | Menu board guide |
The picks below are affiliate links to Amazon, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. FranchiseFeast is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Cooking line: buy the units, but mind the hood
Size your cook line to your menu, then confirm the hood and suppression requirements and exceptions below with your fire marshal. Countertop and portable commercial units are off-the-shelf; a fully built-in range welded into the truck is a builder job. The capacity comparisons below come from GoFoodService, an equipment retailer.
Compact electric griddle
Waring WGR140X Electric Countertop Griddle
- Power
- 120V, 15.0A, 1800W, per Waring
- Cooking surface
- 14 x 16 in, per Waring
- Approvals
- cETLus/NSF, per Waring
- NSF listing
- NSF/ANSI 4: Counter Top Grill, WGR140X
Size to your menu: GoFoodService, an equipment retailer, lists gas griddles at 30,000 to 90,000 BTU for full-volume lines. This compact electric model needs a load calculation and local ventilation approval. Confirm exterior dimensions before planning the counter; Waring documents disagree.
Specs: Waring WGR140X product page; NSF Waring Products listing; Amazon listing B071DXRY69
For a light fried menu
Waring WDF1000 Countertop Deep Fryer
- Oil capacity
- 10 lb, per Waring
- Power
- 120V, 15.0A, 1800W, per Waring
- Approvals
- UL/NSF, per Waring
- NSF listing
- NSF/ANSI 4: Deep Fryer, WDF1000
GoFoodService lists a 15 to 50 lb range for truck fryers; this 10 lb model suits a light fried menu. Confirm dimensions because Waring documents differ. The City of Houston Fire Marshal requires a Type K extinguisher rated 2A:K when deep-frying; confirm hood and suppression approval too.
Specs: Waring WDF1000 product page; NSF Waring Products listing; Amazon listing B002WDGVVU
Refrigeration: commercial grade and local temperature rules
South Dakota DOH requires potentially hazardous foods to be held cold below 41F and a thermometer in each refrigeration unit. Houston Health Department requires commercial-grade appliances and prohibits residential ones. See the undercounter refrigerator guide for cutout and model planning.
Cold storage under the prep line
True TUC-27-HC Undercounter Refrigerator
- Exterior dimensions
- 27-5/8 W x 30-1/8 D x 29-3/4 H in, per True
- Doors / shelves
- 1 door, 2 shelves, per True
- Sanitation
- NSF/ANSI 7 compliant for open food product, per True
Check the published dimensions against your cutout and allow for the installation requirements. Include its electrical load when sizing power, and provide the separate refrigerator thermometer required by South Dakota DOH.
Specs: True Manufacturing TUC-27-HC product page, as detailed in the undercounter refrigerator guide; Amazon listing B01ASBRLHK
Ventilation: this one is custom, not a cart
Water system: buy the fixtures, install the plumbing
The sinks and tanks are purchasable; the plumbing that connects them is a certified build task. Apply the tank and sink requirements for your jurisdiction, including any menu exemption.
South Dakota DOH requires a plumbed three-compartment sink with a drainboard, subject to the limited-menu exemption above. Houston Health Department requires basins that accommodate immersion of the largest equipment and utensils. Use the 3-compartment sink guide to plan the fixture; budget mounting and plumbing separately.
South Dakota DOH requires a handwash sink with hot and cold running water, soap, and paper towels. Plan a separate handwashing station with the portable handwash sink guide, and confirm tank capacities and installation requirements with your approving authority.
Power: size it before you buy
Size power to your equipment list using the load method in the generator sizing guide, then have an electrician confirm the installation. Compare fuel and battery options in the portable generator guide and plan food-truck surge protection. Portable units are buyable; hardwiring one into the truck’s panel is an install job.
Battery power sized to your actual load and shift
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station
- Battery
- 4,096 Wh, LFP, per EcoFlow
- AC output
- 4,000W rated; 6,000W with X-Boost, per EcoFlow
- Recharge
- 80% in 50 minutes with AC fast-charge, per EcoFlow
- Certification
- UL 9540, per EcoFlow
The battery has a fixed energy budget. Check both simultaneous wattage and shift duration; X-Boost is not continuous rated output. Do not assume it can run a complete truck without calculating your loads.
Specs: EcoFlow manufacturer page, as detailed in the portable generator guide; Amazon listing B0D14FMFZD
Fire safety: buy the extinguishers, book the inspection
The City of Houston Fire Marshal requires an ABC extinguisher rated 3A:40BC and, if you deep-fry, a Type K extinguisher rated 2A:K. Its guidance requires fire equipment to be inspected, tagged, and unexpired. Amerex C260 Class K (2A:K, per Amerex) is covered in the extinguisher and bracket guide, along with ABC units and the vehicle brackets that fit each cylinder. Buy an ABC unit whose rating meets your jurisdiction’s minimum; a 5 lb 2A:10B:C unit falls short of Houston’s 3A:40BC.
Warming, storage, and smallwares
The last group is straightforward to buy: hot-holding and warming equipment, shelving, and prep and POS gear. The service window itself is cut into the truck body and remains part of the build.
For hot holding, South Dakota DOH says above 140F; Washington WAC 246-215-03525 specifies 135F or above, subject to its listed exceptions. Check your adopted code.
Hot holding for finished food
Vollrath 71001 Countertop Food Warmer (Model 1001)
- Power
- 120V, 5.8A, 700W, per Vollrath
- Pan fit
- 4-inch-deep full-size pans, per Vollrath
- Certification
- NSF-certified, per Vollrath
- NSF listing
- NSF/ANSI 4: Food Warmer, Counter Top, 1001
Use this for holding finished food, and include its 700W draw in your load calculation. Confirm the required holding temperature under your adopted code; this is not a cooking or rethermalizing recommendation.
Specs: Vollrath 71001 product page (model 1001); NSF Vollrath listing; Amazon listing B00125PMVE
Food-temperature checks, separate from a refrigerator thermometer
CDN DTQ450X Digital Probe Thermometer
- Stem
- 4.75 in, per CDN
- Range
- -40F to 450F, per CDN
- NSF listing
- NSF/ANSI 2: Digital Pocket Test Thermometer, DTQ450X
Use the probe to check food temperatures. South Dakota DOH’s cited thermometer requirement is for a thermometer in each refrigeration unit; it does not establish a probe-thermometer mandate.
Specs: CDN DTQ450X product page; NSF Component Design Northwest listing; Amazon listing B0021AEAG2
See the commercial shelving guide for storage choices and mounting considerations.
Storage above the counter
KoolMore WMSH-1224 Stainless Steel Wall-Mount Shelf
- Size
- 24 x 12 x 10 in; 1.5 in backsplash, per KoolMore
- Capacity
- 209 lb wall-mounted, per KoolMore
- Material
- 18-gauge Type 430 stainless steel, per KoolMore
- Sanitation
- NSF Certified for Sanitation, per KoolMore specifications in the shelving guide
This shelf adds storage without taking floor space. Confirm structural mounting for your truck; the stated wall-mounted capacity does not establish a moving-vehicle load rating.
Specs: KoolMore WMSH-1224 specifications in the shelving guide; Amazon listing B07ZRZK5ZK
See the POS system guide for hardware and processing planning.
Payments and receipt printing at a small counter
Square Terminal
- Display
- 5.5 in touchscreen, per Square
- Payments
- Chip, swipe, and NFC contactless, per Square
- Battery
- Built-in, designed for all-day cordless use, per Square
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi; offline payments up to 24 hours, per Square specifications in the POS guide
- Printer
- Integrated thermal printer; 57mm paper, per Square
The integrated reader and printer reduce separate counter hardware. This selection assumes Square processing; confirm current processing terms and offline-payment limits with Square before service.
Specs: Square official hardware specifications in the POS guide; Amazon listing B07NPNNQLN
Propane, the truck, and the rest of the build
Plan propane leak detection and any propane tank warmer with your installer.
For the customer-facing setup, see the serving window and awning guide, battery digital menu boards, and vendor tent weights without drilling.
A 2026 note, and what no checklist replaces
Houston Health Department states: “Beginning July 1, 2026, all mobile food unit permitting authority transfers to Texas DSHS under HB 2844 and Chapter 226.” Confirm the permitting process for your operation.
No equipment list is a permit. Before you buy a truck’s worth of gear, confirm your exact requirements with your local health department and fire marshal, and match them against your franchisor’s build specification in the FDD, using our guide to food-truck franchises and what it really costs to start. Where the franchisor’s spec and local code differ, the stricter one wins. For further planning, see the best books for food truck owners. None of this is legal advice.
Common questions
What equipment does a food truck legally have to have?
South Dakota DOH requires a handwash sink, a three-compartment sink with a limited-menu exemption, a waste tank at least 15 percent larger than the potable tank, refrigeration below 41F with a thermometer in each unit, and a Type I hood over cooking equipment producing smoke, steam, or grease vapors. Houston Health Department prohibits residential appliances. The City of Houston Fire Marshal requires ventilation and suppression for grease-laden vapors, with an exception for electric appliances rated UL-197 or UL-710B. Confirm your menu and equipment with your permitting authority and fire marshal before buying.
What food truck equipment can I actually buy on Amazon?
The standalone appliances and fixtures: countertop cooking equipment, undercounter refrigeration, the sink basins themselves, portable generators and power stations, fire extinguishers, food warmers, NSF shelving, and POS hardware. What you cannot buy as a simple product is the custom, installed, and inspected work: the Type I hood and fire-suppression system, the propane system, the plumbing runs, the service window cut into the truck body, and the truck itself. Those need professional installation and code sign-off.
Why does the waste water tank have to be bigger than the fresh water tank?
Houston Health Department requires a waste water tank 15 percent larger than the potable tank and sets no size requirement for the potable tank. South Dakota DOH requires a permanently installed liquid-waste retention tank at least 15 percent larger than the potable supply tank. These are jurisdiction-specific requirements; confirm your tank sizes with the authority approving your truck.
Does a food truck franchise tell me what equipment to buy?
Usually yes, in broad strokes. A food-truck franchisor typically sets equipment standards and an approved build specification, but the franchisee carries the responsibility to build to local code. So you are matching two lists: the franchisor's required equipment package and your local health and fire codes. Where they differ, the stricter rule governs. Read the build-out requirements in the FDD and confirm them against your local health department.
Sources
Every figure above traces to one of these sources (page last updated October 15, 2026). Franchise numbers change with each FDD filing year; verify against the current FDD.
- Mobile Food Units, Houston Health Department (3-compartment sink, waste tank 15% larger rule, commercial-grade equipment mandate, Texas DSHS 2026 licensing)
- Mobile Food Service, South Dakota Department of Health (handwash sink, 3-compartment sink, waste tank 15% rule, 41F refrigeration, Type I hood requirement)
- GoFoodService (equipment retailer), Food Truck Equipment Checklist
- HoodMart (hood retailer), Food Truck Range Hood Requirements
- Impact Fire Services (fire-protection contractor), Fire Suppression Systems Every Food Truck Owner Needs
- WebstaurantStore (equipment retailer), Ultimate Food Truck Equipment List
- City of Houston Fire Marshal, Food Trucks Operating in Houston, Basic Information
- Washington State Legislature, WAC 246-215-03525 (holding temperatures)
- Waring WGR140X product specifications
- Waring WDF1000 product specifications
- Vollrath 71001, model 1001 product specifications
- CDN DTQ450X product specifications
- NSF, Waring Products NSF/ANSI 4 listings (WGR140X, WDF1000)
- NSF, Vollrath NSF/ANSI 4 listing (Food Warmer, Counter Top, 1001)
- NSF, CDN NSF/ANSI 2 listing (Digital Pocket Test Thermometer, DTQ450X)
Get the Coffee Shop Opening Checklist
A free, phased checklist covering concept and business planning, financing, lease, permits, buildout, hiring, and the final 90-day launch sprint. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
The kit is educational only, not legal or financial advice. By subscribing you agree to ourterms and privacy policy. How we're paid, including referral fees:affiliate & referral disclosure.
Keep reading
Under $100K
Food Truck Franchises: Costs vs. Going Independent
Compare food truck franchise and independent startup costs using current FDDs, commissary costs, and how seasonality changes the math.
Under $100K
Food Franchises Under $100K (2026): The Ones That Actually Qualify
Built from FDDs: food franchise formats starting under $100K, with exact investment ranges, filing dates, and restrictions on who can buy them.
Equipment
Coffee Shop POS Systems Compared: Square, Toast, Clover (2026)
Square, Toast, Clover, KORONA and 3 more compared for a single coffee shop: contracts, offline mode, iPad reuse, plus the register hardware to buy.
Equipment
Battery-Powered Digital Menu Board for a Food Truck
Battery-powered digital menu boards for a food truck coffee stand, compared across three real paths: RLCD, 12V TVs, and rugged tablets, with sourced specs.
Equipment
Espresso Group Head Gasket Repair Kit: Sizing and Fit
How to size a group head gasket by machine standard (E61, Breville, Gaggia), measure your old one, pick silicone vs rubber, and know when to replace it.
Equipment
Food Truck Serving Window Sizes and Awning Hardware
Awning-style serving windows sized for a food truck wall, plus gas-strut and hinge hardware replacement, with sourced specs and a truck-specific buying table.
Equipment
Commercial Insulated Food Delivery Bags for a Cafe
Commercial insulated delivery bags sized by order type (pizza, gig-platform, catering), with sourced insulation, NSF, and washability specs for cafe owners.