New York's fire code keeps a temporary tent at least 20 feet from parked vehicles, so at a Riverhead wedding the pizza truck's spot is planned 20 feet out from the tent, measured from its guy ropes.
That distance is in the Fire Code of New York State, which applies statewide from December 31, 2025. The Riverhead Town Fire Marshal's tent application says tents follow Chapter 31 of the fire code and Chapter 231 of the Riverhead Town Code. Below is what the rules say about permits, cooking and the truck's spot, and what to tell your venue and your caterer when you book.
Does a wedding tent in Riverhead need a permit?
A tent larger than 400 square feet needs an operating permit. The state code sets that line, and the Riverhead Town Fire Marshal handles tent permits in Riverhead. A 20-foot by 20-foot tent is 400 square feet and a 20-foot by 30-foot tent is 600, which is over the line.
The code makes exceptions, among them tents open on all sides that stay up to 700 square feet with 12 feet of clearance to structures and other tents. The Fire Marshal's application asks for the number and size of the tents, the company that erects them, a flame-resistance certificate, a liability insurance certificate naming the Town as additionally insured, and a site and floor plan. It also says tents go up with tent stakes unless a licensed engineer signs off on another method.
How far from the tent can the pizza truck park?
At least 20 feet is the planning number. The code says a temporary tent shall not be located within 20 feet of lot lines, buildings, other tents, parked vehicles or internal combustion engines, and it counts a tent's support ropes and guy wires as part of the tent. Cooking has a smaller distance of its own: cooking that produces sparks or grease-laden vapors stays 10 feet from a tent unless the cooking devices are isolated from the public and used as the manufacturer instructs. The wider 20-foot gap decides where the truck parks.
| Distance | What the code measures | Section |
|---|---|---|
| 20 feet | Tent to lot lines, buildings, other tents, parked vehicles and engines | 3103.7.2 |
| 12 feet | Clear path on every side of a tent, free of guy ropes | 3103.7.6 |
| 10 feet | Cooking with sparks or grease-laden vapors to a tent | 4104.4 |
| 10 feet | Cooking and heating equipment to a tent's exits and to combustible materials | 3108.12.3 |
The code also requires access for fire apparatus. Draw the tent, the 12-foot path and the truck's spot on one sketch before you book.
Can anyone cook inside the wedding tent?
Not without a permit and approval. The state code requires an operating permit to run temporary heating or cooking equipment inside a tent, and it bars open flame inside a tent, or within 10 feet of one while it is open to the public, unless the fire code official approves. A simple plan is a tent for the tables and the bar, with the cooking outside it and 20 feet away.
What should you tell your venue and caterer when you book?
Send both of them the same four facts.
- The tent's length and width, so everyone can see which side of 400 square feet it falls on.
- Whether the tent has sidewalls and whether anything will be cooked inside it.
- Where the tent stands and where the truck can park 20 feet or more from its edge, with the 12-foot path kept clear.
- The date and setup time. Our truck arrives 30 minutes to an hour before service, so its spot has to be clear by then.
If your guest list is large, ask the Town whether its separate special event application applies. The Town's form covers events with 100 to 1,000 attendees at one time, is filed at least 60 calendar days ahead, and says tent permits come separately from the Fire Marshal's office. That office answers questions at (631) 727-3200, extension 601.
We bring the wood-fired oven to Riverhead. See our wedding pizza catering page, then book the truck or call or text (631) 538-7596. Send your date, headcount, address and tent size and Mikey will tell you which package fits.
