Mobile/Food Cart Licensing

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Mobile Food Unit/Food Cart Information

All food carts (called mobile food units) must be licensed and pass a health inspection prior to construction or operation. This applies to any portable vehicle where food is prepared, sold and/or dispensed to a consumer.

Plan Review Approval from North Central Public Health District must be obtained prior to the construction and/or operation of your unit.

Thinking of buying a used cart? Call or email us first. Not all carts meet the Oregon Food Code requirements.

Mobile Food Units Include:

• Drive-through espresso carts

• Hot dog carts

• Full-service trailers

You must have an approved plan review and then a license before:

• Opening a new food cart

• Extensively remodeling a mobile food unit

• Reinstating a mobile food unit that has been out of service for 12 consecutive months

You Must Also Notify Us When:

• Your menu changes

• Your location or route changes

• Changing ownership

Licenses are issued to one entity (person or corporation) for one location.  If you are taking over a business from a previous owner or plan to operate in a previously licensed unit you will need to apply for a new food service license.  When changing ownership of an existing food establishment, the original owner does not receive a refund or any proration of license fees. Licenses are issued on January 1st of each year and expire on December 31st.  

How To Get Your Food Cart Licensed:

Step 1 - You must first obtain a plan review. Complete and return with the appropriate fee (Licensed Facility Fee Schedule), and then an environmental health specialist will review your application and either approve or ask for more details.

Mobile Food Unit Plan Review Packet

Step 2 - After your plan has been approved, you may begin construction on your unit. You can at this point submit your mobile unit application and signed wastewater and restroom agreement forms found below. It’s important to plan where you will dispose of your wastewater or provide documentation if you will be hooking up to municipal sewer.

Mobile Food Unit License Application

Wastewater Disposal Agreement Form

Restroom Agreement Form

Step 3 - Once construction and forms are complete, call us to arrange a pre-opening inspection. This can usually be scheduled 1 week after you call. You must receive and pass the Health Department pre-opening inspection before you can open. After a food service license has been acquired, the unit will receive its first full inspection within a few weeks.

Warehouse License Application

A mobile food unit is required to operate from a licensed commissary or warehouse unless it has a limited menu and adequate equipment and utensils to operate without a base to support food service activities. A warehouse may only be used to store unopened packaged foods, utensils, single-service articles, equipment not in use, and cleaning or servicing supplies.

Food and equipment not stored in your cart or commissary must be stored in a licensed warehouse and meet warehouse regulations. You can’t take it home with you.

To apply for a license:

Commissary License

Mobile food units must operate from a base of operation or be fully self-contained. To be considered self-contained units must have all the equipment, plumbing, and utensils that a commissary (commercial kitchen) would provide. A mobile food unit may not serve as a commissary for another mobile food unit.

If your mobile food unit requires you to operate from a licensed commissary (commercial kitchen), you must apply for a commissary operator’s license and pay the commissary license fee.

Please contact our Environmental Health Office for the application.

Food Handler Card

Food service workers are required to get a food handler card. When getting a food handler card, make sure it is approved in Oregon. There are a number of fake online courses that will not be approved. Food Handler cards issued in other states are not valid in Oregon. Click here to get an Oregon approved food handler card.

Supporting Documents

Oregon Health Authority Operation Guide: Operation Guide MU  

En Español: UNIDADES MÓVILES DE ALIMENTOS: GUÍA OPERACIONAL /Spanish Mobile Operation Guide

Oregon Food Sanitation Code: Food Sanitation Rules

Prior to receiving your license from us, there may be other agencies from which you will be required to obtain approvals. These include, but are not limited to:

• Planning (zoning)

• Building codes (structural, electrical, plumbing, prefabricated structures)

• Fire marshall

• City or county authorities