City of Perham, Minnesota
mobile food vendors \u2014 permit requirements
City of Perham requires an operating permit for mobile food vendors. See details below.
Minnesota mobile food vendors need a state food license from MDH (or your delegated local health authority) and a local business permit from City of Perham. The state license covers food safety and is valid statewide. The local permit covers business registration, zoning, parking, fire, and other local rules.
Document available
Online application formVerified May 2026
- Review the official licensing page
- Confirm health permit status with Prairie Lakes Community Health Board
- Your state food license from MDH covers all of Minnesota
Documents on file:
Permit requirements
Local business permitRequired — apply before operating
CountyOtter Tail County
Sales tax7.875% combined (includes 0.5% city tax)
Application methodOnline web form
Who Regulates
Health
Prairie Lakes Community Health Board (Community Health Board)
State licenseMinnesota Dept. of Health (MDH) — statewide food license
Perham Permit Rules & Requirements
Permit fees: $30 – $300(4 fee tiers)
Permit fees4 rules ▾
- Temporary mobile food unit license: $100 for up to 5 consecutive days
- Daily mobile food unit license: $30 per day for up to 3 days annually
- Calendar year mobile food unit license: $300
- Registration fees determined by City Council resolution
Insurance2 rules ▾
- Must submit certificate of liability insurance as required per Ordinance
- Mobile Food Unit operator must hold City of Perham harmless and indemnify for claims
Workers' compensation4 rules ▾
- Must submit certificate of Minnesota workers' compensation insurance
- Must submit Certificate of Compliance Minnesota Workers Compensation Law form
- State and local licensing agencies must withhold license issuance/renewal until applicant presents acceptable evidence of workers' compensation insurance coverage compliance
- Valid workers' compensation policy must be kept in effect at all times by employers as required by law
Documents to submit12 rules ▾
- Must submit application for mobile food unit permit/license
- Must submit copy of city code chapter 111 regulating mobile food trucks
- Must submit mobile food unit checklist
- Must submit site plan including description of Mobile Food Unit, parking spaces it will occupy, and location(s) to be set up
- Must submit copy of each related license or permit issued by Ottertail County OR State of Minnesota required to operate a Mobile Food Unit
- Must submit copy of valid identification
- Applicant must receive a copy of the City of Perham Ordinance regarding Mobile Food Units
- Must resubmit form to licensing authority if any provided information changes
- All solicitors, peddlers, transient merchants, and mobile food units must register with city
- Registration must be completed at Perham City Hall on city-supplied form
- MFUs on private property must provide written consent from property owner
- Must provide proof of license or registration and identification when requested
State agency licenses1 rule ▾
- MFUs must be licensed by Minnesota Health Department and adhere to State Food Code Chapter 4626.1860
Operating restrictions22 rules ▾
- Must use approved mobile food unit parking areas
- MFUs must be located on asphalt or concrete surface, City may waive requirement for parks or by resolution
- Private properties must have principal structure and use, may host MFUs for max 84 days per year non-consecutively, single MFU max 5 consecutive days
- MFUs located in areas determined by City Council resolution, ice cream trucks allowed in public right-of-way but cannot park in one spot more than 1 hour
- MFU sites must provide trash/recycling collection and cleanup
- MFUs must provide independent power supply screened from view, generators permitted if under 70 decibels
- MFUs prohibited from using sound amplifying equipment, TVs, or noisemakers except ice cream trucks may have music devices
- MFUs cannot obstruct pedestrian or vehicle movement or pose public safety hazard
- Prohibited from obstructing free flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic
- Exclusion by placard unless invited to do so by property owner
- Must leave property when requested and cannot conduct business in obscene, threatening, intimidating, or abusive manner
- Prohibited from making false or misleading statements about products or claiming city endorsement
- Prohibited from conducting business in a way that threatens health, safety, and welfare
- Prohibited to call attention to business by unreasonably audible noise within enclosed structures
- MFUs must close during adverse weather conditions when shelter is not provided
- No person shall enter property marked with proper signage to conduct business as peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant
- MFUs may operate at Disk Golf/Pickleball location
- MFUs may operate at Arvig Park location
- MFUs may operate at Arvig Park/Dog Park location
- MFUs may operate at Market St location
- 8th Ave SW is designated as an allowed mobile food unit operating location
- Mobile food unit must operate within the circled area on Market Street
Distance & setback4 rules ▾
- Fuel can storage must be minimum 3ft away from heat producing device
- Generator must be separated from nearby combustibles
- MFUs cannot be located within 100 feet of existing restaurants or coffee shops unless authorized for community event
- MFUs may not be located within 500 feet of a City permitted special event unless authorized
Hours of operation4 rules ▾
- MFUs allowed to set up 1 hour before food vending and must exit within 1 hour after closing
- Prohibited from conducting business before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
- MFUs are not permitted to operate between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM unless allowed for special event
- 2nd St SW mobile food unit operations restricted to June, July, and August only
Renewal & expiration3 rules ▾
- Allow up to two weeks for license approval after submitting application
- License/permit expires on December 31st following the date of issue
- MFU licenses are issued annually and permit operation at locations determined by resolution, not exceeding 5 consecutive days at any one location
Eligibility5 rules ▾
- Food truck must be operated in conjunction with permanent business licensed under Chapter 157 or 128A at same site
- Charitable organizations and their representatives are exempt from mobile food unit definitions
- Garage sales, rummage sales, and estate sales are exempt from peddler and mobile food unit definitions
- Wholesale sellers are exempt from peddler, solicitor, transient merchant, and mobile food unit definitions
- Regular delivery route operators are exempt from mobile food unit definitions
Background check1 rule ▾
- Ice cream truck vendors are required to undergo a criminal background check at applicant's cost
Zoning2 rules ▾
- MFU operations limited to business and industrial districts unless serving special events or churches in residential zones
- MFUs are allowed in specific locations shown on the map
Penalties6 rules ▾
- Violations may lead to suspension, revocation, or denial of renewal of Mobile Food Unit license
- Violations of City Code or license provisions may be prosecuted as misdemeanors
- Penalty of $2,000 assessed against applicant by Department of Labor and Industry if required information is not provided or falsely stated
- Registration can be denied, suspended, or revoked
- City reserves the right to revoke the MFU transient merchant license for non-compliance
- Penalty reference to section 10.99
Other rules27 rules ▾
- Must comply with all State, County, and Local Laws including Workers' Compensation, Sales Tax, Licensing, Permitting, Registration, and Zoning guidelines
- No work/sales allowed prior to submitting all required items and obtaining license/permit from City of Perham
- Propane piping must be protected from damage
- Electrical connections must be clean and damage free
- Propane tank size limited to maximum 200 lbs
- Propane tanks must be properly secured
- Power strips must be in proper use
- Exit must be clear of obstructions
- Storage must be neat and orderly
- Gas monitor detection required
- Electrical outlets must not be overloaded
- Type K fire extinguisher required for cooking with grease
- Fire extinguisher must be serviced and tagged
- Ansel system must be serviced and tagged
- Hold and ducts must be clean of grease
- Propane container must be inspected annually by approved DOT-registered inspection agency
- Commercial ventilation hood required if grease-laden vapors are produced
- Commercial ventilation hood must be sprinkled
- 2A:10BC portable fire extinguisher required
- Hood and ducts must be kept clean of grease
- Fire protection systems must be maintained in operable condition per 901.6
- Cooking oil tank limited to 120 gallon maximum, must be listed and vented
- Propane tank limited to 200 lbs maximum and must be restrained
- Listed propane alarm is required
- Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) requirements apply
- Mobile food units can only operate 21 days annually at any one place with regulatory approval
- Only property owner or tenant may remove, deface, or tamper with prohibition signs
Rules extracted from Perham's permit application. Verify with the city before applying — rules may have changed since extraction.
Official Resources
Additional Notes
Licensing contact: [email protected] / (218) 346-4455
BiteBase provides this information for convenience only. Requirements may change. Always verify current rules directly with the city before operating.
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