City of St. Michael, Minnesota
mobile food vendors \u2014 permit requirements
City of St. Michael 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 St. Michael. The state license covers food safety and is valid statewide. The local permit covers business registration, zoning, parking, fire, and other local rules.
Pre-fill ready on BiteBase
Online application formVerified Jun 2026
- Sign in to BiteBase to pre-fill your application
- Confirm health permit status with St. Cloud District Office
- Your state food license from MDH covers all of Minnesota
Permit requirements
Local business permitRequired — apply before operating
CountyWright County
Sales tax8.375% combined
Application methodOnline web form
Who Regulates
Food safety
St. Cloud District Office (MDH)
State licenseMinnesota Dept. of Health (MDH) — statewide food license
St. Michael Permit Rules & Requirements
Permit fees: $100(1 fee tier)
Permit fees1 rule ▾
- Application fee of $100 payable to City of St. Michael
Insurance8 rules ▾
- If general liability has annual aggregate limit, it must be at least $2 million
- Commercial general liability insurance required with minimum $1 million per occurrence
- Commercial automobile liability insurance required with minimum $1 million per occurrence covering owned, hired and non-owned vehicles
- General Liability, Business Auto, and Workers Compensation policies must contain waivers of subrogation for City of St. Michael
- Insurance certificate must contain provision requiring 10-day notification to city if policy is cancelled before expiration
- Food products liability insurance required with minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence
- City must be named as additional insured on general liability, auto liability, and umbrella/excess liability policies
- Umbrella/Excess liability insurance required with minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence
Workers' compensation4 rules ▾
- Workers compensation insurance at statutory limits or evidence of exemption required
- Must submit completed and signed Certificate of Compliance MN Workers' Compensation Law form
- State and local licensing agencies must withhold license issuance/renewal until applicant presents acceptable evidence of workers' compensation insurance compliance
- Valid workers' compensation policy must be kept in effect at all times as required by law
Documents to submit12 rules ▾
- Copy of state license must be attached to permit application
- Certificate of Insurance must be provided by authorized insurance company in Minnesota
- Must submit completed and signed Background Investigation Consent Release & Tennessen Warning
- Must submit completed application
- Must submit copy of driver's license or valid government issued photo identification
- Must submit certificate of insurance
- Must submit property agreement
- Must submit Business Tax Identification Information Form SP.C1
- Written consent from property owner must be submitted with license application
- Applicant must acknowledge receipt and understanding of Tennessean Warning notice by signature
- Must provide business tax identification number and Social Security number to licensing authority
- Must complete and return Form SP:C1 with license application
State agency licenses3 rules ▾
- Mobile food units must hold a valid license from the State of Minnesota Department of Health or Department of Agriculture
- Must submit copy of MN Department of Health or MN Department of Agriculture License
- Must be licensed with City, County and Minnesota Department of Health
Operating restrictions12 rules ▾
- Cannot operate in city-owned parking lots except adjacent to or inside parks with special city-approved events
- Cannot be operated in traffic lane, on sidewalk/trail or cause obstruction to traffic
- Cannot be more than 30 feet in length
- Must comply with all fire codes
- Must close during adverse weather
- Must have independent power supply
- Cannot be left unattended or remain at authorized location outside permitted operation hours
- Must be parked in private parking lot or private residential property with written consent
- Must follow performance standards including daily trash/recycling removal
- Cannot occupy more than 2 parking spaces
- Must be parked on surfaced area
- Cannot operate without owner's approval
Distance & setback3 rules ▾
- Must be 100 feet from public entrance to restaurant or outdoor dining area during operation hours
- Must be 300 feet from perimeter of city approved festival/event
- Must be located minimum 5 feet from driveways, side and rear property lines
Hours of operation1 rule ▾
- Permitted hours of operation are 8:00 am to 10:00 pm unless otherwise approved
Renewal & expiration2 rules ▾
- Mobile food unit license operates for no more than 21 days
- Cannot exceed 21 days at location
Eligibility3 rules ▾
- All applicants must apply in person with a valid photo ID
- Applicant must agree to operate in accordance with Minnesota laws and City of St. Michael ordinances
- Applicants are not legally obligated to supply private/confidential information requested
Background check3 rules ▾
- Applicant must authorize City of St. Michael to complete background check for license processing
- Criminal background check covers felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor or petty misdemeanor convictions within last 5 years, excluding petty misdemeanor traffic violations
- Criminal charges, arrests, or convictions do not automatically bar license eligibility unless conviction relates to the license matter
Commissary1 rule ▾
- Must dispose of gray water daily (not into storm water drains)
Penalties6 rules ▾
- False disclosures subject to perjury proceedings and license application forfeiture
- Refusing to supply requested information will prevent license processing
- Failure to reveal criminal information is falsification and grounds for application denial
- Failure to provide or falsely reporting workers' compensation information may result in $2,000 penalty
- License may be denied, renewal refused, or transfer blocked for MN Department of Revenue tax delinquencies
- Failure to supply tax information may jeopardize or delay license processing
Other rules4 rules ▾
- License applications can take up to 10 days for approval, allow ample time between application and first event
- Applicant name and address may be released to public during application process, and all data becomes public if license granted
- City must furnish some applicant information to Department of Labor and Industry and Minnesota Commissioner of Revenue
- Other government agencies are authorized to receive applicant information provided
Rules extracted from St. Michael's permit application. Verify with the city before applying — rules may have changed since extraction.
Official Resources
BiteBase provides this information for convenience only. Requirements may change. Always verify current rules directly with the city before operating.
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