Minnesota

What to Do Next in Minnesota

1. Food safety license: Apply once through MDH, MDA, or their delegated local agency.
2. Local business permit: Check with each city's clerk office about local business license requirements.
3. Zoning / parking / location rules: Verify allowed locations and hours with each city before operating.
4. Fire inspection: Check with local fire department if required.
5. Find your city below to check local requirements and apply through BiteBase where available.

Key Facts

• Your food license is valid statewide — one license covers all of Minnesota(Minn. Stat. 28A.06)
• MDH licenses food trucks that primarily serve cooked meals; MDA licenses those primarily selling retail/prepackaged food(MDA About Retail Food Program)
• Mobile food unit annual license fee is $150 plus $55 in fees(Minn. Stat. 157.16)
• You can operate at one location for up to 21 days per year(Minn. Stat. 157.15, subd. 9)
• Cities may require separate business permits and zoning approval — these are not covered by your food license(Local government authority)

Find your health authority: MDH delegation list →

How Minnesota Works

Minnesota mobile food vendors are licensed at the state level by either the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) or the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), depending on whether the business is primarily food service or food retail. Mobile food unit licenses are valid statewide — you only need one food license per year for the whole state. Individual cities may still require separate local business permits, zoning approval, and fire inspections.

Find Your City