A food truck in Whatcom County needs a food establishment permit from Whatcom County Health and Community Services and must operate from an approved commissary. Washington's state retail food code sets the safety standards, and each city you serve adds its own business license.
Whatcom County Health and Community Services is the local health authority that permits mobile food units across the county, applying Washington's state retail food code (WAC 246-215). Before operating, a truck completes a plan review and a pre-operational inspection, holds a current Whatcom County Food Establishment Permit, and reports to an approved commissary for water, waste disposal, cleaning, and food storage. Every food handler needs a food worker card. The health permit covers food safety, not where you may park. On top of it, cities like Bellingham, Lynden, and Ferndale require their own business license, and unincorporated sites depend on county zoning and the property owner's permission.
Operating a mobile food unit without a Whatcom County Health and Community Services permit or an approved commissary lets the health authority halt it and pursue penalties. Failed inspections or unsafe food handling suspend or revoke the permit.
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