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Tippecanoe County, IN Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit issuer
County Health Officer
Annual permit fee
$150 per unit
Permit term
1 year
Posting requirement
name/phone at least 2" tall
Transferable
No (§110.022)
Second-violation fine
$50 (§110.999)

Summary

A mobile food service or mobile food market operating in unincorporated Tippecanoe County needs an annual Health Officer permit before selling any food, renewed by the anniversary month each year. The county Health Department currently charges $150 per unit annually for that permit.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Tippecanoe County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or give away any food or to operate a food establishment or to act, whether actually or ostensibly, as a food establishment operator within Tippecanoe County, Indiana, without possessing a valid permit for each such operation from the Health Officer, unless otherwise exempted from the provisions of this chapter.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-17: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2025-25-CM, passed 8-1-25; and State legislation current through 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).

Full Breakdown

005 defines a MOBILE FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT as a food establishment without a fixed location, capable of being readily moved intact, that stores, sells, or offers food for consumption outside the facility in open form, fresh or frozen, and a MOBILE FOOD MARKET ESTABLISHMENT as the same concept for prepackaged food. 015 makes it unlawful to sell or give away food, or act as a food establishment operator, in Tippecanoe County without a valid permit from the Health Officer for each operation, unless exempted. 016 requires mobile units to display the permittee's name, address, and telephone number in letters at least two inches high and to carry a copy of the permit onboard for identification at all times.

017 requires a separate permit for each mobile operation, even under common ownership, if run at separate locations. 020 conditions issuance on compliance with the chapter, payment of the fee, and approval from any other applicable agency, including the Building Commissioner, City Engineer, and Fire Department. 021(A) sets a one-year term from the date of issue, renewed annually by the anniversary month, with a grace period to the next business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or government holiday. 022 bars transferring the permit between locations or operators. 20 lists 'Permit fees for mobile food service and market establishments, per unit, annual' at $150.

Violations & Fines

Section 110.999 sets civil penalties keyed to repeat 'critical item' violations within one year: no fine the first time, $50 for a second occurrence, $100 for a third, and $200 for a fourth or later occurrence; violations of state food-handling law under I.C. 16-42-5.2 draw the civil penalties set in I.C. 16-42-5.2-12.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a county permit to run a food truck in unincorporated Tippecanoe County?
Yes. Section 110.015 makes it unlawful to sell food or operate as a food establishment operator, which covers mobile food service and mobile food market establishments, without a valid Health Officer permit for each operation.
How much does a food truck permit cost?
The Health Department's § 112.20 fee schedule charges $150 per unit annually for mobile food service and market establishment permits, on top of meeting § 110.015's permit requirement before selling food.
Can one permit cover two trucks under the same owner?
No. Section 110.017 requires a separate permit for each food establishment or vending operation, even when the same person or company owns both and they operate at separate locations.
Does this county permit cover trucks parked in Lafayette or West Lafayette?
No. This is a county Health Department permit; Lafayette and West Lafayette issue and enforce their own food establishment and mobile vendor permits inside city limits.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tippecanoe County

All Tippecanoe County rules

Compare Tippecanoe County to another location·View the Indiana food trucks & mobile vendors overview

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