Corvallis, OR Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permits required
- Master Site Permit plus per-unit MFU Permit
- Master Site Permit term
- Indefinite, no annual renewal
- MFU Permit term
- Expires December 31 yearly
- Operating hours limit
- Prohibited 1:00am to 6:00am
- County license required
- Benton County Class 1-4 MFU license
- Penalty for no permit
- $500 per day
Summary
Placing a food truck or cart on private property year-round in the City of Corvallis requires two separate permits from the Development Services Manager under Municipal Code Chapter 8.13: a one-time Master Site Permit for the property and an MFU Permit for each individual truck that must be renewed every year. Operating without a valid permit draws a $500-per-day civil penalty.
1)Use of a private property to accommodate one or more Mobile Food Units on a year-round basis in the City is prohibited unless permits are obtained from the Development Services Manager as provided herein. ... 2)Prior to commencing use of a Mobile Food Unit (MFU) in accordance with this ordinance, two permits must be obtained:a)First, an MFU Master Site Permit for the overall site must be obtained (see Section 8.13.050.010 below). Only one Master Site Permit per development site is required, and once obtained a Master Site Permit is effective for as long as the approved site plan is adhered to. No annual renewal is required.b)Following approval of the MFU Master Site Permit, an MFU Permit must be obtained for each individual Mobile Food Unit (see Section 8.13.050.020 below). The MFU Permit must be obtained prior to commencing use of any MFU and must be renewed annually.
Full Breakdown
Corvallis Municipal Code § 8.13.020 makes it unlawful to host one or more Mobile Food Units on private property year-round without permits from the Development Services Manager, though the ordinance does not reach MFUs covered by the Land Development Code's Temporary Outdoor Market rules or units operating temporarily in a public park or right-of-way as part of a permitted special event. Two permits are required before an MFU can operate: an MFU Master Site Permit for the overall site (Section 8.13.050.010), which lasts indefinitely once approved as long as the site plan is followed, with no annual renewal, and an individual MFU Permit for each truck (Section 8.13.050.020), which must be obtained before that truck begins operating and renewed every year, expiring December 31 regardless of issue date under Section 8.13.070.030.
The Master Site Permit application must include a scaled site plan showing unit locations, seating, restroom facilities, utility connections, and compliance with the setback and separation standards in Section 8.13.060. Section 8.13.070.030 also requires every MFU to be licensed in Benton County as a Class 1-4 Mobile Food Unit, inspected once a year by the Corvallis Fire Department, and licensed by the local public health authority under ORS 624.320, and it bars MFU operation between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. daily. Fees for both permits are set under Chapter 8.03 per Section 8.13.040. A permit is personal to the holder and not transferable under Section 8.13.070.030(5).
Violations & Fines
Section 8.13.090 treats operating a Mobile Food Unit without a valid permit as a violation of Section 8.13.030, giving the property owner ten business days to apply before a $500-per-day civil penalty begins; if the owner then misses the application deadlines a removal notice issues, followed by another $500-per-day penalty for noncompliance. The Development Services Manager may deny, revoke, or suspend a permit after three substantiated violations under Section 8.13.080, with civil penalties appealable to the municipal court judge within ten days and a $50 appeal fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many permits does a Corvallis food truck need?
What happens if a food truck operates in Corvallis without a permit?
Does a Corvallis food truck also need county or state licenses?
Are there operating hour limits for food trucks in Corvallis?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Corvallis
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