Howard County, MD Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

2, defines a mobile food vending platform as any pushcart, trailer, enclosed trailer, or enclosed truck that uses propane or another heat source to prepare food or beverages for sale, and requires the AHJ (the Department of Fire and Rescue Services) to inspect every one. 1 sets the licensing steps: before starting operations, the owner or operator must request an inspection sticker at least ten days before doing business in the county, and must supply evidence of a current Howard County health inspection, a valid driver's license or government ID, and current vehicle registration and inspection paperwork.

The AHJ sets inspection times each month or by appointment, and issues a sticker valid for one calendar year once the unit passes. A platform that fails inspection may not operate, and any change to its equipment, layout, or storage voids the sticker until the AHJ re-approves it. Propane cylinders must meet their hydrostatic test dates. Operators must also carry any other required permits, including a hazardous materials permit where it applies, pay applicable fees, display the valid sticker, and complete a daily checklist the AHJ approves.

2 lets the AHJ charge inspection and re-inspection fees, set by County Council resolution, and bars an inspection from proceeding while fees are unpaid. Separate subsections require an approved fire extinguisher, minimum size 2A 40 BC, plus a Class K unit for deep fryers, inspected annually, and require the platform's electrical equipment to meet the Howard County Electrical Code.