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

Chapter 2.41 of the county code folds food trucks into its definition of "Retail Food Establishment," which the code says expressly includes "an operation that is conducted in a mobile, stationary, temporary, or permanent facility or location," so a food truck cannot operate without the same permit a restaurant needs. Section 2.41.030 makes it unlawful to operate without "first obtaining a valid Permit from the Health Officer," and that permit "must be posted in a conspicuous location" on the vehicle. Permits are not transferable between owners or locations and must be renewed every year, with the term running January 1 through December 31 (or beginning within 30 days of startup for a new operator).

The fee schedule in Section 2.41.040 sets Mobile Food Service Establishment charges "per mobile unit": a $100.00 annual permit, dropping to $75.00 for a unit that applies after June 30th of that permit year. That is separate from the fixed-facility fee tiers, which scale by employee count or square footage. Fees are non-transferable and non-refundable. Organizations exempt from Indiana Gross Income Tax under IC 6-2.1-3-20 through -22 that sell food at a fundraising event are exempt from the fee if they meet the criteria in IC 16-42-5-4 and provide proof on request.

Applicants submit a written application to the Vanderburgh County Department of Health disclosing the operator, ownership structure, and whether the unit is mobile and/or temporary, along with the type of food operation (only-to-order preparation, advance preparation, use of time as a public health control, etc.) so the Department can set the correct risk-based inspection schedule. Only operators who comply with 410 IAC 7-15.5 and/or 410 IAC 7-24, the state retail food rules, may obtain and keep the permit.