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

Chapter 110's definitions treat a mobile food unit, defined as 'a vehicle-mounted food service establishment designed to be readily movable,' as one of six kinds of food operation the chapter regulates alongside food service establishments, retail food stores, pushcarts, temporary food service establishments, commissaries and food vending machines. 02(A) makes it unlawful to conduct any of those operations in the county without a valid permit from the Health Officer, and the permit must stay posted in a conspicuous place in the operation, meaning inside or on the truck itself.

Under (B), only operators who comply with the Indiana State Board of Health's rules, incorporated into the chapter by reference, can receive or keep the permit. Under (C), a standard permit for a food operation runs for one year, from January 1 through December 31, and must be renewed annually; a temporary retail food establishment permit instead lasts for a single event of 14 days or less, and a seasonal food establishment permit covers one continuous operation running more than 14 days but less than 120 days.

Every permit must show the operator's name and address, the address of the permitted premises, and any other data the Health Officer requires. 02(D) limits an operator to one permit per food operation and bars transferring a permit between owners or between locations, while (E) conditions issuance on inspection and approval by the Health Officer confirming the operation complies with chapter 110. 03 vary by menu-risk type, from $125 to $200, plus a $60 plan-review fee and a $25 late fee for any permit not renewed by December 31.