Kankakee County, IL Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

County Code Section 22-83 bars anyone from operating "a food establishment, retail food store, temporary food stand or mobile food unit who does not have a valid license issued to such person by the health department," and requires the license to be posted in the unit; it is not transferable between owners or locations. Applying for a license is itself "automatic consent to any and all reasonable inspections," and refusing the health department access is grounds to suspend or revoke it. Under Section 22-84, an applicant files a written application with the health department giving name, address, phone number, and the location and type of operation.

A mobile food unit license runs "for a period of one year or part thereof from January 1, through December 31," while a temporary food service license cannot exceed 14 days. 00 for two to 14 consecutive days. Licenses issued after September 30 are charged half the annual fee, and not-for-profit organizations, public and parochial schools, congregate meal sites and food pantries are exempted from the fee under specific conditions in Section 22-84(c). Before issuing the license, the health authority inspects the unit for compliance with the article's food-safety requirements; a license can later be suspended immediately for an imminent hazard under Section 22-85, or suspended or revoked for a violation under Section 22-86, in each case with a right to request a hearing.