Winnebago County, WI Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License category
- Mobile RFE (Appendix A)
- Permit required
- Non-prorated, annual
- Governing section
- §11.11 (same as restaurants)
- Administering agency
- Winnebago County Health Dept.
Summary
Winnebago County licenses mobile food trucks the same way it licenses restaurants: as retail food establishments under Chapter 11. The county fee schedule lists a distinct Mobile RFE license category, and no operator may run without a Health Department permit.
No person shall operate any establishment under the regulations of this Code without first obtaining a non-prorated permit from the Health Department. Such permits shall expire on June 30 of each year following their issuance except that permits initially issued during the period beginning on April 1 and ending June 30 shall expire June 30 of the following year. The issuance of a permit may be conditioned upon the Permittee correcting a violation of this ordinance within a specified period of time. If the condition is not met within the specified period of time, the permit shall be voided. The permit shall not be transferable to a location other than the one for which it was issued, nor shall a permit be transferred from one operator to another subject to the express exception of:
1. As to location, temporary permits may be transferred;
2. As to operator, a permit of a non-retail food establishment operator may be transferred to an individual who is an immediate family member of the operator
Full Breakdown
Winnebago County does not run a separate food-truck ordinance; mobile vendors fall under §11.11's retail food establishment licensing scheme, administered by the Health Department as the state's designated ATCP 75 agent. Under §11.11(5)(a), no person may operate any establishment covered by the Code, mobile units included, without a non-prorated permit that expires every June 30 (or the following June 30 if issued between April 1 and June 30). The county's Appendix A fee schedule lists a distinct Mobile RFE (Mobile Retail Food Establishment) license category alongside brick-and-mortar restaurant tiers, and a pre-inspection is required before a permit issues.
Violations & Fines
Operating a mobile food unit without the required permit draws an operating-without-a-permit fee, and the Health Department can suspend or revoke the permit for ongoing violations found on inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a separate food-truck ordinance in Winnebago County?
How long does a Winnebago County mobile food permit last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Wisconsin food trucks & mobile vendors overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.