Yakima County, WA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Cooking equipment producing smoke or grease vapors
- Includes
- Itinerant food vendors, per YCC 13.10.072
- Permit term
- Operational permit valid up to 1 year
- Ongoing requirement
- Annual fire and life safety inspection
- Issuing office
- Fire Marshal's Office, Building & Fire Safety Division
Summary
Yakima County's Fire Marshal's Office requires an operational permit before running a mobile food preparation vehicle, defined to include itinerant food vendors, whenever the unit's cooking equipment produces smoke or grease-laden vapors. Permitted operations also get an annual fire and life safety inspection under the county's amended International Fire Code.
105.6.30 Mobile food preparation vehicles. A permit is required for mobile food preparation vehicles equipped with appliances that produce smoke or grease – laden vapors. This includes itinerant food vendors.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4871853; v6 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
30: "Mobile food preparation vehicles. A permit is required for mobile food preparation vehicles equipped with appliances that produce smoke or grease – laden vapors. 072 defines the covered vehicles as those that contain cooking equipment producing smoke or grease-laden vapors for preparing and serving food to the public, including itinerant food vendors, while excluding vehicles used only for private recreation. 020 designates to administer the International Fire Code countywide. 26, a range that includes mobile food vehicles, before the county issues or renews a certificate of inspection. 2 when work or operation starts without one, an amount equal to the county's cost of enforcement in addition to the regular permit fee.
Violations & Fines
Operating a mobile food unit without the required Fire Code permit is enforced under YCC Section 13.10.065 as an IFC Section 110 violation: the Fire Marshal's Office can issue a written notice of violation and, if it is not resolved, request a misdemeanor citation or civil infraction under YCC Chapter 13.25, with each day of continued operation after notice counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a food truck need a permit to operate in unincorporated Yakima County?
How long does a mobile food unit's Fire Code permit last?
What happens if a food truck operates without the required permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima County
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