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St. Louis County, MO Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permitting agency
Director, Dept. of Health
Required display
valid Mobile Food Establishment sticker
Exterior signage
name/address/phone, letters ≥ 3 in.
Commissary check-in
at least once per operating day
Max penalty
$1,000/day fine or 1 year jail

Summary

Every mobile food truck in St. Louis County needs an annual permit from the Health Department Director, plus a fee and inspection, before it can operate under Section 807.110. Trucks must display a valid Mobile Food Establishment sticker, report daily to an approved commissary, and post the owner's name and contact information on two exterior sides in letters at least 3 inches high.

City-specific rules exist: Florissant has its own food truck permits rules that differ from St. Louis County's county-level regulations. If you live in Florissant, check the city-specific page instead.

The owner or person in charge of a MOBILE FOOD ESTABLSIHMENT shall pay the appropriate fee, obtain a PERMIT from the DIRECTOR annually and shall present the MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT to the DIRECTOR, if applicable, for inspection as required by the DIRECTOR. A.MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTs shall comply with the requirements of this section and all other applicable sections of the CODE except as otherwise provided in this paragraph. The Director may impose additional requirements to protect against health hazards related to the conduct of the FOOD ESTABLISHMENT as a mobile operation, may prohibit the sale of some or all potentially hazardous food, and when no health hazard will result, may waive or modify requirements of this section relating to physical facilities, except those requirements of the CODE 807.110 (3), (4), (5), and (16).B.All MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTs shall display a valid and approved MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT Sticker and/or valid permit issued by the Department at all times in a place conspicuous to the public.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).

Full Breakdown

110 requires the owner or person in charge of a mobile food establishment to pay the required fee, obtain a permit from the Director annually, and present the unit for inspection as the Director requires. Subsection A lets the Director impose extra health-hazard rules on mobile operations, prohibit sale of potentially hazardous food, or waive some physical-facility requirements, but never waives the requirements for water systems, waste retention, servicing areas or commissary operation. Subsection B requires every mobile food establishment to display a valid, approved sticker or permit at all times in a place conspicuous to the public.

Subsection C requires the owner's or business's name, address and phone number, legible and permanently marked on at least two exterior sides, with the name in letters at least 3 inches high and address/phone at least 1 inch high, in a color contrasting with the exterior. Subsection D requires the operator to submit approved commissary documentation and, on request, a current list of planned food-service locations and arrival times. Item 16 requires every unit to operate from an approved commissary or fixed food facility and report there daily for food, supplies, cleaning and waste disposal; if the commissary sits outside St.

Louis County, the operator must prove it holds a valid license and passed a recent inspection where it's located. 030 separately classify a "temporary food establishment" as one operating no more than 14 consecutive days per permit year at the same location for the same permittee, and a "seasonal food establishment" as one running 15 to 120 days per permit year.

Violations & Fines

Section 807.135 makes any Food Code violation, including operating a mobile food unit without a current permit or sticker, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 per violation per day, imprisonment of up to one year, or both, with each day of noncompliance counted as a separate offense. The County Counselor may also pursue abatement in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does St. Louis County require a permit for food trucks?
Yes. Section 807.110 requires the owner or person in charge of a mobile food establishment to pay the required fee, obtain an annual permit from the Director, and present the unit for inspection before operating.
Can a food truck operate without a home base?
No. Item 16 of Section 807.110 requires every mobile food establishment to operate from an approved commissary and report there daily for food, supplies, cleaning and waste disposal; a commissary outside the county must hold a valid license where it's located.
What must be printed on the outside of the truck?
Section 807.110(1)(C) requires the owner's or business's name, address and phone number in letters at least 3 inches high on at least two exterior sides, with address and phone at least 1 inch high, in a contrasting color.
What's the penalty for operating a noncompliant food truck?
Section 807.135 makes any Food Code violation, including unpermitted mobile food operation, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 per violation per day, up to one year in jail, or both.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Louis County

All St. Louis County rules

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