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DeKalb County, GA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Permit issued by
DeKalb County Board of Health
Permit expires
June 30 every year
Governing rule
Adopted Georgia Food Service Code
Applies to
All food service, no separate truck rule

Summary

DeKalb County requires all food service operations, including mobile units, to hold an annual permit from the county Board of Health that expires every June 30.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of DeKalb County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(a)All food service shall be in compliance with the July 31, 1995, rules of the department of human resources, public health chapter 290-5-14, Food Service as revised October 8, 2007, which rules and subsequent amendments are hereby adopted by reference as if fully set forth herein. As future new versions, editions and/or amendments of the Georgia Food Service Code are adopted by the department of human resources, as may be codified at chapter 290-5-14 of the rules of department regarding "food service," they shall become part of or replacement for the adopted code, rules, and regulations or standards and shall become enforceable as prescribed without separate adoption by the governing authority of DeKalb County, Georgia.(b)The rules identified in subsection (a) have been adopted by the governing authority with the following additions:(1)Permit.(A)Fees will be assessed by the DeKalb County Board of Health (hereinafter referred to as the "health authority"). Before a food service permit is issued or renewed, all required fees must be paid in the amount established by official action of the health authority and the DeKalb County governing authority, a copy of said fee schedule is to be maintained on file in the office of the clerk of the board of commissioners.(B)Food service permits granted by the health authority shall expire on June 30 of each year.

Source: DeKalb County Board of Health - Food Safety (Mobile Food Service)View official code

Full Breakdown

DeKalb County Code § 13-281 adopts Georgia's food service rules wholesale and layers on a local permit system run by the DeKalb County Board of Health. There is no separate food-truck ordinance: food trucks operate as food service establishments under this same permit regime. The health authority sets the fee schedule, and every food service permit it issues expires June 30 each year regardless of issue date, with renewal conditioned on continued compliance.

Violations & Fines

Operating without a current, paid food service permit, or falling out of compliance, exposes the establishment, including a food truck, to administrative closure by the DeKalb County Board of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does DeKalb County have a separate food truck permit?
No. Food trucks operate under the same food service permit system as restaurants, issued under Sec. 13-281 by the county Board of Health.
When does a DeKalb County food service permit expire?
Every permit expires June 30 each year, no matter when it was issued, and renewal requires being current on fees and compliance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in DeKalb County

All DeKalb County rules

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