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Washington County, MN Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

License required
Yes, from Dept. of Public Health & Environment
Late fee
$30 if filed 3 days or less before opening
License term
Valid through December 31 annually
Proration
Not available to Mobile Food Units
Governing law
Ordinance No. 215, approved Oct. 18, 2022

Summary

Washington County requires every Mobile Food Unit to hold a current-year Food Establishment license from the Department of Public Health and Environment before operating, under Ordinance No. 215. Licenses are non-transferable, fees are set annually by the County Board, and applications filed three days or less before opening incur a $30 late fee.

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

No Person shall operate a Food Establishment, as defined in Minnesota Rules Chapter 4626.0020, unless a license for the current year of the applicable type shall have been obtained pursuant to this Ordinance from the Health Authority. ... Late fees for Special Event Food Stands, Mobile Food Unit, Food Cart, Seasonal Permanent Food Stand, and Seasonal Temporary Food Stands will be assessed as follows: Thirty dollars ($30.00) if the Health Authority receives the license application three calendar days or less before the first day of operating.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Ordinance No. 5). 1 bars operating any Food Establishment unless a current-year license of the applicable type has been obtained from the Health Authority. 2). 9 if the license application arrives three calendar days or less before the unit's first day of operating. 2). 1). 1).

Violations & Fines

Operating a Mobile Food Unit without the required license, or continuing an uncorrected violation past the deadline noted on an inspection report, is a misdemeanor under § 10.1, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The Washington County Attorney may seek injunctive relief (§ 10.2), and the Department of Public Health and Environment can issue citations or deny, suspend, summarily suspend, or revoke a license under § 10.4.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a mobile food unit need its own county license?
Yes. Section 5.1 of Ordinance No. 215 prohibits operating any Food Establishment, a category that includes Mobile Food Units, without a current-year license issued by the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment. The license cannot be transferred to a new owner or location, and the original must be posted where the public can see it.
Can a mobile food operator get a prorated first-year fee?
No. Section 5.5 prorates first-year license fees for most Food Establishments based on their start date, but it specifically excludes Mobile Food Units, Food Carts, Seasonal Temporary Food Stands and Special Event Food Stands from that discount, so they pay the full annual fee regardless of when they begin operating.
What happens if I apply for a license at the last minute?
Section 5.9 imposes a flat $30 late fee on a Mobile Food Unit whose license application reaches the Health Authority three calendar days or less before its first day of operating, on top of the regular license fee set annually by the County Board.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesLight Restrictions

All Washington County rules

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