Alabama Food Truck Permits Law: Statewide Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors Rules (2026)

Key Facts

Health rules: ADPH 420-3-22
Reciprocity law: Act 2018-432
Statute: Section 22-20-5.2
Commissary: Required base
Permit honored: All 67 counties

Full Breakdown

Alabama Administrative Code 420-3-22, the Food Establishment Sanitation Rules adopted from the FDA Food Code, defines mobile food units and requires each to obtain a permit from ADPH or its designee. Operators must use an approved commissary, maintain potable water, dispose of wastewater properly, and comply with handwashing, food temperature, and food handler card requirements. The Alabama Food Truck Act (Act 2018-432, codified at Section 22-20-5.2) created a statewide reciprocity system: a permit issued in one Alabama county is honored in all others without duplicative health inspection fees, though operators still register with each jurisdiction.

Violations & Penalties

Operation without permit results in fines, immediate cease-and-desist, embargo of food, and possible misdemeanor charges. Repeat sanitation violations cause permit revocation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate health permit for each city?

No. The 2018 Alabama Food Truck Act requires counties to honor each other's ADPH-issued mobile food permits, eliminating duplicative health inspections though local business licenses still apply.

Can I prep food at home for the truck?

No. ADPH 420-3-22 requires all food preparation and storage to occur at an approved commissary kitchen, not a private residence, with documented servicing of the mobile unit.

Are food handler cards required?

Yes. ADPH requires at least one certified food protection manager per operation, and most counties require ANSI-accredited food handler training for all employees.

Alabama Mobile Food Unit Health Permits Statewide