Ohio Statewide Rule
Ohio Mobile Food Service Operation Licensing
Key Facts
- Statute
- ORC Chapter 3717
- Code
- OAC 3717-1
- License Type
- MFSO or MRFE
- Issuing Agency
- Local health district
Summary
Ohio licenses all food trucks as Mobile Food Service Operations through local health districts under uniform state rules in ORC Chapter 3717 and OAC Chapter 3717-1.
Except as provided in section 3717.42 of the Revised Code, no person or government entity shall operate a food service operation without a license. A separate license is required for each food service operation a person or government entity operates. No person or government entity shall fail to comply with any other requirement of this chapter applicable to food service operations.
Full Breakdown
ORC Chapter 3717 requires every mobile food service operation (MFSO) and mobile retail food establishment (MRFE) to obtain an annual license from the local health district where the truck is based. The Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code (OAC 3717-1) sets statewide standards for equipment, water, sewage, refrigeration, employee health, and food handling certification. License categories vary by risk level. Trucks operating across jurisdictions must notify each local health district. Cities and counties cannot relax state food safety standards but may add zoning, parking, and operating-location rules. ORC 3717.43 requires every licensor in Ohio to recognize a mobile license issued by another health district, so cities cannot demand duplicate food licenses.
Violations & Penalties
Operating without an MFSO license is a fourth-degree misdemeanor under ORC 3717.99 with fines up to $250 per day; food code violations can lead to immediate closure and license revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit in every Ohio city I operate in?
What is the difference between MFSO and MRFE in Ohio?
Sources
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