Vermont Statewide Rule
Vermont Mobile Food Vendor Health Licensing Requirements
Key Facts
- Statute
- 18 V.S.A. chapter 85
- License agency
- VT Department of Health
- Required
- Commissary, PIC training
- Local role
- Zoning, hours, parking
Summary
Vermont Department of Health licenses all mobile food vendors statewide under food service establishment rules. State licensing applies uniformly, while municipalities may regulate location, hours, and zoning. Health permits are required before any food sales to the public.
(a) A person shall not operate or maintain a food manufacturing facility, retail food establishment, lodging establishment, children's camp, seafood vending facility, or any other place in which food is prepared and served, unless he or she obtains and holds from the Commissioner a license authorizing such operation.
Full Breakdown
Under 18 V.S.A. chapter 85 and Health Department food service rules, mobile food units must obtain a Vermont food service establishment license. Operators must complete Person in Charge training, maintain commissary agreements for water, waste, and food storage, and pass health inspections. Three-compartment sinks, handwashing stations, and temperature controls are required. The state preempts food safety standards but allows municipal regulation of vending zones, parking duration, and noise. Annual license fees vary by operation size. Caterers and farmers market vendors fall under similar but separate licensing categories.
Violations & Penalties
Operating without license: fines up to $1,000, immediate shutdown. Health code violations: corrective orders, license suspension, civil penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a state license for a food truck?
Can I operate without a commissary?
Sources
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