Columbus, OH Street Vending: Vendor Permits (2026)

Columbus City Code Chapter 573 governs mobile food vending. All Mobile Food Vendors (MFV) operating in the city must acquire and maintain a City of Columbus MFV License from the Department of Safety License Section at 4252 Groves Road. The license fee is $100. To obtain the license, vendors need valid identification, proof of a licensed commissary, a Columbus Fire Department inspection certificate, a Franklin County Board of Health food service operations license, proof of general liability insurance (typically $1 million per occurrence naming the City of Columbus as additional insured), and vehicle registration. The commissary requirement means all mobile food vendors must operate from a licensed commercial kitchen where the vehicle is stored, cleaned, and serviced when not in use. Columbus Fire Department inspects food trucks and carts for fire suppression systems, propane safety, and electrical safety. Vendors must maintain required distances from existing restaurants (typically 50 feet), building entrances, bus stops, fire hydrants, and crosswalks. A minimum pedestrian path of 5-6 feet must be maintained on sidewalks. The city updated Chapter 573 in 2023 to modernize mobile food vending regulations.