Food trucks in Arkansas
Arkansas licenses food trucks at the state level: the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) must permit any food sold to the public that needs temperature control, and mobile units are on its list of permitted food service establishments. ADH defines a mobile unit as a vehicle-mounted, self-contained retail food establishment with permanently mounted fresh water and waste tanks. Mobile units submit a retail food plan review to ADH, and Environmental Health Specialists in local county health units answer plan review questions. Cities such as Bentonville and Fayetteville add their own vendor permits or fire inspections.
Who issues food truck permits in Arkansas
Licensed by the state
ADH's Retail Food rules define a mobile retail food establishment as self-contained, with permanently mounted fresh water and wastewater tanks, and do not state a commissary requirement for it. Its liquid waste must be removed at an approved waste servicing area or by a sewage transport vehicle, under a written agreement with the approved disposal site. Pushcarts must operate from an approved, permitted commissary and report back daily for cleaning and resupply. Bentonville asks mobile food vendors for a wastewater disposal verification form. Source ↗
DFA's Sales and Use Tax section issues sales tax permits and administers state sales and use tax along with city and county local option sales and use taxes. DFA's page links to tax account registration, local tax lookup tools and special event sales tax information. Source ↗
We found no statewide fire page for food trucks. Fayetteville, for example, requires a Fire Marshal's Office inspection for mobile vendors and for vendor tents or canopies larger than 400 square feet (479-444-3448). Check with the fire department in each city where you plan to operate. Source ↗
Food truck cities in Arkansas
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Questions and answers
Who issues food truck permits in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Department of Health. Mobile units submit a retail food plan review to ADH's Environmental Health Protection Branch that includes equipment schedules, the menu and standard operating procedures, and your local county health unit has plan review information. Cities may add their own vendor permits and fire inspections.
How much does an Arkansas food permit cost?
As listed on ADH's FAQ on 2026-10-03, the plan review fee is 1% of the total estimated cost, at least $50 and no more than $500, and the annual permit fee is $35. In the first year you pay both.
Can I run a food truck out of someone else's permitted kitchen in Arkansas?
ADH says you may operate in another person's approved kitchen with a permission letter, but you must still hold your own food establishment permit. Food permits are not transferable to a new owner or a new location.
Do I need a certified food protection manager in Arkansas?
Generally yes. Since September 7, 2019, ADH rules require at least one employee with supervisory authority to be a certified food protection manager, with exceptions for low-risk operations such as those selling only commercially prepackaged foods.
Sources
Facts checked against official sources on October 3, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the agency before you apply.
- healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/public-health-safety/food-protection-inspection-portal/food-protection-faq/
- healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Retail_Food_Establishment_Rule_.pdf
- healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/public-health-safety/food-protection-inspection-portal/
- healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/LOCAL-HEALTH-UNIT-DIRECTORY.pdf
- www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/taxes/excise-tax-administration/sales-use-tax/
- littlerock.gov/business/licenses-permits/
- www.fayetteville-ar.gov/1145/Vendors
- www.bentonville.ar.gov/204/Applications
- www.bentonville.ar.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20068