Food trucks in Michigan
Michigan regulates food trucks under the Michigan Food Law and the Michigan Modified Food Code, but the license itself comes from your local health department, not from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). A truck is licensed either as a Transitory Food Unit (formerly Special Transitory Food Unit, or STFU) or as a Mobile Food Establishment, which must return to a licensed commissary kitchen every 24 hours. The menu, the planned food operations and how the unit is built decide which license fits, and in many cases a plan review is needed before licensing.
Read the full guide: how to get a food truck permit in Michigan →
Who issues food truck permits in Michigan
Licensed by county or city health departments
It depends on the license type. MDARD says a Mobile Food Establishment must return to a licensed commissary kitchen every 24 hours because the unit is not equipped for all food preparation, storage and dishwashing. MDARD provides a Mobile Commissary Agreement form to verify the commissary. Check with your local health department which license your unit needs. Source ↗
As listed by Treasury on 2026-10-03, sellers to the final consumer remit a 6% sales tax on taxable retail sales, and Michigan does not allow city or local units to impose sales tax. You must register with Treasury to get a sales tax license, which is valid January 1 through December 31. Treasury offers online registration and says a new license can arrive in as little as 7 business days. Source ↗
MDARD's food service licensing pages do not set fire rules for food trucks; in the cities checked, the fire department inspects. Kalamazoo requires food trucks, and hand carts that use fossil fuels, to be inspected and permitted before operating in the city and inspected every year, requires the owner or operator to attend a safety class once every three years, and requires an automatic fire suppression system on units that cook with vegetable oil or animal fats. Grand Rapids requires a Grand Rapids Fire Department inspection for its mobile food vendor license, and the Detroit Health Department says enclosed mobile food establishments with a cooking element, propane tanks or a generator must get a fire inspection from the Detroit Fire Department Fire Marshal Division. Check with the fire department in each city where you sell. Source ↗
Food truck cities in Michigan
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Questions and answers
Does MDARD issue my Michigan food truck license?
No. MDARD says food trucks, mobile units and transitory food units are licensed by local health departments, not by MDARD. Contact the local health department for your area; MDARD links to a map to find it.
What is the difference between a Transitory Food Unit and a Mobile Food Establishment?
A Mobile Food Establishment must return to a licensed commissary kitchen every 24 hours because the unit is not equipped for all preparation, storage and dishwashing. A Transitory Food Unit, formerly called an STFU, is a permanently licensed food operation without a fixed location, and the Michigan Food Law definition quoted by the Detroit Health Department says it is not required to return to a commissary. Your menu, operations and unit construction decide which license applies.
Do I need to notify a health department before serving in another county?
Yes, for a Transitory Food Unit. Before serving food in a local health department's jurisdiction, the license holder must notify that department in writing of each location, the dates and the hours of service. MDARD provides a Notification of Intent to Operate form, and the Detroit Health Department asks for the notice at least 4 days before food is served.
Do Michigan cities add their own sales tax?
No. As listed by the Michigan Department of Treasury on 2026-10-03, the sales tax is 6% and Michigan does not allow city or local units to impose sales tax. You still need a sales tax license from Treasury, valid January 1 through December 31.
Sources
Facts checked against official sources on October 3, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the agency before you apply.
- www.michigan.gov/mdard/licensing/food/service
- www.michigan.gov/mdard/food-dairy/lhdresources/planreview/plan-review-for-industry/transitory-food-units-and-mobile-food-establishments
- www.michigan.gov/taxes/business-taxes/sales-use-tax
- www.michigan.gov/taxes/business-taxes/new-biz/online-business-registration
- detroitmi.gov/departments/detroit-health-department/programs-and-services/food-safety
- detroitmi.gov/departments/detroit-health-department/programs-and-services/food-safety/mobile-food-establishments-and-special-transitory-food-units
- detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2023-03/DHD_FoodTruck_022323%20%281%29.pdf
- www.grandrapidsmi.gov/departments/clerks-office/business-licenses/apply-for-a-mobile-food-vendor-truck-trailer-or-concession-license/
- www.kalamazoopublicsafety.org/Resources/Food-Truck-Registration