Food trucks in Oregon
In Oregon, county environmental health offices license mobile food units, often called food carts, under the Oregon Health Authority's food sanitation rules. OHA says the application, plan review steps and fees may vary by county, and it does not require a commissary when a unit can show it is self-sufficient. A unit licensed in one county must notify the health department of another county before operating there. Oregon has no general sales tax.
Read the full guide: how to get a food truck permit in Oregon →
Who issues food truck permits in Oregon
Licensed by county or city health departments
OHA says it does not require a commissary if the operator shows the unit is self-sufficient: all food preparation, dishwashing and storage happen onboard, and the menu stays within its approved capacity. Counties describe this differently. Multnomah County says most carts need a commissary unless they have a 3-compartment sink. Clackamas County requires a licensed commissary or warehouse unless its Public Health Division approves otherwise. Source ↗
The Oregon Department of Revenue says Oregon has no general sales or use/transaction tax, so food trucks do not collect a state sales tax. Its business tax page lists other programs that may apply, such as the Corporate Activity Tax and payroll taxes. Check with the department. Source ↗
Check with the local fire authority where you operate. In Portland, Portland Fire & Rescue requires a yearly permit for portable propane devices. The permit costs $35 and expires December 31 (as listed on 2026-10-03). It also requires an extinguisher rated at least 2A:10BC, a K-class extinguisher when cooking with oil deeper than 1/4 inch, and at least 5 feet between a side-entrance cart and the next cart or structure. Propane is capped at 2,000 gallons per site or pod. Source ↗
Food truck cities in Oregon
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Questions and answers
Who issues a food truck license in Oregon?
Your county environmental health office. OHA says the local county office is the best place to get licensing information, and the application, plan review steps and fees may vary by county.
Do I need a commissary in Oregon?
Not always. OHA does not require one if your unit is self-sufficient, with all food preparation, dishwashing and storage onboard. Counties apply this differently: Multnomah County says most carts need a commissary unless they have a 3-compartment sink, and Clackamas County requires one unless its Public Health Division approves otherwise.
Do Oregon food trucks collect sales tax?
There is no state sales tax to collect. The Oregon Department of Revenue says Oregon has no general sales or use/transaction tax. Other state business taxes, such as the Corporate Activity Tax, may still apply, so check with the department.
Does a license from one Oregon county cover other counties?
Benton County's Notice of Mobile Unit Movement cites ORS 624.320(3): when a mobile unit is moved to a county other than the one that licensed it, the operator must notify that county's health department before operating there. Benton County says its inspector may then inspect the unit and charge a $25 fee, or require a temporary restaurant license (as listed on 2026-10-03). Clackamas County says it can only inspect carts located in Clackamas County, so check with each county where you plan to operate.
Sources
Facts checked against official sources on October 3, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the agency before you apply.
- www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/healthyenvironments/foodsafety/pages/index.aspx
- www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/FOODSAFETY/Pages/mobile.aspx
- www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/businesses/Pages/sales-tax.aspx
- www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/businesses/Pages/default.aspx
- multco.us/services/food-cart-license
- www.portland.gov/ppd/commercial-permitting/food-carts
- www.portland.gov/fire/permits-inspections/code-policies-pfrs-fire-safety-inspection-program/vending-food-cart
- www.clackamas.us/publichealth/food-cart
- www.deschutescounty.gov/811/Food-Program-Resources
- health.bentoncountyor.gov/documents/mobile-food-unit-licensing/
- health.bentoncountyor.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EHF-0317b-NOTICE-OF-MOBILE-UNIT-MOVEMENT.pdf