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What a food truck permit costs in Ohio

The figures below come from Ohio's agency pages, each with the date it was read. Government fees only: commissary rent, insurance and the truck are private costs, and the profit calculator is where those go.

The main license

Set by each health district: Cincinnati charges $107 (low risk) to $187 (high risk) a year for 2026, including the $28 state fee

Mobile food service operation license; license year ends March 1 and fees are not prorated

Cincinnati schedule effective December 1, 2025. Columbus adds a $180 city mobile food vending license and a $250 public right-of-way permit on top of the health license. A valid Ohio mobile license from any district is accepted in every other district.

Issued by The health district where the business is based (Columbus Public Health, Cincinnati Health Department, county boards of health); the license is honored statewide (OAC 3701-21-02) Read on the agency page Nov 5, 2026

Every step, with the fee where it is published

In filing order. A step without a published fee links the agency to ask.

  1. 1

    Form your entity and get your EINFederal

    the IRS

    Fee not published here; ask the agency
  2. 2

    Register for Ohio sales taxState

    the Ohio revenue department

    Private cost or no fee
  3. 3

    Sign your commissary agreementState

    Ohio Department of Health — Food Safety Program

    Fee not published here; ask the agency
  4. 4

    Apply for the Ohio mobile food unit permitState

    Ohio Department of Health — Food Safety Program

    Fee not published here; ask the agency
  5. 5

    Clear the county and city layersCity

    your city and county

    Private cost or no fee
  6. 6

    Get general liability insurance and a certificate of insurance (COI)Private

    your insurer

    Private cost or no fee

Renewal timeline

  • General liability insurance (COI)

    Every year · start paperwork 21 days before · Your insurer

Download the renewal calendar (.ics) Open the printable checklist

What changed in Ohio

  1. Cincinnati Health Department's 2026 schedule: mobile food service operation licenses $107 to $187 a year including the $28 state fee; a valid Ohio mobile license from any district is accepted citywide. Source

Read the full picture

Ohio food truck permit guideAgencies, fees, inspections, city rules and the pitfalls, with sources.

Compare every state on the permit hub or take the CSV.

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