Food Truck Permit Requirements in Detroit, MI

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

1. MI MDARD Transitory Food Unit / Mobile Food Establishment License

   MDARD licenses food establishments by LICENSE TYPE, not menu category. A Transitory Food Unit (TFU, formerly called Special Transitory Food Unit or STFU) is a temporary food establishment licensed to operate throughout the state without the 14-day limit, or a mobile food establishment not required to return to a commissary — this is the food-truck/trailer license. A Mobile Food Establishment is a separate type that operates from a vehicle and returns to a licensed commissary for servicing at least every 24 hours; that commissary must itself hold a Mobile Food Establishment Commissary license. Depending on the first operating location, either MDARD or a delegated local health department issues and inspects; contact the local health department for that location unless the first location is a state or county fair.

   Official government source

   Transitory Food Unit: $159 license fee, plus a $197 plan review in the first year and an additional $90 paid inspection; subsequent years require two paid $90 inspections. Mobile Food Establishment: $192, and Mobile Food Establishment Commissary: $192. Temporary Food Establishment (14 days or less): $73. All fees are non-refundable (MDARD Food Establishment License Fees and Schedule).·The food license year runs May 1 to April 30. MDARD requires applications for new establishments or a change of ownership at least 30 days before the planned opening date; temporary license applications are due 4 days before the event.

   Transitory Food Unit: $159 license fee, plus a $197 plan review in the first year and an additional $90 paid inspection; subsequent years require two paid $90 inspections. Mobile Food Establishment: $192, and Mobile Food Establishment Commissary: $192. Temporary Food Establishment (14 days or less): $73. All fees are non-refundable (MDARD Food Establishment License Fees and Schedule).

   The food license year runs May 1 to April 30. MDARD requires applications for new establishments or a change of ownership at least 30 days before the planned opening date; temporary license applications are due 4 days before the event.

2. Michigan Sales Tax License

   Required by the Michigan Department of Treasury for businesses selling taxable goods. Prepared food sold by a food truck is taxable, so operators must register for a Michigan sales tax license and collect and remit the 6% state sales tax. Register through Michigan Treasury Online (MTO) using 'Start a New Business (E-Registration)', or file the paper Registration Booklet (Form 518).

   Official government source

   Free — Treasury charges no fee to register for a Michigan sales tax license·Online through MTO: the application is recognized on Treasury's system within 15 minutes and can take up to 48 hours to process. By paper (Form 518): allow 7-10 days for mailing plus about 2 additional weeks for processing.

   Free — Treasury charges no fee to register for a Michigan sales tax license

   Online through MTO: the application is recognized on Treasury's system within 15 minutes and can take up to 48 hours to process. By paper (Form 518): allow 7-10 days for mailing plus about 2 additional weeks for processing.

3. MI Business Registration (LARA Corporations Division)

   Required by LARA's Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau, Corporations Division, for LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships. An LLC files Articles of Organization (form CSCL/CD 700); a for-profit corporation files Articles of Incorporation (form CSCL/CD 500). Filings are submitted through the MiBusiness Registry Portal, which replaced the old system on June 23, 2025 and now handles all annual reports and annual statements — LARA no longer accepts paper annual reports or statements. Sole proprietors and general partnerships operating under a trade name do not register an entity; they file an assumed name certificate with the county clerk — the Wayne County Clerk for a Detroit business. This entity filing is separate from mobile food establishment licensing, which inside Detroit is handled by the Detroit Health Department.

   Official government source

   LARA's published Filing Fees schedule sets exact amounts, not a range: LLC Articles of Organization (form 700) $50; Professional Service LLC (form 701) $50; a for-profit corporation's Articles of Incorporation (form 500) is a $10 nonrefundable fee plus a share-based organization fee — $50 for 1-60,000 authorized shares (a $60 minimum), $100 for 60,001-1,000,000, $300 for 1,000,001-5,000,000 — so a corporation's total can exceed $100. A LARA Certificate of Assumed Name for an LLC or corporation is $25 (LLC) or $10 (corporation); a sole proprietor's assumed name filing with the Wayne County Clerk is $16 and is separate. Filing fees are waived for qualifying veterans.·LARA publishes no standard processing turnaround for Corporations Division filings. The only timings it publishes are optional expedited tiers, charged in addition to the filing fee: $50 for 24-hour formation/qualification documents, $100 same-day formation, $100 for 24-hour existing-entity documents, $200 same-day existing-entity, $500 two-hour, and $1,000 one-hour. Filing online through the MiBusiness Registry Portal (live since June 23, 2025) is the fastest standard route; mailed filings add transit time, and overnight packages route through the State of Michigan mail center, adding a day or more.

   LARA's published Filing Fees schedule sets exact amounts, not a range: LLC Articles of Organization (form 700) $50; Professional Service LLC (form 701) $50; a for-profit corporation's Articles of Incorporation (form 500) is a $10 nonrefundable fee plus a share-based organization fee — $50 for 1-60,000 authorized shares (a $60 minimum), $100 for 60,001-1,000,000, $300 for 1,000,001-5,000,000 — so a corporation's total can exceed $100. A LARA Certificate of Assumed Name for an LLC or corporation is $25 (LLC) or $10 (corporation); a sole proprietor's assumed name filing with the Wayne County Clerk is $16 and is separate. Filing fees are waived for qualifying veterans.

   LARA publishes no standard processing turnaround for Corporations Division filings. The only timings it publishes are optional expedited tiers, charged in addition to the filing fee: $50 for 24-hour formation/qualification documents, $100 same-day formation, $100 for 24-hour existing-entity documents, $200 same-day existing-entity, $500 two-hour, and $1,000 one-hour. Filing online through the MiBusiness Registry Portal (live since June 23, 2025) is the fastest standard route; mailed filings add transit time, and overnight packages route through the State of Michigan mail center, adding a day or more.

1. Detroit Health Department — Mobile Food Establishment / Special Transitory Food Unit License

   Food trucks operating within Detroit city limits are licensed and inspected by the Detroit Health Department's Food Safety unit; Wayne County Environmental Health licenses food service only outside the City of Detroit, so apply to the agency matching where you operate. Under the Michigan Food Law (Act 92 of 2000) a mobile food establishment must return to a licensed commissary at least once every 24 hours and carry a commissary verification form approved by the local health department at all times. A Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) is licensed to operate statewide without the 14-day temporary limit and is not required to return to a commissary, but must file a notice of intent with the local health department at least 4 days before serving food and must obtain two paid operational inspections per licensing year, with reports sent to the issuing health department within 30 days. The business name and address must appear on both exterior sides of the vehicle in letters at least 3 inches high and 3/8 inch wide, contrasting with the vehicle color. All new mobile and STFU establishments must complete plan review before operating. Enclosed mobile units with a cooking element, propane tank, or generator must also obtain a Detroit Fire Department Fire Marshal inspection (313-596-3932).

   Official government source

   Detroit publishes exact fees in its Food Service License Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2026: Mobile Food Preparation Unit (hot truck, soft ice cream, commissary) $498 including the $30 state fee; Transitory Food Unit (TFU) $318 including the $44 state fee; Mobile Food Package / Industrial Caterer $278; Push Cart $278; Street Vendor License (non-state licensed) $248; TFU paid operational inspection $90 each, and two are required per licensing year. Plan review is separate and mandatory: $743 for a Mobile/TFU preparation unit, $495 for pre-packaged units and pushcarts, $193 if previously licensed by Detroit. Plan review fees are non-refundable.·Detroit Health Department Sec. 4103(1) requires the license application to be submitted at least 30 calendar days before the planned opening, change of ownership, or expiration of the current license. Plan review must be completed before operations begin, and the fee covers an approval report, one on-site consultation, and a pre-opening inspection (an additional pre-opening evaluation after two inspections is $633). All mobile and STFU food licenses expire annually on April 30.

   Detroit publishes exact fees in its Food Service License Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2026: Mobile Food Preparation Unit (hot truck, soft ice cream, commissary) $498 including the $30 state fee; Transitory Food Unit (TFU) $318 including the $44 state fee; Mobile Food Package / Industrial Caterer $278; Push Cart $278; Street Vendor License (non-state licensed) $248; TFU paid operational inspection $90 each, and two are required per licensing year. Plan review is separate and mandatory: $743 for a Mobile/TFU preparation unit, $495 for pre-packaged units and pushcarts, $193 if previously licensed by Detroit. Plan review fees are non-refundable.

   Detroit Health Department Sec. 4103(1) requires the license application to be submitted at least 30 calendar days before the planned opening, change of ownership, or expiration of the current license. Plan review must be completed before operations begin, and the fee covers an approval report, one on-site consultation, and a pre-opening inspection (an additional pre-opening evaluation after two inspections is $633). All mobile and STFU food licenses expire annually on April 30.

2. BSEED Vendor License (Street/Stationary)

   Detroit does not require a general business license for all businesses; BSEED states 'Not all businesses need a license.' Food truck operators fall under BSEED's Vendor category. BSEED defines a street vendor as selling goods from a vehicle and a stationary vendor as selling from a stand or pushcart, so a food truck is normally licensed as a Street Vendor (edible). Food safety clearance is required — stationary vendors apply through BSEED, all other vendor types through the Detroit Health Department — and an approved location is required for stationary vendors.

   Official government source

   Street Vendor edible plate $178 per plate (the food-truck case); Stationary Vendor edible plate $123 per plate; Mobile Food Vendor pushcart plate $180; vendor helper $25; duplicate plates $35; fee waived for qualifying veterans. This is a 2-year, not annual, fee (BSEED Fee Schedule eff. 1/1/2024, mod. 7/18/2025).·All vendor licenses expire every 2 years on May 31; BSEED publishes no processing turnaround for a new application, and health department clearance must be obtained first (needs_review)

   Street Vendor edible plate $178 per plate (the food-truck case); Stationary Vendor edible plate $123 per plate; Mobile Food Vendor pushcart plate $180; vendor helper $25; duplicate plates $35; fee waived for qualifying veterans. This is a 2-year, not annual, fee (BSEED Fee Schedule eff. 1/1/2024, mod. 7/18/2025).

   All vendor licenses expire every 2 years on May 31; BSEED publishes no processing turnaround for a new application, and health department clearance must be obtained first (needs_review)

3. BSEED Vendor License (food truck / street vending)

   Food truck and street vendors operating in Detroit fall under BSEED's Vendor licensing category. BSEED defines four vendor types: foot vendor (goods carried while walking), itinerant vendor (temporary selling for 120 days or less), stationary vendor (from a stand or pushcart), and street vendor (from a vehicle) — a food truck is a street vendor. Health department clearance is required when the vendor serves food; stationary vendors apply through BSEED, all others through the Detroit Health Department. An approved location is required for stationary vendors, and location-specific approval may also be needed from the city or a private property owner for designated vending zones.

   Official government source

   Street Vendor edible or non-edible plate $178 each; Stationary Vendor edible or non-edible plate $123 each; Itinerant Vendor temporary location $178 per day; Foot Vendor button $123; Mobile Food Vendor pushcart plate $180; vendor helper $25; duplicate plates $35; fee waived for qualifying veterans. BSEED Fee Schedule eff. 1/1/2024, mod. 7/18/2025. There is no separate published 'Vending Location Permit' fee (needs_review).·All vendor licenses expire every 2 years on May 31; BSEED publishes no processing turnaround for a new application (needs_review)

   Street Vendor edible or non-edible plate $178 each; Stationary Vendor edible or non-edible plate $123 each; Itinerant Vendor temporary location $178 per day; Foot Vendor button $123; Mobile Food Vendor pushcart plate $180; vendor helper $25; duplicate plates $35; fee waived for qualifying veterans. BSEED Fee Schedule eff. 1/1/2024, mod. 7/18/2025. There is no separate published 'Vending Location Permit' fee (needs_review).

   All vendor licenses expire every 2 years on May 31; BSEED publishes no processing turnaround for a new application (needs_review)

4. Commissary Agreement

   Michigan's food safety rules generally require mobile food units to operate from a licensed base of operations/commissary for food prep, cleaning, and restocking unless the unit is fully self-contained; a written commissary agreement is typically required during licensing. Confirm current requirements with the Detroit Health Department Food Safety program.

   Official government source

   fees vary by commissary; confirm current market rate·varies

   fees vary by commissary; confirm current market rate

   varies

Official Sources

• MI Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Detroit BSEED
• MI Department of Treasury

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