Detroit Mobile Food Cart Regulations: Permits & Food Safety

The majority of standards of food safety are set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The primary basis for most standards for food preparation is sanitation and food prepared to temperatures that assure bacteria is killed if present.

Food Servers

• The City of Detroit requires food handling permits be purchased for each employee and that your food cart be registered with the city. The permits are low-cost. $10 for professionals as of the end of 2010; even volunteers for charities and religious organization must obtain a $5 permit to serve food to the public.

Food Carts

• Higher fees are required for businesses to be registered with the Health Department. A temporary vendor license is required and runs $250 (as of 2010). This fee is required per mobile unit which return to a primary commissary that also has a health permit. However, the City of Detroit, allows food carts that remain in a fixed location to operate under a temporary permit.

Location

• To be able to move a food cart, there must be a primary commissary the food cart returns to everyday. A temporary permit does not allow the cart to be moved.