Health Department Menu

Mobile Food Licensing

 

*** Coming in July 2026 - Online Food Facility Review and Temporary/Mobile/Vending Applications ***

Beginning in late July, 2026 all applications for Food Facility Reviews, and Temporary/Mobile Vending Licenses will be submitted online with payment at eztrak.cagis.org. Paper applications, drawings, and check payments will no longer be accepted, once we go live with the new online application process. If you already have an ezTrak account, you can use the same account to manage all your licenses, permits and applications made through that site. ​

 

The Cincinnati Health Department licenses and inspections mobile food service operations and mobile retail food establishments. 

A mobile food service operation (FSO) or mobile retail food establishment (RFE) is one that is operated from a movable vehicle, portable structure, or watercraft and routinely changes location. Mobile FSOs and RFEs include those that do not remain in any one location for more than 40 days. Mobile licenses are renewed annually and expire on March 1st of every year.  Applications for mobile food licenses should be submitted to the licensor for the health district in which the applicant's business headquarters are located, or if the headquarters are located outside the state, to the licensor for the district where the applicant will first operate in Ohio. 

 

A current Ohio Mobile Food License is required to operate in the City of Cincinnati, but mobile food licenses from any board of health in the State of Ohio are accepted. For more information on where mobile food vendors can operate within the City of Cincinnati, please click here.

To apply for and obtain a Mobile Food Service Operation or Mobile Retail Food Establishment license:

  1. Download - Mobile food license application and/or mobile food operation guide
  2. Apply - Mail the application to: Mobile Food Licensing, 3845 William P Dooley Bypass, Cincinnati, OH 45223. (NOTE - Beginning in late July, all mobile applications must be submitted at ezTrak.cagis.org - paper applications will no longer be accepted at that time.)
  3. Review - You will be contacted within 30 days regarding your application.
  4. Inspection/Licensing - Once the application has been approved, most mobile vehicles will be inspected and licensed in person by Cincinnati Health Department personnel at the Food Safety and Inspections Office. No food may be sold in the City of Cincinnati from the mobile vehicle until the application has been approved, and the vehicle has been inspected and licensed by the Cincinnati Health Department (unless you have a valid Ohio Mobile Food license from another county or city health department). 
For questions related to mobile food service or mobile retail food establishment licensing in the City of Cincinnati: 
Email Philip.Murdock@cincinnati-oh.gov or call 513-564-1753.