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10 permits · verified 2026-10-10

What permits do you need to open a food truck in Kent County Mi?

In short

A food truck in Kent County Mi, MI has 4 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 6 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau charges $50 one-time filing, non-refundable for the articles of organization (llc). 5 of the 10 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-10 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a food truck in Kent County Mi

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Special Transitory Food Unit — Notice and Two Evaluations per Licensing YearKent County Health Department, Environmental Health$90 per evaluation, two evaluations required each licensing year ($180 a year), as set by MCL 289.6137(2)(d); the amount is set by state statute, not by the county.two evaluations each licensing year, spaced over the operating season2026-10-10
Food Service License (Kent County Health Department)Kent County Health Department, Environmental HealthThe food license fee is not published on the Health Department's Food Safety Services page; the page states that a change-of-ownership application is brought to the Health Department with the change-of-ownership fee and the food license fee. Contact Kent County Health Department Environmental Health at 616-632-6900 or KCEHmail@kentcountymi.gov for the current amounts.license held by the operator before and during operation; a new owner needs a new license (licenses are non-transferable)2026-10-10
Food Service Establishment LicenseMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development$338–$1,333 a year, set by the local health department; the state's embedded share is $30annual — expires 30 April2026-09-03
Retail Food Establishment Licenseonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development$73–$471 a year, by establishment typeannual — the license year runs 1 May to 30 April2026-09-03
Certified Food Safety Manageronly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNo feecertificates are typically valid five years, set by the certifying provider2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

MI registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau$50 one-time filing, non-refundableno expiry, but an annual statement is due every 15 February2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau$60 one-time minimum — a $10 fee plus an organization fee from $50, banded by authorised sharesno expiry, but an annual report is due every 15 May2026-09-03
General Business License — Michigan state positiononly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNo feenot applicable at state level2026-09-03
Sales Tax LicenseMichigan Department of TreasuryNo feeissued yearly, valid January to December2026-09-03
Annual Report or Annual Statementonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing BureauVaries — formula on the MI pageannual — 15 February for an LLC, 15 May for a corporation2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

How much does it actually cost to permit a food truck in Kent County Mi?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 10 records listed for a food truck in Kent County Mi, MI, 4 apply to every business of this type and 6 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

5 of the 10 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 3 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Special Transitory Food Unit — Notice and Two Evaluations per Licensing Year: $90 per evaluation, two evaluations required each licensing year ($180 a year), as set by MCL 289.6137(2)(d); the amount is set by state statute, not by the county.

Food Service License (Kent County Health Department): The food license fee is not published on the Health Department's Food Safety Services page; the page states that a change-of-ownership application is brought to the Health Department with the change-of-ownership fee and the food license fee. Contact Kent County Health Department Environmental Health at 616-632-6900 or KCEHmail@kentcountymi.gov for the current amounts.

Food Service Establishment License: $338–$1,333 a year, set by the local health department; the state's embedded share is $30

Retail Food Establishment License: $73–$471 a year, by establishment type

The other 1 variable fee belongs to permits that apply to every type of business here; its formula is set out on the Kent County Mi permits page and the MI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Kent County Mi?

Permits for a food truck in Kent County Mi, MI come from 4 separate offices: Kent County Health Department, Environmental Health, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Department of Treasury. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a food truck need in Kent County Mi that other businesses do not?

1 of the 5 permits particular to a food truck here applies to no other business type we cover in Kent County Mi: Special Transitory Food Unit — Notice and Two Evaluations per Licensing Year.

Special Transitory Food Unit — Notice and Two Evaluations per Licensing Year

A special transitory food unit (a food truck licensed to operate throughout Michigan) must, while in operation, 'request and receive 2 evaluations per licensing year spaced generally over the span of the operating season', and under MCL 289.6137(2)(d) 'A local health department and the department shall charge a fee of $90.00 for such an evaluation.' The figure is set by statute, not by the county. MCL 289.6137(2)(c) requires the license holder to notify the local health department in writing of each location, date and hours of service not less than 4 business days before any food is served in its jurisdiction. The Kent County Health Department's Food Truck Finder page lists the same conditions for operating in Kent County: notification to the local health department, a permanently affixed sticker for the current license year visible to the public (pink for the 2026-27 licensing year), two inspections each license year, and operation under approved standard operating procedures kept on the unit.

Retail Food Establishment License

This is the state license that does exist, and it is not the restaurant one. A retail food establishment, a limited wholesale processor or a food warehouse pays $186; an extended retail food establishment — a shop serving unpackaged food with seating — pays $471; a mobile food establishment or its commissary pays $192; a temporary establishment $73; a transitory food unit $159 plus a first-year $197 plan review and a $90 inspection. Widely republished figures of $135 are out of date. One oddity is recorded rather than explained: every published amount runs exactly $3 above the figure in the statute, and while the law permits a convenience fee, no source confirms that is what the $3 is. Licenses do not transfer to a new owner or a new location.

Shared with other businesses in Kent County Mi

  • Food Service License (Kent County Health Department) — Kent County Health Department, Environmental Health, The food license fee is not published on the Health Department's Food Safety Services page; the page states that a change-of-ownership application is brought to the Health Department with the change-of-ownership fee and the food license fee. Contact Kent County Health Department Environmental Health at 616-632-6900 or KCEHmail@kentcountymi.gov for the current amounts., license held by the operator before and during operation; a new owner needs a new license (licenses are non-transferable). Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Food Service Establishment License — Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, $338–$1,333 a year, set by the local health department; the state's embedded share is $30, annual — expires 30 April. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Certified Food Safety Manager — Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, No fee, certificates are typically valid five years, set by the certifying provider. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.

The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across MI and are covered on the MI state page.

How does a food truck compare with other businesses in Kent County Mi?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 4 of these permits. A food truck also needs Special Transitory Food Unit — Notice and Two Evaluations per Licensing Year. A coffee shop needs On-Premises Liquor License — Michigan Liquor Control Commission with Local Legislative Body Approval, which a food truck does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Kent County Mi, MI, compared with a food truck
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a food truckOnly a food truck needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops5411
Restaurants4321
Retail stores1140
Auto repair shops2052
Childcare centres2052
Contractors and trades1051
Fitness studios1051
Salons and barbers3053
Veterinary clinics1051

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the coffee shops page and restaurants page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Kent County Mi permits page and the MI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. MCL 289.6137, Michigan Food Law — special transitory food unit notice and evaluationsMichigan Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  2. Food Truck Finder — who can operate a transitory food unit in MichiganKent County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  3. Michigan MDARD — food establishment license fees and scheduleMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.