Commercial Compliance Hub
Check requirements

13 permits · verified 2026-10-09

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

In short

A food truck in Macomb County, MI has 6 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 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). 6 of the 13 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-09 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a food truck in Macomb County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Mobile Food Establishment License and Plan ReviewMacomb County Health Department, Environmental Health Services DivisionMobile food license $348 a year ($323 for non-profit or veterans); mobile food unit plan review $342, one-time (2026 Environmental Health fee schedule, in effect January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026).annual, on the May 1 to April 30 food license year2026-10-09
Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) License, Plan Review and EvaluationsMacomb County Health Department, Environmental Health Services DivisionSTFU license $155 a year ($116 non-profit; $5 veterans); STFU plan review $342, one-time; $90 per operational evaluation, two required each license year (2026 Environmental Health fee schedule, in effect January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026).annual; two paid evaluations required each license year2026-10-09
Temporary Food Service LicenseMacomb County Health Department, Environmental Health Services Division$158 if the application is received 5 or more full business days before the event start date; $292 if received 1-4 full business days before; non-profit or veterans $154 / $288 (2026 Environmental Health fee schedule, in effect January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026).per event, not to exceed 14 consecutive days2026-10-09
Certified Food Manager on StaffMacomb County Health Department, Environmental Health Services DivisionNo feeongoing while the establishment operates; required before approval to open2026-10-09
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.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Macomb County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Local Business License, Zoning and Building Permits — City, Village or Townshiponly if it applies to youMacomb County Planning and Economic DevelopmentNo feeset by each city, village or township2026-10-09

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 Macomb County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 13 records listed for a food truck in Macomb County, MI, 6 apply to every business of this type and 7 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

6 of the 13 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 5 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Mobile Food Establishment License and Plan Review: Mobile food license $348 a year ($323 for non-profit or veterans); mobile food unit plan review $342, one-time (2026 Environmental Health fee schedule, in effect January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026).

Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) License, Plan Review and Evaluations: STFU license $155 a year ($116 non-profit; $5 veterans); STFU plan review $342, one-time; $90 per operational evaluation, two required each license year (2026 Environmental Health fee schedule, in effect January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026).

Temporary Food Service License: $158 if the application is received 5 or more full business days before the event start date; $292 if received 1-4 full business days before; non-profit or veterans $154 / $288 (2026 Environmental Health fee schedule, in effect January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026).

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 Macomb County permits page and the MI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Macomb County?

Permits for a food truck in Macomb County, MI come from 5 separate offices: Macomb County Health Department, Environmental Health Services Division, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development, 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 Macomb County that other businesses do not?

2 of the 7 permits particular to a food truck here apply to no other business type we cover in Macomb County: Mobile Food Establishment License and Plan Review and Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) License, Plan Review and Evaluations.

Mobile Food Establishment License and Plan Review

A food truck or other mobile food establishment licensed by the Macomb County Health Department pays $348 a year for the license, or $323 if it is a non-profit or veterans unit, and $342 for the one-time mobile food unit plan review. The figure is from the Macomb County Health Department's official Environmental Health fee schedule page, whose fees are in effect January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. The county's 2026 Mobile Food Plan Review Instructions list the same $342 plan review fee. The county licensing page states that facilities licensed as a mobile must return to a licensed mobile food commissary every 24 hours; a unit that does not return to a commissary is licensed instead as a special transitory food unit, recorded separately.

Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) License, Plan Review and Evaluations

The county licensing page describes a special transitory food unit as a moveable food service establishment licensed to operate throughout the state that is not required to return to a commissary, and states that STFUs must request and pay for two operational inspections every license year. The Macomb County Health Department's fees are $155 a year for the license ($116 for a non-profit and $5 for veterans), $342 for the one-time plan review and $90 for each evaluation. The figure is from the Macomb County Health Department's official Environmental Health fee schedule page, whose fees are in effect January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. MCL 289.6137(2)(d) requires two evaluations per licensing year at $90 each, and MCL 289.6137(2)(c) requires written notice not less than 4 business days before any food is served at a location. MDARD's fee page directs an STFU operator to MDARD when the first operating location is a state or county fair and otherwise to the local health department for that location.

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 Macomb County

  • Temporary Food Service License — Macomb County Health Department, Environmental Health Services Division, $158 if the application is received 5 or more full business days before the event start date; $292 if received 1-4 full business days before; non-profit or veterans $154 / $288 (2026 Environmental Health fee schedule, in effect January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026)., per event, not to exceed 14 consecutive days. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Certified Food Manager on Staff — Macomb County Health Department, Environmental Health Services Division, No fee, ongoing while the establishment operates; required before approval to open. 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 other 1 local permit in the tables apply to every type of business in Macomb County, MI; what each one involves is set out on the Macomb County permits 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 Macomb County?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 5 of these permits. A food truck also needs Mobile Food Establishment License and Plan Review and Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) License, Plan Review and Evaluations. A coffee shop needs Food Service Establishment Plan Review, On-Premises Liquor License — Michigan Liquor Control Commission with Local Legislative Body Approval and Food Service License (fixed establishment, annual), which a food truck does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Macomb County, MI, compared with a food truck
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a food truckOnly a food truck needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops8523
Restaurants7433
Retail stores1160
Auto repair shops2072
Childcare centres2072
Contractors and trades2072
Fitness studios1071
Salons and barbers3073
Veterinary clinics1071

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 restaurants page and coffee shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Macomb County permits page and the MI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Macomb County Health Department — food service establishment license fee schedule, effective 2026Macomb County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  2. 2026 Mobile Food Plan Review InstructionsMacomb County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  3. Food service licensing pageMacomb County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  4. 2026 Special Transitory Food Unit Plan Review InstructionsMacomb County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  5. MCL 289.6137, Michigan Food Law — special transitory food unit notice and evaluationsMichigan Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  6. MCL 289.4111, Michigan Food Law — STFU license fee escalator table: $150.00 for 2016, $153.00 for 2017, $156.00 for any subsequent yearMichigan Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-29
  7. 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.