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

Food Service Plan Review, Partial Plan Review and Change of Ownership Evaluation

The county's plan review page states that "Plan review is required by the Michigan Food Law and the Michigan Modified Food Code Section 8-201.11," before a food establishment is built, an existing structure is converted, or certain remodeling is done. For 2026 a Food Service Plan Review is $500.00 ("For proposed new construction, conversions of a facility use to food service or construction of new preparation or serving areas within an existing establishment"), a Partial Plan Review is $300.00 (for pre-2000 establishments where full plans are not required or for added equipment; the schedule states that "A STFU plan review is also included in this category"), and a Change of Ownership or Relicensing Evaluation is $250.00. A Re-Evaluation Fee of $170.00 applies when an establishment is not ready at its pre-opening evaluation. The figures are from the county's official "Food Service Fee Schedule as of January 1, 2026" (revised 12/16/25), a calendar-year 2026 schedule in effect through December 31, 2026. Contact Public Health - Muskegon County Food Service Sanitation at 231-724-4406 or publichealth.foodservice@co.muskegon.mi.us.

Mobile Food Service License (commissary-based food truck)

Public Health - Muskegon County's 2026 fee schedule defines a mobile food establishment as one "operating from a vehicle, trailer, or watercraft which is not fully equipped for full food service and, therefore, must return to a licensed commissary at least once every 24 hours". For 2026 the for-profit Mobile License is $530.00 combined ($500.00 county portion plus $30.00 State portion) and the non-profit license is $130.00 combined ($125.00 county plus $5.00 State). The figures are from the county's official "Food Service Fee Schedule as of January 1, 2026" (revised 12/16/25), a calendar-year 2026 schedule in effect through December 31, 2026. The schedule's footnote states: "State fees are charged in addition to Public Health - Muskegon County fees. State and TFU fees are subject to change and are not established at the discretion of the County of Muskegon." Contact Public Health - Muskegon County Food Service Sanitation at 231-724-4406 or publichealth.foodservice@co.muskegon.mi.us.

Transitory Food Unit (TFU/STFU) License and Inspections

A transitory food unit (TFU, also called a special transitory food unit or STFU) licensed through Public Health - Muskegon County pays, for 2026, a for-profit TFU License State Fee of $155.00 (the sheet prints $111.00 plus $44.00) or a non-profit TFU fee of $116.00 ($111.00 plus $5.00), plus a TFU Inspection State fee of $90.00 for each inspection. The whole TFU amount is State-set: the schedule states that "Fees for STFUs are determined by the State of Michigan." It also states that "The 2000 Food Law requires all TFUs to be inspected twice during the period of operation" and that TFUs can be inspected by any local health department or state office regardless of license origin. The figures are from the county's official "Food Service Fee Schedule as of January 1, 2026" (revised 12/16/25), a calendar-year 2026 schedule in effect through December 31, 2026. The schedule's footnote states: "State fees are charged in addition to Public Health - Muskegon County fees. State and TFU fees are subject to change and are not established at the discretion of the County of Muskegon." The STFU plan review is billed as a Partial Plan Review, recorded separately. Contact Public Health - Muskegon County Food Service Sanitation at 231-724-4406 or publichealth.foodservice@co.muskegon.mi.us.

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 Muskegon County

• Temporary Food Service License (events up to 14 consecutive days) — Public Health - Muskegon County, 2026: for-profit Temporary Food Service License $150.00 county (PHMC) portion + $9.00 State portion = $159.00 combined; non-profit $37.50 county + $5.00 State = $42.50 combined (Food Service Fee Schedule as of January 1, 2026, revised 12/16/25)., per event, at a fixed location for no more than 14 consecutive days, as the county's temporary licensing page describes. 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.