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

Transient Vendor's License

This is the license for selling away from a fixed address — fairs, festivals, markets, travelling to the customer — and unlike the county vendor's license it is valid in all eighty-eight counties on one registration. It is issued by the Department of Taxation only, never by a county auditor. Same $50 as the fixed-location license since House Bill 366 took effect on 9 April 2025.

Shared with other businesses in Cuyahoga County

• Mobile Food License — Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Per the 2026 CCBH Food Protection Program Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2026): High Risk Mobile $408 per year ($380 local plus $28 state) and Low Risk Mobile $218 per year ($190 local plus $28 state). A renewal filed after 1 March carries the same mandatory 25 per cent late penalty as a fixed premises., annual, on the same renewal cycle as a fixed operation; CCBH states that 'Mobiles licensed by our agency must renew their license and schedule an annual inspection at least 10 days prior to their first event each year'. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Vendor's License (Regular) — Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer, Licensing and Support Services, $50 one application fee for each fixed sales location in the county — a combined state and county amount, of which the county auditor transmits $25 to the Treasurer of State for the organized crime commission fund and credits $25 to the Cuyahoga County general fund; the county's page states 'No Annual Renewal Fee', a standing registration with no annual renewal fee; the county's own page states that 'Vendors must have one regular vendor's license for each sales location', and a new license is needed when the vendor's legal identity changes rather than at a fixed expiry date. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, fitness studios, auto repair shops and salons and barbers; what it involves is set out on the salons and barbers page.
• Retail Cigarette Dealer's License (Cigarette Vendor's License) — Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer, Licensing and Support Services, $125 a year for each physical place where cigarettes are sold at retail, and for each motor vehicle used to convey cigarettes from place to place — a state-set fee collected by the county Fiscal Officer, prorated when the application is filed after 1 June but never below $25 in any one year; a duplicate license is $5 and a transfer to another place of business in the same county is $5, one year commencing on the first day of June, per ORC 5743.15(B)(2), with applications due annually on or before the first day of June; a license is not transferable where the business moves, is sold, an individual or partnership incorporates, or a partnership or corporation is dissolved. Also required for retail stores, restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Retail Pricing Accuracy Duties (scanner accuracy and item pricing) — Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs, Division of Weights and Measures, No fee, a standing obligation with no term and no renewal, in force from 8 August 2026, the effective date of Ordinance No. O2026-0008. Also required for retail stores, restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Temporary Food License — Cuyahoga County Board of Health, $64 per day of operation for a commercial operator, as printed on the 2026 CCBH Food Protection Program Fee Schedule effective 1 January 2026; a non-commercial operator pays $32 per day, per event; CCBH states that 'Licenses can be issued for up to five consecutive days' and that applications 'must be applied for 10 days prior to the event'. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Disposable Bag Rule for Retail Establishments — Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs, Division of Weights and Measures, No fee, a standing obligation with no term and no renewal; County Code §1304.04 has the Department of Consumer Affairs enforcing the chapter from 1 January 2021, and §1304.03 provides that 'Only violations occurring on or after January 1, 2021, are subject to penalty'. Also required for retail stores, restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Weights and Measures Device Inspection and Sealing — Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs, Division of Weights and Measures, No fee, a standing county inspection duty rather than a license; the county states that 'Weights and Measures inspectors generally conduct device tests once a year' and that 'Our seal is good for 12 months', with tests unannounced. Also required for retail stores, restaurants, coffee shops, auto repair shops and salons and barbers; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Manager Certification in Food Protection — Ohio Department of Health, Food Safety Program, No fee, not stated by the Ohio Department of Health. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Food Service Operation License — Ohio Department of Health, Food Safety Program, $28 state fee for a commercial operation ($14 non-commercial, $6 per vending machine location), plus a license fee set independently by the local board of health, 1 March to the last day of February. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.