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

Mobile Retail Food Establishment and Service Base License

A food truck or cart licensed through Public Health Madison & Dane County applies on PHMDC's Mobile Retail Food Establishment and Service Base Licensing Application (dated May 4, 2026). Section E of the application prices the unit from the serving-meals table when more than 50% of the food served is meals and from the not-serving-meals table otherwise; both tables run from a $266.76 to a $1,457.35 PHMDC annual fee by gross sales, with a one-time pre-inspection fee for a new license. A service base with no food preparation is $266.76 PHMDC fee plus a $150.00 pre-inspection fee, plus the State fee. The PHMDC fee and pre-inspection fee are those adopted by 2025 RES-364 (County Board adopted April 16, 2026, County Executive signed April 20, 2026, effective April 1, 2026, under Ord. 46.34(1)) and printed on PHMDC's published fee schedule dated May 4, 2026. PHMDC also collects the State (DATCP) annual fee with the license; RES-364 sets it at 14% of the DATCP license fee in Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.08 Table B, and PHMDC is contractually required to reimburse DATCP. The State fee depends on the establishment's complexity, so it is shown here by its basis rather than as a total. PHMDC's food page says DATCP state-licensed mobile vendors are "now exempt from additional Public Health licensing", but that "Even with a DATCP license, you may be subject to an inspection and a $25 inspection fee from us"; Ord. 46.34(1)(a) allows PHMDC to charge a transient operator licensed with the State or another Wisconsin municipality "an inspection fee of $25 per day". Operators send the operation plan and cart and base plans to the Environmental Health Division and schedule a pre-inspection.

Transient Food Establishment License (events)

A vendor selling food at fairs, festivals and other events in Dane County needs a transient food establishment license from Public Health Madison & Dane County, issued as the State's agent. The PHMDC annual fee is $105.30 for prepackaged temperature-controlled (TCS) food only, $140.40 for non-TCS food and $175.50 for TCS food, as adopted by 2025 RES-364 (County Board adopted April 16, 2026, effective April 1, 2026) and printed on PHMDC's fee schedule dated May 4, 2026. PHMDC also collects the State (DATCP) annual fee with the license; RES-364 sets it at 14% of the DATCP license fee in Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.08 Table B, and PHMDC is contractually required to reimburse DATCP. The State fee depends on the establishment's complexity, so it is shown here by its basis rather than as a total. The application is paid by mail or in person at the City of Madison Clerk's Office, 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd #105, and PHMDC asks vendors to call before the event to discuss the stand set-up. A transient operator already licensed with the State of Wisconsin or another Wisconsin municipality may be charged "an inspection fee of $25 per day" under Ord. 46.34(1)(a), the amount PHMDC's food page also states. For events on the UW-Madison campus, PHMDC directs vendors to UW Environmental Health & Safety.

Certified Food Protection Manager

No state fee and no state certificate — an accredited exam provider issues it and sets the price, which is a real contrast with states that run a registry and charge for it. Most licensed food establishments need at least one certified manager, but the exemptions are broader than usual: prepackaged retail establishments whether or not they serve meals, operations handling only fresh fruit or produce, transient events and micro markets are all outside it. A new establishment or one changing operator has ninety days to have a certified manager in place, and the certificate must be posted in public view. A small operator with five or fewer food handlers may recertify through an approved short course rather than sitting the full exam, provided they do it within ninety days of expiry; past that, everyone retakes the exam.

Shared with other businesses in Dane County

• Food License Reinspection, Administrative and Penalty Fees — Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division, Reinspection by sales tier (same for every complexity): first reinspection $37.50 (lowest tier), $75, $112.50, $225, $375, $750 and $1,125 (over $5M); second reinspection $56.25 (lowest tier) to $1,687.50 (highest); third and later $112.50 (lowest tier) to $3,375 (highest). Administrative (document verification-only) reinspection: $37.50. Operating without a license: $375. Operating without a certified food manager: $225. Special condition inspection: $375. HACCP plan validation: $150; HACCP plan verification: $150; risk control plan: $150. Late payment: 25% of the permit fee (Ord. 46.35(1)). Duplicate permit: $5 (Ord. 46.35(3))., per occurrence; charged when the triggering event happens. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Retail Food Establishment License — Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Food and Recreational Safety, $105–$1,457.35 a year — $105 to $540 from the state, more where a local health department is the licensing agent, annual, expiring 30 June. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.