Food Truck permits and licenses in Oregon

The statewide credentials every food truck needs to operate in Oregon, plus city-specific guides for the cities we cover.

State-level filing fees$60 to $110 in state and federal filing fees

This page covers only the Oregon statewide credentials for food trucks. Federal credentials that apply nationwide are on the Food Trucks overview, and each city layers its own permits on top.

Federal requirementsFood Trucks nationwide

The credentials below are the Oregon-wide requirements that apply to every food truck in the state. Each city and county layers its own permits, fees, and inspections on top. To see the requirements for a specific city, choose it from the Oregon cities list below.

Oregon credential overview

Credential	Level	Fee	Renewal
Oregon Business Registration (LLC, Corporation, or Assumed Business Name)	State	$100 to form an LLC or Corporation, $50 for an Assumed Business Name (DBA)	LLC or Corporation: annual report at $100 per year. Assumed Business Name renews every 2 years.
Oregon Business Identification Number (BIN) / Combined Employer's Registration	State	$0 (free)	None for the account itself. Quarterly combined payroll-tax filings.
Oregon Food Handler Card	State	$10 per person	Every 3 years
Mobile Food Unit (MFU) License	State	Set by each county. No statewide flat fee. See your city page for local amounts.	Annual (most counties run a calendar-year license, Jan 1 to Dec 31)
Mobile Food Unit Plan Review	State	Set by each county. See your city page for local amounts.	One-time, triggered by a new build, major remodel, or change of ownership

Oregon cities

City and county rules stack on top of the statewide credentials.

Eugene, ORLane County

Portland, ORMultnomah County

Each food truck credential in Oregon, explained

Grouped by the level of government that issues it, broadest first. Every food truck in Oregon needs these regardless of city.

State level

5 credentials

Oregon Business Registration (LLC, Corporation, or Assumed Business Name)

Registers your legal entity or trade name with the state. Required if you operate as an LLC or corporation, or under any name other than your own legal name.

Issued by: Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division
Fee: $100 to form an LLC or Corporation, $50 for an Assumed Business Name (DBA)
Renewal: LLC or Corporation: annual report at $100 per year. Assumed Business Name renews every 2 years.
Processing: About 1 business day online

Oregon Business Identification Number (BIN) / Combined Employer's Registration

Oregon's employer and payroll tax account number. Required only if you have employees, or are a corporation paying officer compensation. Not needed for a no-employee sole proprietor. An EIN is required first.

Issued by: Oregon Department of Revenue (jointly with Oregon Employment Department)
Fee: $0 (free)
Renewal: None for the account itself. Quarterly combined payroll-tax filings.
Processing: About 30 business days online, 60 by paper

Oregon Food Handler Card

Required for every worker who prepares or serves food, within 30 days of hire. A valid food manager certificate is accepted in lieu. Out-of-state cards are not valid in Oregon.

Issued by: Oregon Health Authority and approved local providers
Fee: $10 per person
Renewal: Every 3 years
Processing: Same day (online training and test, about 1 hour)

Mobile Food Unit (MFU) License

The core health and operating license for any food cart, trailer, truck, or kiosk. Required statewide before operation, but you apply to and pay the county where you are based. Units are graded Class 1 to 4 by menu and equipment.

Issued by: Your county Local Public Health Authority, under Oregon Health Authority rules (ORS 624, OAR 333-162)
Fee: Set by each county. No statewide flat fee. See your city page for local amounts.
Renewal: Annual (most counties run a calendar-year license, Jan 1 to Dec 31)
Processing: Weeks, after plan review approval, construction, and a pre-opening inspection

Mobile Food Unit Plan Review

Mandatory design and equipment review you must pass before building, remodeling, or operating. Approval here does not waive other agency approvals such as zoning, fire, or building.

Issued by: Your county Local Public Health Authority (OHA rules)
Fee: Set by each county. See your city page for local amounts.
Renewal: One-time, triggered by a new build, major remodel, or change of ownership
Processing: Varies by county

See how other food trucks in Oregon are managing every permit, license, and renewal in one place with CredentiAlert.

Oregon-specific things to watch for

1There is no state-issued food truck license. You license through your county, and the forms, fees, and timing differ in every county. You submit the Mobile Unit License Application to your local public health authority.

2Plan review comes before construction. A mobile food unit must pass plan review with the local Environmental Health Department before it is built or operated, and Oregon law requires licensing before serving the public. Buying a used cart is risky, since older units may fail the current Oregon Food Code and need costly retrofits.

3Most carts need a commissary or base of operation for water, dishwashing, and storage unless the unit has a built-in 3-compartment sink. You generally cannot store food or equipment at home.

4Out-of-state food handler cards do not count. An Oregon card costs $10 and is valid three years.

5Licenses are not transferable. Buying an operating cart means applying for a new change-of-ownership license, not inheriting the seller's. The original owner gets no refund when ownership changes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to operate a food truck in Oregon?

Yes. Every mobile food unit must pass a plan review and inspection and hold a county-issued MFU license before serving the public, and each worker needs an Oregon food handler card.

How much does it cost to license a food cart in Oregon?

The license and plan-review fees are set per county, often around $1,500 to $2,500 combined in the Portland area, on top of roughly $60 to $110 in state and federal filing fees.

Can I run a food cart in Oregon without a commissary?

Usually only if your unit has an onboard 3-compartment sink and meets water and wastewater rules. Otherwise a licensed commissary is required.

You just read through every credential your food truck needs in Oregon.

Each one has a different renewal date, a different fee, and a different agency. CredentiAlert tracks all of them and reminds you before any of them lapse, so you can spend your time running your business, not managing a renewal calendar.

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Official sources

Last verified 2026-06-02. Requirements change. Always confirm with the issuing department before applying.