Food Truck Permits in Mississippi
Last verified against official sources on by Amrit. How we verify
Yes. Every food truck that sells food in Mississippi needs a food permit from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). There is one state system, not one per county: you send a plan review to MSDH, pay a $224.25 plan review fee, and then pay a yearly permit fee of $40 to $264.50 depending on how risky your menu is. You also need a certified food manager, a sales tax permit from the Department of Revenue, and, in many cities, a city vending permit too.[2][6][1][7][9]
At a glance
| Permit needed | Yes. A food permit from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH).[6] |
|---|---|
| Who issues it | MSDH, one state agency for the whole state. You apply by email to food@msdh.ms.gov.[1] |
| Plan review fee | $224.25, paid online before MSDH starts the review.[1][5] |
| Yearly permit fee | $40 to $264.50 a year, depending on the risk level MSDH gives your menu (Risk 1 is prepackaged food, Risk 4 is full cooking, cooling and reheating).[1] |
| Training | The permit holder, or someone they name, must hold a food manager certificate from an approved course.[5] |
| Commissary | Generally yes: a non-residential base for water, wastewater, storage and dishwashing, with a servicing area agreement MSDH approves.[6] |
| Sales tax | A sales tax permit from the Mississippi Department of Revenue. The state rate is 7%.[7] |
| City permits | Some cities add their own permit. Hattiesburg charges $250 a year, Greenwood $400 a year and Biloxi $250 for 90 days.[9][11][10] |
Step by step
Do these in order. Each step links to the official form or page.
Get a food manager certificate
Someone who works on the truck needs a food protection manager certificate from an ANSI-accredited course, such as ServSafe. The permit holder, or a person they name, must have passed the course, and you send a copy of the certificate with your plan review. You pay the course provider for the exam.[6][5][2][1]
Line up a commissary (servicing area)
MSU Extension says MSDH policy generally requires a food truck to work from a non-residential base where you fill the water tank, empty wastewater, store supplies, wash dishes and prep food. Many trucks use a restaurant or a church kitchen. The owner signs a servicing area agreement, which goes to MSDH for approval. You can't cook, prep or store food at home.[6]
Ask MSDH for a plan review packet and send it back
Email food@msdh.ms.gov to ask for a plan review packet. Send back the food permit application, a floor plan of the truck, your menu and a copy of your food manager certificate. Put your business name in the email subject and on every document. Your truck can't operate until MSDH approves the plans. MSDH says a review can take up to 30 days.[1][2][4]
Pay the plan review fee
Once MSDH has your packet, it emails you a link to pay the $224.25 plan review fee online. The review doesn't start until you pay. MSDH only takes online payment, with a small processing fee.[1][5]
Build the truck to MSDH standards
MSU Extension lists what MSDH looks for on a mobile unit: a fully enclosed prep area with smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces, a three-compartment sink for washing utensils, a separate handwashing sink with hot and cold running water, a water heater, and a wastewater tank at least 15% bigger than the fresh water tank. If the truck has no restroom, you need easy access to one while you're open. Ask the local fire department about ventilation for grills and fryers.[6]
Pay the permit fee and pass the inspection
When MSDH approves your plans, it emails an invoice for the yearly permit fee. The amount depends on the risk level MSDH gives your truck: $40 (Risk 1, such as prepackaged food) up to $264.50 (Risk 4, such as cooking, cooling and reheating). You pay online with the permit ID on the invoice, and MSDH only books the inspection once you've paid. You must have the permit before you start selling.[1][5][2]
Register for sales tax
Register with the Mississippi Department of Revenue online through its TAP system before you start selling. Your permit arrives by mail in about two weeks. The state sales tax rate is 7%. Cities such as Hattiesburg and Biloxi ask for your state tax number when you apply for their permit.[7][8][9]
Check for a city permit where you sell
Mississippi cities set their own rules for where and when food trucks can park. The cities we checked (Hattiesburg, Biloxi and Greenwood) each want a city privilege license, your MSDH permit and proof of insurance; Hattiesburg and Biloxi also want a fire inspection, and Greenwood wants the property owner's consent for private sites. Ask the city's planning or community development office before you park.[9][10][11]
Renew every year
The MSDH permit is yearly. MSDH inspects the truck up to 60 days before the permit expires, and you must have corrected everything on the inspection report to renew. If you sell the truck, the new owner needs a new permit, because the old one stops being valid.[2]
Local rules
These places add their own requirements on top of the state rules.
- Hattiesburg: You need a city mobile food vending permit from the Planning Division, listing every location you'll use. It costs $250 a year ($125 if you apply on or after July 1) and renews every January 1. You need a privilege tax license, your MSDH permit, a state tax number, fire inspector approval, $500,000 of liability insurance naming the City, and a central kitchen in Forrest or Lamar County approved by MSDH. You can only sell on private property zoned for business or industrial use, between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m.[9]
- Biloxi: You need a City of Biloxi privilege license and a mobile food vending permit for each truck, filed with Community Development. The permit costs $250 and lasts 90 days; you can renew it for another 90 days for $25. You need $300,000 of liability insurance naming the City, a Biloxi Fire Department inspection, and your MSDH permit. You can't park within 250 feet of a restaurant, and special events like Mardi Gras need a separate permit.[10]
- Greenwood: The city mobile food vending permit costs $400 a year per truck. The application asks for your MSDH permit number, a city privilege license, a state tax ID, $300,000 of insurance, vehicle insurance and the property owner's consent for each private location.[11]
What it costs
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Pay the plan review fee | $224.25 (one-time, plus a small online processing fee) |
| Pay the permit fee and pass the inspection | $40 to $264.50 (per year: Risk 1 $40, Risk 2 $132.25, Risk 3 $198, Risk 4 $264.50) |
| Check for a city permit where you sell | Set by each city |
| Total if every fee applies to you | $264.25 to $488.75 |
Not included in the total because the fee is set locally: Check for a city permit where you sell.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food truck permit cost in Mississippi?
The state health permit costs $40 to $264.50 a year, depending on your truck's risk level, plus a one-time $224.25 plan review fee. City permits are extra: for example $250 a year in Hattiesburg and $400 a year in Greenwood.[1][9][11]
Do I need a separate health permit for each county?
No. Food permits in Mississippi come from the state health department (MSDH), not from county health departments. Cities can still require their own vending permits.[6][9]
Can I prep food at home and sell it from my truck?
No. Prep, cooking and storage have to happen on the truck or at your approved commissary, not in a home kitchen. Mississippi's cottage food rules are a separate thing for home bakers who sell directly to customers.[6][2]
I bought a used food truck that already has a permit. Can I use it?
No. When a permitted facility changes owner, the old permit is no longer valid, and a new owner triggers a full plan review. Email food@msdh.ms.gov before you start.[2]
What decides my truck's risk level?
Your menu and how you handle food. Risk 1 is for things like prepackaged food that doesn't need temperature control. Risk 4 is for trucks that cook, cool and reheat food or prep it a day ahead. MSDH sets the level at plan review and checks it again at each yearly inspection. Higher-risk trucks are inspected more often.[5][1][2]
Where can I get water for my truck?
Fill your tank from an approved water source; MSDH encourages a public water supply. A private well has to meet extra testing first. Use a food-grade hose for drinking water and a different-colored hose for wastewater.[6]
Sources
- Food Permits and Fees, Mississippi State Department of Health. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Retail Food Permits and Inspections: Questions and Answers, Mississippi State Department of Health. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Retail Food Facilities, Mississippi State Department of Health. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Forms (Food Facility Permit Application Form), Mississippi State Department of Health. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 15, Part 13 (Food Protection): Subpart 75 Chapter 2 Food Code and Chapter 5 Fees, Mississippi Secretary of State (Mississippi State Department of Health rules). Checked October 25, 2026.
- How to Start and Operate a Food Truck (Publication 4135), Mississippi State University Extension Service. Checked October 25, 2026. State university extension guide (2025), not an MSDH publication. It says MSDH may change the list. Confirm the commissary and equipment points with MSDH.
- Mississippi Sales and Use Taxes, Mississippi Department of Revenue. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Registration Information for Sales and Use Tax Applicants, Mississippi Department of Revenue. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Ordinance Establishing and Regulating Mobile Food Vending Units in Hattiesburg (Ordinance 3286), City of Hattiesburg. Checked October 25, 2026. The copy on the city site has blank adoption and signature lines (2021). Confirm the adopted text and fee with the city.
- Ordinance No. 2534: Chapter 12 Article XII Mobile Food Vending, City of Biloxi. Checked October 25, 2026. Amending ordinance with tracked changes; the text extraction shows struck and new wording side by side in places.
- Application for Mobile Food Vending Permit, City of Greenwood. Checked October 25, 2026.
Related
- Cottage Food Laws in Mississippi
- Food Truck Permits in Alabama
- Food Truck Permits in Arkansas
- Food Truck Permits in Louisiana
- Food Truck Permits in Tennessee
- Food Truck Permits by State
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change. Before you apply or start selling, confirm the details with Mississippi State Department of Health, Division of Food Protection or your local health department. Spotted something wrong or out of date?Report it and we will check it.