Kenton County Permit Basics
To operate a food truck in Kenton County — which includes the cities of Covington, Independence, Erlanger, Edgewood, Fort Wright, Villa Hills, and Florence — you need a Mobile Food Unit (MFU) permit from the Northern Kentucky Health Department (NKY Health). The permit costs approximately $150 per year and is valid statewide in Kentucky after you notify each new county's health department 48 hours before your first operation there.
Because NKY Health covers all four Northern Kentucky counties jointly, your single permit gives you immediate legal access to operate in Boone, Campbell, and Grant counties as well — no additional applications or fees required for those three counties.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Agency | Northern Kentucky Health Department |
| Phone | (859) 341-4151 |
| Address | 8001 Veterans Memorial Drive, Florence, KY 41042 |
| Annual Fee (MFU) | ~$150 |
| Counties Covered | Kenton, Boone, Campbell, Grant |
| Permit Cycle | January 1 – December 31 |
Covington Food Truck Zoning Rules
Covington, Kentucky's largest city in Kenton County, has its own food truck zoning ordinance that layers on top of the NKY Health permit. The Covington Board of Commissioners has approved designated food truck locations where trucks can operate on public property:
- Philadelphia Street — between 4th and 7th Streets in MainStrasse Village
- 7th Street — between Madison Avenue and Washington Street (near Braxton Brewing Company)
- Bill Cappel Sports Complex — city-owned lot in Latonia
- Southern Avenue — between Caroline Avenue and Church Street in Latonia
- Main Street — between West 11th Street and MLK Blvd., near the Kenton County government building
Operating hours at designated public locations: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with trucks allowed to set up starting at 5:30 a.m. and required to depart by 10:30 p.m. A maximum of three trucks are permitted simultaneously at each location. Annual city permits for public-right-of-way operation in Covington are approximately $500/year — verify the current fee and application process with the Covington City Solicitor's office.
For operation on private property in commercial zones, the city permit requirement is less stringent — you typically need the NKY Health MFU permit and the property owner's permission. Confirm with Covington's Planning & Development office for any property-specific zoning questions.
Erlanger and Independence — No City Overlay
Unlike Covington, most other Kenton County cities including Erlanger and Independence do not have specific food truck ordinances beyond the county health permit. You need your NKY Health MFU permit and — for any public right-of-way operation — to check with that city's code enforcement office. Private property operation with permission from the property owner typically requires only the health permit.
Operating Across the River in Cincinnati
Your Kenton County / NKY Health MFU permit does not cover Ohio. To operate in Cincinnati or anywhere in Ohio, you need a separate Ohio MFSO license. See our cross-state operations guide and our Hamilton County, OH permit guide for the full process.