What License Do You Need in Hamilton County?
Ohio requires every mobile food operation to hold a Mobile Food Service Operation (MFSO) license, issued by the local health district where your business headquarters are located. For operators based in Hamilton County, that issuing agency is the Cincinnati Health Department.
Thanks to Ohio Senate Bill 150 (signed October 2019), your MFSO license is recognized statewide — you can operate at events anywhere in Ohio's 88 counties without buying additional county permits. This ended the old system where vendors needed a temporary license every time they crossed a county line.
However, there are two important exceptions in the Cincinnati metro:
- City of Cincinnati overlay: The City of Cincinnati requires its own mobile food vendor registration on top of the county MFSO license for any truck operating within city limits.
- Kentucky operations: Your Ohio MFSO does not cover Kentucky. If you want to serve across the Ohio River in NKY (Boone, Kenton, Campbell, or Grant counties), you need a separate Kentucky MFU permit. See our cross-state operations guide.
Cincinnati Health Department — Contact & Location
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing Agency | Cincinnati Health Department — Food Safety and Inspections |
| Mailing Address | Mobile Food Licensing, 3845 William P Dooley Bypass, Cincinnati, OH 45223 |
| Online Portal | ezTrak at eztrak.cagis.org |
| License Expiry | March 1 annually (all Ohio MFSO licenses) |
| Late Penalty | 25% of fee if not renewed by March 1 |
| Service Area | City of Cincinnati and unincorporated Hamilton County |
MFSO License Fees — Hamilton County / Cincinnati (2025)
Cincinnati Health Department fees are set by the Ohio Department of Health formula and adjusted by risk level. Fees below reflect the current published schedule (effective Dec 2025 renewals):
| License Type | Base Fee | State Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFSO — Level 1 Low-risk operations, limited menu |
$331.00 | $28.00 | $359.00 |
| MFSO — Level 2 Standard full-service hot food trucks |
$374.00 | $28.00 | $402.00 |
| Late Renewal Penalty | +25% of base fee after March 1 | +$82.75–$93.50 | |
| Low Risk MRFE Shelf-stable goods, baked goods, eggs (effective Feb 2024) |
~50% of standard | $28.00 | ~$185–$215 |
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your Hamilton County MFSO License
-
1
Prepare Your Application Package
Before applying, you need: a detailed floor plan drawing of your mobile unit showing the handwashing sink, 3-compartment sink, equipment layout, and water tank locations; your complete menu; a commissary agreement (if you use a commissary kitchen for prep); and the applicable fee. The floor plan must show the unit can meet Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code requirements for all menu items you plan to serve.
-
2
Submit to Cincinnati Health Department
Mail your complete application package — including plans, menu, and fee payment — to: Mobile Food Licensing, 3845 William P Dooley Bypass, Cincinnati, OH 45223. Submit at least 10 business days before your intended opening date. The department reviews your plans, confirms your unit meets code requirements, and schedules your pre-license inspection.
-
3
Pass the Pre-License Inspection
Cincinnati Health Department inspectors will inspect your truck in person at the Food Safety and Inspections Office. Your unit must be fully operational — all utilities connected, equipment functioning, and the truck fully stocked. The inspector tests your equipment AND your knowledge of food safety practices. No food may be sold in Cincinnati before this inspection is complete and the license is issued.
-
4
Register for City of Cincinnati Operations (If Applicable)
If you plan to operate within the City of Cincinnati limits, register through the City's mobile vendor portal after receiving your MFSO license. The MFSO alone is required and accepted, but the City's overlay registration is a separate administrative step. Check the current City of Cincinnati requirements at cincinnati-oh.gov for the latest process and any applicable city fees.
-
5
Obtain Transient Vendor's License (If Operating Multiple Counties)
If you sell taxable goods (food sales are generally taxable in Ohio) across multiple Ohio counties, obtain a Transient Vendor's License from the Ohio Department of Taxation for a one-time $25 fee. This covers your sales tax compliance across county lines. Apply online at tax.ohio.gov.
-
6
Renew Annually Before March 1
Renew your MFSO license each year through ezTrak at eztrak.cagis.org. Create an account if you don't already have one. The renewal portal opens before March 1. Pay online to avoid the 25% late penalty. Licenses issued after December 2, 2025 expire March 2, 2026 — check your expiration date on your license certificate.
Equipment Requirements — Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code
Ohio's MFSO requirements under OAC 3717-1 include the following for full-service hot food trucks:
- Handwashing sink — separate from the 3-compartment sink, with warm running water at a minimum of 100°F, soap dispenser, and single-use towels or air dryer
- 3-compartment sink — with drain boards, for ware washing
- Mechanical refrigeration — required for all potentially hazardous foods; for the Low Risk MRFE license (shelf-stable goods only), ice, gel packs, and dry ice are permitted if temperature is logged every four hours
- Fresh water supply — adequate for the day's operation; must be from an approved source
- Wastewater holding — capacity at least 15% greater than fresh water tank; must be disposed at licensed facility
- Base of operation / commissary — documented for units that serve non-prepackaged food; required for wash, rinse, sanitize of equipment
- Thermometers — in all refrigeration units and available for food temperature checks
- Hood and ventilation — over cooking surfaces with grease filters
The 2024 Low-Risk MRFE Option
Ohio created a new license tier in February 2024: the Low Risk Mobile Retail Food Establishment (Low Risk MRFE) license. It costs approximately 50% of the standard MRFE fee and is designed for vendors whose concept doesn't require hot food preparation or mechanical refrigeration.
Qualifying operations include: shelf-stable baked goods, jams, honey, eggs, certain home-produced foods sold at farmers markets, and pre-packaged goods. If you meet the criteria, this is a meaningful cost reduction. The key restriction is that you must log temperature checks every four hours if using non-mechanical cold storage (ice, gel packs). For details on eligibility, see our Low-Risk MRFE guide.
Cincinnati Food Truck Zones — 2025 Update
In September 2025, Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long implemented new rules restricting food truck operations in Downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine (OTR). A proposed ordinance was under City Council debate in October–November 2025 to codify the city manager's authority to create prohibited food truck zones.
Current rules as of late 2025 prohibit food trucks from: residential zoning districts, spaces designated for disabled persons, parking zones with permit requirements, and zones specifically designated as food-truck-prohibited by the city manager. There are no current plans to extend prohibited zones beyond Downtown and OTR.
For the complete breakdown of where you can and cannot park in Cincinnati, including a map of current restricted areas, see our Cincinnati Food Truck Zones guide.
Hamilton County Public Health — Unincorporated Areas
Note that Hamilton County Public Health (separate from the Cincinnati Health Department) serves unincorporated Hamilton County and some smaller municipalities outside the City of Cincinnati. If your truck headquarters are in the suburban areas of Hamilton County — not within Cincinnati city limits — you may apply through Hamilton County Public Health instead of the Cincinnati Health Department. Both are valid issuers of the Ohio MFSO license.
Hamilton County Public Health: hamiltoncountyhealth.org