Are you thinking of opening a restaurant, coffee shop, bar, catering kitchen, food truck, mobile unit or other food service establishment?
On this page, you will find information on food service establishment license types and requirements. In many cases a plan review is necessary prior to licensing. Please visit the MDARD Plan Review webpage for more information.
Food service establishments include, but are not limited to, restaurants, cafeterias, coffee shops, sandwich shops, bars, catering kitchens, food concessions, food trucks, mobile units, temporary food service establishments, and transitory food units. These types of establishments are licensed by Local Health Departments—they are not licensed by MDARD. Contact the Local Health Department in your area for help with the licensing process.
Previously called Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU)
A food truck, trailer or other permanently licensed but non-fixed location food operation.
A fixed establishment is a facility that is at a permanent location. This is an operation where food or drinks are prepared for direct consumption through service on the premises or elsewhere, or any other eating or drinking establishment or operation where food is served or provided for the public. Examples include, but are not limited to a restaurant, cafeteria, catering kitchen, food concession, theatre, coffee shop, bar or other brick and mortar food service establishment.
Previously called Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU)
Transitory Food Units are permanently licensed food operations, commonly known as food trucks. Transitory Food Units can occur in various physical forms including, but not limited to trailers, pushcarts, vehicles, watercrafts, tents, or other non-fixed food service establishments.
Mobile Food Establishments are permanently licensed food operations. Mobile Food Establishments can occur in various physical forms including, but not limited to, trailers, pushcarts, vehicles, watercrafts, tents, or other non-fixed food service establishments. A Mobile Food Establishment is required to return to a licensed commissary kitchen every 24 hours. A mobile food establishment license is for food operations where the unit is not equipped to handle all food preparation, storage, dishwashing and other food service activities, so a commissary kitchen is needed.
A temporary food establishment is a food establishment that operates at one physical location for a temporary time period not to exceed 14 consecutive days.
