The Mobile Food Establishment program ensures that food served from mobile vendors is safe and handled properly to protect public health. This page explains permits, inspections, and requirements to help owners, vendors, and employees meet safety standards set by the City and State. 

Compliance

Food and beverage provided to the public must comply with the Wisconsin Food Code for sanitation, approved sources, and food safety/food handling. MFEs and mobile service bases must be structurally compliant.

Quick Links

• WI Food Code - Chapter 9 Mobile Food
• MCO CH 68
• A Guide for Mobile Food Establishment Operators - English | Spanish
• Parking & Operating in the City of Milwaukee 
• Submit a food truck complaint
• DATCP Food Code fact sheets  - available in English and Spanish
  • Mobile Build Plan Review - English | Spanish
  • Food Construction of Equipment - English | Spanish 

Stay Informed! Subscribe to the Mobile Operator Email Blast

Important TIPS!

Mobile Food Establishment Units

Trucks, trailers, carts, boats, etc.

An operator may purchase a used unit or build a new one themselves or through a company. Be cautious of used units – just because they say they were licensed doesn’t mean they actually were. Additionally, used unit licenses depend on jurisdiction: different states have different rules. Even a MFE unit builder may not be familiar with Wisconsin’s rules, so do your homework.  

Check out this new build fact sheet for requirements. It is highly recommended that anyone building a unit from scratch submit operational plans prior to building to ensure compliance with the WI Food Code.  

Mobile Unit Plan Review should include: menu, business operational plan, MFE unit floor plan, MSB address, selling location, and unit specifications such as tank sizes, etc. Submit My Mobile Plans for Review!  

• Food Manager Certificate must be on the truck at all times 
• Food Dealer Licenses must be on the truck/cart at all times; posted in window facing out 
• Size Limitations 
  • A motorized food peddler vehicle shall be 25 feet or less in length 
  • A pushed, pedaled or pulled food peddler vehicle shall conform to the following size limits- 
    • Width including wheels shall be 4 feet or less 
    • Length shall be 9 feet or less, of which not more than 6 feet of length shall be used for the display, storage, or preparation of items for sale 
    • Height shall be 6 and one-half feet or less, excluding awnings or umbrellas 
• A mobile service base is almost always required 

Mobile Service Bases (MSB)

MFEs must have a Mobile Service Base (a place to fill your water tank, dispose of wastewater, wash utensils, store & prepare food). This base is required even if all food is prepared on the mobile unit. You cannot use a private home as a service base to prepare food. The mobile service base must be licensed by the city of Milwaukee.

Service base requirements - will depend on the menu and needs of the unit

• Food preparation facilities UNLESS your vehicle is equipped with Health Department approved facilities
• Utensil washing facilities (three or four compartment stainless steel sink with drainboards) 
• Handwashing sink
• A sink with a threaded tap where the vehicle water tank can be filled with potable water
• Clean water hose must be food approved- no garden hoses. Recreational Vehicle (RV) and restaurant supply dealers are good sources for such equipment. Supply hoses need to be protected from contamination at all times and kept in a labeled, clean container when not in use
• NSF 51 or NSF 61 or Food Grade is required; this must be printed on the hose
• A mop sink or waste drain for the disposal of wastewater 
• Storage for food and supplies 
• A food preparation sink may be required. It depends on the food menu 

Mobile Service Base facilities must meet the Wisconsin Food Code standards for floor and wall finishes, equipment, and lighting.  

If you are sharing or leasing a facility operated by someone else, the Health Department will inspect that location in your name. You are required to have a shared kitchen agreement between you and the facility owner. It should specify the times that your vehicle will be using the base. All license copies, base use logs, and itineraries shall be available at the base. 

Each Mobile Food Unit Is Required To Return To Its Service Base At Least Every 24 Hours For Service And Maintenance. 

Logs tracking use must be kept current at the MSB.

Food Truck Parks or parking on private property (off public right of way)

MFEs must return to their service base every 24 hours for servicing and maintenance. Some operators prefer to leave the MFE at the operating location semi-permanently. Most often this operational plan is at a designated food truck park located off the public right of way. If a MFE wishes to park at a food truck park, behind a tavern, or any private property WITHOUT moving the unit to the base every 24 hours, a second mobile service base (2nd MSB) license is required for that parking location. This does not mean the 2nd MSB is approved for food preparation or storage, this is determined by MHD at inspection or consultation. Other city requirements may apply, check with other departments.

NOTE: The MFE must remain mobile (i.e. on its wheels). Electrical or gas connections must comply with other city codes & are to remain quick disconnect capable (meaning the MFE cannot be hardwired, hard plumbed to a permanent building). The intention is that it remains mobile.  

Licensing

License application and fees in the City of Milwaukee are handled by the License Division of the City Clerk's office. 

1. Complete the Licensing Application and the Food Peddler Supplemental License Information forms 

2. If you are sharing a base kitchen, complete the Shared Kitchen Agreement. 

3. Submit applications and fees to the City Clerk's Office listed on the application 

4. Submit your Operation Plan for health department approval. email: [email protected]. 

5. Service base and mobile unit licenses are issued once all inspections are passed and city departments and local alderperson have signed off 

6. Mobile units licensed by another jurisdiction who wish to operate in the City of Milwaukee are required to obtain a Milwaukee Mobile Sellers Permit; to apply see www.milwaukee.gov/foodtrucks 

7. Application and approval is required to park in special Zone Type 2

 

Inspections

Preinspections

Scheduled and occurs at the mobile service base location. The MFE will be inspected for compliance along with the service base. Operators will guide inspectors through the service base and must be able to access areas they plan to utilize the base for (cooking, storage, water, etc.) Health holds will be released if everything complies and the rest of the licensing process proceeds.  

• Mobile Food Unit Requirement Checklist (English and Spanish) 
• Preinspection Checklist for Operators  

Annual Mobile Renewal

• Licenses must be renewed every year around licensing anniversary time 
• Once your renewal paperwork is submitted to City Clerk, you must contact your health inspector for inspection or call 414-286-3674 
• Inspections similar to the preinspection are required annually of the MFE and base 
• These inspections will ensure the unit is structurally in good shape; that your base use logs are up to date; and the operational business plan remains similar to the day of license approval 
• Great time to refresh yourself & your employees with food safety information & up to date parking/operating rules

Annual Routine Inspection

This is done at least every year, unscheduled, while you are out operating your MFE on the public street, at a temporary event, or wherever you normally park to operate.  

Mostly concerned with food safety and food handling behaviors but also compliance with structural requirements and MCO’s.  

A sanitation grade sticker will be placed on the unit to inform the public of the sanitation status of the operation. A reinspection to check out of compliance violations may occur weeks later.

Education and Resources

 

Mobile Food Summit - Recorded Webinar

For owners, operators, and employees

For English - Click Here to Watch

For Spanish - Click here to Watch

Check out the presentation slides here

Resources for MFEs

• A Guide for Mobile Food Establishmest Operators - English | Spanish
• DATCP Food Code Fact Sheets are available here
• MCO Chapter 68
• Wisconsin Food Code, see Chapter 9 Mobile Food Establishments

Some streets are restricted for MFE parking in the city because they are far too congested or narrow for large commercial vehicles to operate and sell food, posing an increased risk to pedestrians and drivers. Maps are available at www.milwaukee.gov/foodtrucks.  

Generally, most traffic laws also apply to motorized food units however there are some additional parking and traffic related rules an operator of an MFE should be aware of. See the Guide for Mobile Food Establishment Operators for a summary of these rules and/or read the technical language in MCO Chapter 68.

Special Operating Zones

Due to the popularity of food trucks in a confined public space and the public safety issue that can arise, special operating zones were established by Common Council.  

→ Zone Type 1 is a time limited zone, where closing time is set earlier than the rest of the city 
→ Zone Type 2 is a density limited zone; vendors and MFEs must be approved to operate here

Zone Maps and Applying to be an Approved Vendor  

Mobiles Licensed by Another Jurisdiction

If another jurisdiction licenses your business you may operate within the boundaries of the City of Milwaukee. MHD will likely inspect your MFE for food handling and safety. Should you operate in the public right of way (ie. city street) the business owner must obtain a Mobile Seller’s Permit (different than your state of Wisconsin Tax Seller’s Permit).  

NOTE: units operating within the footprint of a special temporary event or private property are exempt from a mobile seller’s permit.

Ice Cream Peddlers

Anyone vending ice cream, popsicles, or frozen confections requires an additional Ice Cream Peddler's License. This includes the individual person PUSHING a cart around, DRIVING a vehicle around, CARRYING a container of treats, and the owner of the ice cream business. Persons physically conducting sales of ice cream require this license. This license is in ADDITION to the unit or cart license and service base license; they are issued by the License Division of the City Clerk's office.

Other City Departments Involved with MFEs

Mobile Food Establishments