Oregon
Portland / Multnomah County food cart licenses, plan review, and 2026 fees
In Multnomah County, every food cart — including carts, trailers, trucks, drive-through coffee stands, and kiosks — must be licensed by the Health Department, stay on wheels, and usually go through plan review before you build or remodel.
Last checked 2026-11-09 (America/New_York).
Official fees we could verify
Amounts below come from the linked official pages or PDFs. If a figure could not be confirmed, we say so and do not invent one.
| Item | Amount | Term and source |
|---|---|---|
| Food cart / mobile unit license — Classes I, II, and III License class is determined with the county using its classification chart in the plan-review packet. Confirm your class before you pay. |
$760 | One calendar year (renew by paying the fee; the county says licenses paid after September 31 are prorated, and renewal is due by January 1) multco.us Food Cart License (2026 fees) |
| Food cart / mobile unit license — Class IV Higher-complexity class. Confirm with the county’s classification chart whether your menu and equipment are Class IV. |
$920 | One calendar year multco.us Food Cart License (2026 fees) |
| Mobile plan review (all classes) Required for a new cart, a major remodel (plumbing, electrical, or replacing structural items), or a change of ownership if the cart has been out of service longer than one year. |
$790 | Plan review (county says review can take up to 15 business days after final payment and a complete packet) multco.us Food Cart License (2026 fees) |
| Rush plan review (all classes) Optional rush review. |
$2,380 | Rush plan review multco.us Food Cart License (2026 fees) |
| Commissary license (if you license your own commissary) If your cart must operate from a licensed commissary, you apply for a commissary operator’s license and pay this fee. Most carts need a commissary unless they have a three-compartment sink, per the county. |
$720 | Annual multco.us Food Cart License (2026 fees) |
| Warehouse license Food and equipment not stored in the cart or commissary must be stored in a licensed warehouse — not at home. |
$630 | Annual multco.us Food Cart License (2026 fees) |
The path, in order
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1. Determine your mobile unit class and gather the plan-review packet
Download the county’s Plan Review Packet and use the classification chart to identify Class I–IV. The packet includes the forms, menu, floor plan, sink and tank details, operating schedule, wastewater disposal form, and restroom agreement.
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2. Submit plans and the plan-review fee before you build
Send a complete packet plus the $790 plan-review fee (or $2,380 for rush). Include commissary and/or warehouse fee payments if those licenses are needed. The food cart operating license fee is separate and can be paid later. Incomplete packets are delayed. Review can take up to 15 business days after final payment. You may begin construction only after you receive the approval letter.
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3. Clear planning, plumbing, fire, zoning, and building approvals if they apply
The plan-review packet tells operators to obtain approvals from other agencies as needed. If you will operate in Gresham, the packet points you to Gresham permits. Confirm fire and propane rules with the fire authority that has jurisdiction over your operating and commissary locations — we are not quoting an unofficial fire fee here.
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4. Arrange a licensed commissary or document an exception
Most carts need a commissary unless they have a three-compartment sink. Complete the Commissary Verification & License Form. Even if a restaurant owns the cart, or you only drop off and pick up dishes, the county still wants that form. Food not stored in the cart or commissary must go to a licensed warehouse, not a home.
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5. Pay the license fee and pass the pre-opening inspection
After plan approval and construction, schedule the pre-opening inspection and pay the license fee ($760 for Classes I–III or $920 for Class IV). The county can inspect carts anywhere in Multnomah County. If you pass, the license is mailed. Post it in the cart with copies of any commissary, warehouse, or fire permits.
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6. Renew each calendar year
The license is good for one calendar year. The county says to renew by paying the license fee by January 1, and that fees paid after September 31 will be prorated. Tell the county when your location or menu changes.
Fire, propane, and commissary notes
All food carts must remain on wheels.
Licenses are not transferable. Buying a cart that operated in the past 12 months is a change of ownership, not a transfer.
Additional published 2026 fees include a $270 recheck fee and $265/hour consultation. Food cart pod licenses (for property with two or more carts) are separate: $540 for 2–9 units, $720 for 10 or more, plus $770 pod plan review.
Fees quoted here are the 2026 amounts published on the county Food Cart License page and 2026 Base Fee Schedule. The county has already posted higher 2027 amounts effective January 1, 2027.
Contact: Environmental Health, 847 NE 19th Ave, Suite 350B, Portland, OR 97232; 503-988-3400; eh.front.office@multco.us.
- City of Portland or local fire/propane permit fees — confirm with the fire authority; not listed on the county health license page.
- Exact class definitions for I–IV: use the county classification chart rather than a third-party summary.
Nearby commissaries and shared kitchens
We have not yet listed a kitchen in Portland with a public address and website we could verify. Use the suggest a kitchen form if you know a good one, and check the official sources below.
Official sources
- Multnomah County — Food Cart License (fees last reviewed on that page July 1, 2026)
- 2026 Base Fee Schedule (Health License Fees)
- Using a commercial kitchen (county guidance)
This page is not affiliated with Portland or the agencies above. It is a practical summary by Thirty and Beyond, LLC. Confirm current rules before you spend money or start construction.