Indiana Food Truck License: County Permits Now, Statewide Mobile License From 2027

If you want to run a food truck in Indiana, here is the short answer. Until January 1, 2027, you register with each county where your truck operates, and the local health department handles the paperwork. Starting January 1, 2027, a new statewide mobile retail food establishment license lets you register once and operate in multiple counties. Either way, your first call should go to the health department in the county where your truck will be based.

This guide covers the Indiana food truck laws in force today, what changes in 2027, what is still pending, and which fees are confirmed versus which you need to check before you budget. Treat it as a map of the paperwork, not a substitute for the paperwork itself.

What changed: HB 1577 and the statewide mobile license

House Bill 1577 (2025) created a statewide license for mobile retail food establishments. According to the Indiana State Department of Health (IDOH) regulatory analysis, the license is codified at IC 16-42-28. One IDOH analysis also cites IC 16-42-18 for the same license, so confirm the section number with IDOH before you cite it on any application. The statewide license takes effect January 1, 2027.

The governing administrative rule is 410 IAC 7-26, adopted April 16, 2025. Until the new license starts, the county-level system still applies, and that is the system you will use this year.

Before January 1, 2027: register with every county you operate in

A mobile retail food establishment must register with each county where it operates. If your route crosses county lines, each county's health department needs to know you are there. Local health departments may take applications and collect annual license fees before 2027. They may not issue the new statewide license until January 1, 2027. Plan on handling each county separately this year, and do not assume that one application covers the whole state.

From January 1, 2027: one registration, multiple counties

Once the statewide license takes effect, the operator registers once and can operate in multiple counties. The local health department issues the license and conducts the inspections. The statute is described as requiring at least semiannual inspections, meaning at least two per year. Ask your local health department to confirm its inspection schedule when you apply, because the operating details are still being set through the interim rule described below.

The interim rule IDOH presented in July 2026

On July 1, 2026, IDOH presented an interim rule to carry the new licensing in place until permanent amendments are adopted. The adoption status was not confirmed when this guide was researched, so treat the provisions below as the proposed draft, not settled law. Confirm the current status with IDOH before you plan around them.

Under the interim rule draft:

• You apply, complete plan review, and pay the required amounts.
• You post your license and your inspection reports.
• You send a notice of intent to the local health department within 5 days of operating in a new jurisdiction.
• Your commissary or servicing-area return follows a risk-based standard instead of a fixed daily trip. Do not plan around a daily commissary visit requirement, because the draft does not state one.

IDOH estimates that about 4,506 mobile food operators will be affected by the change.

What a commissary is and why it matters

A commissary is the licensed base where your truck stores food, gets cleaned, restocks, and disposes of waste. Regulators want a documented home base for every mobile operation, which is why the commissary or servicing-area return appears in the interim rule. Under the draft, the return frequency is risk-based rather than a fixed daily trip. Get your commissary arrangement in writing before you file, and expect the health department to ask where you store food and dispose of waste.

Fees: what is confirmed and what is not

The interim rule adds no new fees. Beyond that, the fee picture is incomplete. An earlier bill draft set a $450 combined annual license and inspection fee, with $250 going to the state. The enacted amount has not been confirmed, so do not treat $450 as the settled number. Ask your local health department for its current annual license and inspection fee before you file.

Item	Amount	Status
Statewide mobile license under the interim rule	No new fees added	Per the IDOH interim rule draft; confirm adoption status with IDOH
Annual license and inspection fee (earlier bill draft)	$450 combined, $250 to the state	Enacted amount not confirmed; confirm with your local health department
Registered Retail Merchant Certificate	$25	Required if you sell taxable goods; issued by the Indiana Department of Revenue

City vending rules: Indianapolis and Fort Wayne

Indianapolis and Fort Wayne may have their own vending rules on top of county and state requirements. We did not verify those city rules. Before you set a regular route or choose a commissary, confirm with the city about permitted locations, hours, and any city permit or license you need.

Other registrations you will likely need

Indiana does not have one comprehensive business license. Depending on what you sell and how you are set up, you may also need:

• A Registered Retail Merchant Certificate ($25) from the Indiana Department of Revenue if you sell taxable goods. The state sales tax rate is 7%.
• Profession-specific licenses from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, if your work requires one.
• Local permits or zoning approval from the city or county where you park or prep.

If you operate through an LLC, the Articles of Organization filing fee is $95, completed through INBiz in a single online session. Your name must include Limited Liability Company or an abbreviation of it. Indiana requires every business entity to maintain a registered agent with a street address in the state, and a business cannot serve as its own registered agent. Indiana has no franchise tax. An LLC's income passes through to its owners, who pay the individual adjusted gross income tax (2.95% for 2026) plus their county local income tax. The Business Entity Report costs $32 and is due every other year, with the first report due two years after formation.

If your LLC or corporation trades under a different name, a Certificate of Assumed Business Name costs $20 per name when filed online through INBiz. Sole proprietors and general partnerships record an assumed name with the recorder of the county where the business is located, and county fees vary.

Step-by-step checklist

1. Call the health department in your home county. Ask for its application, its current annual license and inspection fee, its plan review process, and whether it is operating under the interim rule.
2. Lock in your commissary or servicing-area arrangement and get the terms in writing.
3. Complete plan review for your truck and pay the required fees.
4. Register with each county where you plan to operate before 2027.
5. Post your license and keep your inspection reports where the rules require.
6. Send your notice of intent to the local health department within 5 days of operating in a new jurisdiction.
7. Confirm city vending rules in every city on your route.
8. Register for sales tax with the Department of Revenue if you sell taxable goods.

Where to confirm each number

Agency	What to confirm	Where
Your county health department	Application, annual fee, inspection schedule, plan review	Contact your county directly
Indiana State Department of Health	Interim rule status, IC 16-42-28, 410 IAC 7-26	Contact IDOH directly
Indiana Department of Revenue	Sales tax and Registered Retail Merchant Certificate	https://www.in.gov/dor/
Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division	LLC filing, Business Entity Report, assumed business name	https://www.in.gov/sos/business/ and https://inbiz.in.gov/
Indiana Small Business Development Center	Advising on starting a food business	https://isbdc.org/

This guide is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Indiana's mobile food rules are changing in 2026 and 2027, and the interim rule's status and local fees may change before you file. Confirm current requirements with your local health department and IDOH, and consult a qualified attorney or CPA for complex situations such as multi-county operations, entity selection, or sales tax setup.