Mobile Food Vending

Mobile Services and Pushcarts Require a License

All food service establishments in Tulsa County, including mobile food vending operations, require a license that must be renewed annually. THD categorizes mobile food services as follows:

• Full-service mobile: a vehicle or trailer designed and equipped to prepare and serve open food products.
• Pre-packaged (retail) mobile: a vehicle or trailer limited to the sale of commercially manufactured pre-packaged products, or products prepared and packaged at a licensed food service establishment.
• Pushcart: a non-self-propelled vehicle limited to the sale of non-Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods, the sale of commercially pre-packaged foods maintained at proper temperatures, or the preparation and sale of frankfurters.

Construction, Equipment and Operation Guidelines

Full-service mobile food establishments are required to meet certain regulations regarding their construction, water system, equipment, personnel and food safety. Pre-packaged mobile and pushcart food establishments are exempted from some of these requirements.

• Mobile Food Service Establishment - Construction Guide
• Mobile Food Service Establishment - Common Violation Guide
• Commissary Agreement
• Mobile Licensing Checklist

Plan Overview

Mobile food establishment plans must be submitted to THD with the appropriate fees. Complete plan review applications includes a menu, equipment layout, size of water tanks, location of lighting, and any additional photos or documents you wish to include to better illustrate your mobile unit.

• Mobile Plan Review Application

Mobile Vendor Fees 

• State Fee - $425 required for all mobile operations.

City Permits

Every city has the ability to adopt a city ordinance that requires additional permits to operate a business within the city limits. Below are cities in Tulsa County that will require additional permits in order to operate within their city limits.

• Fee for City of Broken Arrow Food Permit*
  • Full-service mobile $150 per vehicle
  • Pre-packaged mobile $60 per vehicle
  • Pushcart vending operations $60 per pushcart
• Fee for City of Bixby and City of Tulsa Food Permit* 
  • Full-service mobile $155 per vehicle
  • Pre-packaged mobile $155 per vehicle
  • Pushcart vending operations $155 per pushcart
  • NOTE: The cities charge a $5 processing fee on all new license applications

*Additional city permits for outdoor sellers or peddlers may be required. Please contact the City of Tulsa licensing and permits office at (918) 596-9456 regarding mobile outdoor sellers application for a mobile food operation or the City of Broken Arrow licensing and permits office at (918) 259- 2411 for an itinerant merchant food vendor application.

For more information, please call 918-595-4300.