How to Start a Food Truck in Mississippi (2026)

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Starting a food truck in Mississippi requires two layers of permits: a state food establishment permit from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) and a local business privilege license and mobile vendor permit from each city or county where you operate. There is no single unified statewide food truck permit – both layers are required and one does not substitute for the other. The MSDH process starts with a non-refundable plan review fee of $224.25, followed by a risk-level-based annual permit fee ranging from $40 to $264.50. A certified Food Protection Manager must be on staff, a commissary agreement with a licensed commercial kitchen is required, and every employee who handles food needs a Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire. Mississippi’s prepared food is taxable at the standard 7% state sales tax rate.

Mississippi Food Truck Requirements at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
LLC Formation	Mississippi Secretary of State	$50 (online)	3-5 business days
Federal EIN	IRS	Free	Immediate
MSDH Plan Review	MSDH Division of Food Protection	$224.25 (non-refundable)	Submit before operation; pay within 48 hours of acknowledgment
MSDH Annual Food Permit (Risk 2)	MSDH Division of Food Protection	$132.25/year	After plan review approved; pay before inspection scheduled
MSDH Annual Food Permit (Risk 3)	MSDH Division of Food Protection	$198.00/year	Risk level assigned during plan review
Commissary Agreement	Licensed commercial kitchen	$200-$800/month	Required as part of plan review package
Food Protection Manager Certification	ServSafe / MSU Extension	$110-$150	Before MSDH application; valid 5 years
Employee Food Handler Card	Accredited online provider	$7-$15 per employee	Within 30 days of hire
Sales Tax Registration	Mississippi DOR (TAP portal)	Free	Before first sale
City Business Privilege License	City/County Clerk	Varies	Before operating in that jurisdiction
City Mobile Vendor Permit	City/County	Varies	Before operating in that jurisdiction
General Liability Insurance	Private Carrier	~$1,500-$3,000/year	Before operations

How to Start a Food Truck in Mississippi (Step by Step)

Step 1: Form Your Mississippi LLC

File a Certificate of Formation with the Mississippi Secretary of State online portal ($50, approximately 3-5 business days). Apply for a free federal EIN at IRS.gov immediately after. Mississippi LLCs file a free annual report each April 15.

Step 2: Get Food Safety Certified

Mississippi requires at least one Certified Food Protection Manager to be present during all operating hours. This is an MSDH requirement and must be in place before your permit is issued.

Accepted certifications: ServSafe (National Restaurant Association) is the primary accepted program. Other ANAB/CFP-accredited certifications are also accepted.

• MSU Extension in-person class (with book): $150 – includes 7th Edition ServSafe material and the exam
• MSU Extension class only (without book): $110
• Self-study + online proctored exam: approximately $114
• Certification is valid for 5 years

Employee Food Handler Cards: Every employee who prepares or serves food must obtain a Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire. State law caps the fee at no more than $15 per card. Online providers charge as low as $7-$10. Employees who hold a Food Protection Manager Certification are exempt from needing a separate Food Handler Card.

Step 3: Secure a Commissary Agreement

MSDH requires every food truck operator to have a written Servicing Area Agreement with a licensed, non-residential commercial kitchen (commissary). A residential kitchen does not qualify. You must submit this signed agreement as part of your plan review application package.

What a commissary provides:

• Filling the potable water holding tank from an approved water source
• Emptying the wastewater/gray water holding tank
• Access to a mop sink and three-compartment sink for warewashing
• Storage for food supplies and equipment
• Food preparation that cannot be done on the truck
• Access to restroom facilities

Cost: Commissary rental typically runs $200-$800/month depending on your hours and location. Shared commercial kitchen spaces in Jackson, Hattiesburg, and other Mississippi cities offer commissary agreements for food trucks.

Step 4: Submit the MSDH Plan Review

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Division of Food Protection issues state food permits for food trucks. Any person who prepares, holds, transports, or serves food for pay is required by Mississippi state law to have a food permit before operating.

Contact: food@msdh.ms.gov | (601) 364-2832

The 5-step MSDH process:

1. Request the Plan Review packet by emailing food@msdh.ms.gov
2. Complete and return the application and Plan Review documents to food@msdh.ms.gov; allow 48 hours for acknowledgment
3. Pay the $224.25 Plan Review fee online via the link emailed to you – the plan review does not begin until payment is received. This fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome.
4. Receive your permit fee invoice by email after your application is reviewed and approved
5. Pay the annual permit fee online using your Permit ID Number – the permit fee must be paid before an inspection is scheduled

Annual Permit Fee by Risk Level

MSDH assigns your food truck a risk level during plan review based on how complex your food preparation is. The risk level determines your annual permit fee and inspection frequency.

Risk Level	Description	Annual Fee
Risk 1	Lowest complexity; limited prep (packaged goods, minimal on-site cooking)	$40.00
Risk 2	Moderate prep; some on-site cooking without extensive grilling/frying	$132.25
Risk 3	Full on-site cooking; grilling, frying, hot food preparation	$198.00
Risk 4	Highest complexity; extensive cooking operations	$264.50

Most food trucks that cook on-site are assigned Risk 2 or Risk 3. Risk level is re-evaluated annually at inspection. Inspection frequency also increases with higher risk levels.

Step 5: Pass the MSDH Pre-Operational Inspection

After paying your annual permit fee, MSDH schedules a pre-operational inspection of your food truck. Your truck must meet MSDH equipment standards before the permit is issued.

Required on-truck equipment:

• Three-compartment sink: Each compartment large enough to fully submerge any ware used on the truck; approved sanitizer required
• Potable water holding tank: Filled from an approved, routinely tested water source
• Wastewater holding tank: Must be at least 15% larger in volume than the potable water tank
• Dedicated handwashing station: Separate from the three-compartment sink; accessible to employees at all times
• Commercial-grade refrigeration: Maintain cold food at 41 degrees F or below
• Commercial-grade heating equipment: Maintain hot food at 135 degrees F or above
• Ventilation/exhaust hood: Required for trucks using grills, fryers, or equipment producing smoke or grease fumes
• Non-porous, washable surfaces: Interior floors, walls, and counters

MSDH publishes all inspection results publicly. The department uses a grading system where Grade A indicates full compliance. View inspection results: apps.msdh.ms.gov/food

Step 6: Get City and County Permits

The MSDH permit alone does not authorize you to operate in any specific city. You need separate local permits from each city or county where you operate. Requirements vary significantly.

Jackson, MS (example):

• Business Privilege License (payable to City of Jackson; fee varies by business type)
• Mobile Food Vendor Permit from the city
• Hours of operation regulated: Mon-Thu 6am-10pm; Fri-Sat 6am-midnight; Sun 6am-10pm
• Zoning and location restrictions apply
• Special event permits required for festivals and events
• Fire Department inspection required for trucks using grills, fryers, or propane equipment
• Contact: jacksonms.gov/business-licensing

Fire suppression requirements: If your truck uses cooking equipment that produces grease-laden vapors (grills, fryers), you need an NFPA 96-compliant fire suppression system inspected and serviced every 6 months by a qualified technician. Class K fire extinguisher required near cooking equipment. Contact your local city or county fire marshal for jurisdiction-specific requirements and fees.

Other Mississippi cities: Hattiesburg (Ordinance 3286), Gulfport, Biloxi, and Southaven each have their own mobile food vendor regulations. Contact the city clerk in each municipality where you plan to operate before setting up.

Step 7: Register for Sales Tax and Get Insurance

Mississippi sales tax on food truck sales: Prepared food sold from a food truck is taxable at Mississippi’s standard 7% state sales tax rate. The reduced 5% rate for groceries applies only to unprepared SNAP-eligible items sold in retail settings – it does not apply to food truck sales. Register for a free sales tax permit through the Mississippi DOR TAP portal before your first sale.

Insurance:

• Commercial auto insurance: Required to operate your food truck on Mississippi roads. Personal auto policies exclude commercial use.
• General liability insurance: Protects against foodborne illness claims, customer injuries, and property damage. Most events and private property owners require $1 million per occurrence coverage.
• Workers’ compensation: Required when you have 5 or more employees. Mississippi’s threshold applies across all industries.

Startup Cost Breakdown: Mississippi Food Truck

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC Formation	$50	Mississippi SOS online filing; 3-5 business days
MSDH Plan Review Fee	$224.25	Non-refundable; pay within 48 hours of acknowledgment
MSDH Annual Permit (Risk 2 typical)	$132.25/year	Risk 3 is $198; assigned during plan review
Food Protection Manager Certification	$110-$150	MSU Extension; ServSafe; valid 5 years
Employee Food Handler Cards	$7-$15 per employee	Required within 30 days of hire; max $15 by law
Commissary Rental	$200-$800/month	Licensed commercial kitchen agreement required
Sales Tax Registration	Free	TAP portal at dor.ms.gov; 7% rate on prepared food
City Business Privilege License	Varies	Each city where you operate
City Mobile Vendor Permit	Varies	Each city where you operate
Food Truck (new)	$75,000-$150,000	Custom build; fully equipped
Food Truck (used)	$20,000-$50,000	Verify equipment meets MSDH requirements
Commercial Auto Insurance	$2,000-$5,000/year	Required; rates depend on truck value
General Liability Insurance	$1,500-$3,000/year	$1M per occurrence recommended
Initial Food Inventory	$1,000-$3,000	First month’s ingredients and supplies
POS System	$500-$2,000	Square, Toast, or similar

Estimated total startup cost (new truck): $85,000-$175,000
Estimated total startup cost (used truck): $30,000-$70,000

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• How to Start a Hair Salon in Mississippi
• How to Start a Landscaping Business in Mississippi
• How to Start a Private Investigation Business in Mississippi

← Back to all Mississippi business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What permits do I need to operate a food truck in Mississippi?

You need two layers of permits. At the state level: a food establishment permit from MSDH (plan review $224.25 + annual permit based on risk level). At the local level: a Business Privilege License and a Mobile Food Vendor Permit from each city or county where you operate. You also need a signed commissary agreement with a licensed commercial kitchen and a certified Food Protection Manager on staff. Contact MSDH at food@msdh.ms.gov or (601) 364-2832.

How much does the Mississippi food truck permit cost?

The MSDH process costs $224.25 (non-refundable plan review fee) plus an annual permit fee based on your assigned risk level: Risk 1 ($40), Risk 2 ($132.25), Risk 3 ($198), Risk 4 ($264.50). Most food trucks that cook on-site are assigned Risk 2 or Risk 3. You also pay for the Food Protection Manager Certification ($110-$150), Employee Food Handler Cards ($7-$15 each), and separate local city permits.

Do I need a commissary for my Mississippi food truck?

Yes. MSDH requires all food truck operators to have a written Servicing Area Agreement with a licensed, non-residential commercial kitchen. The commissary is used for filling potable water tanks, emptying wastewater tanks, warewashing, and food storage. A residential kitchen does not qualify. Commissary rental typically costs $200-$800/month.

Is food sold from a food truck taxable in Mississippi?

Yes. Prepared food sold from food trucks is subject to Mississippi’s standard 7% state sales tax rate. The 5% reduced rate applies only to unprepared SNAP-eligible grocery items, not to food truck sales. Register for a free sales tax permit through the Mississippi DOR TAP portal at dor.ms.gov before making your first sale.

Do I need a permit from every city where I operate my food truck?

Yes. Your MSDH state food permit does not grant you the right to operate in any specific city. You need separate local permits from each municipality – typically a Business Privilege License and a Mobile Food Vendor Permit. Requirements and fees vary by city. Contact each city clerk before setting up in a new location. Jackson, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, and other Mississippi cities each have their own food truck ordinances.

How long does the Mississippi food truck permitting process take?

Budget 4-8 weeks for the MSDH process from initial inquiry to permit issuance. After you email for the Plan Review packet, submit your application, and pay the $224.25 fee, plan review begins. Once approved, MSDH sends your permit fee invoice; the inspection is scheduled only after that fee is paid. Local city permits can typically be obtained more quickly once you have the MSDH permit in hand.