In Minneapolis, food businesses must submit a food plan application to the City.

In this section

• Get approval first
• Food Plan Review application
• Required documents
• Site evaluation
• Food Cart requirement overview
• Technical help and resources

Related

• Food plan review resources
• Business licenses

Starting a new food business

Submit your food plan application. The City must approve it before you start a new food business, including:

• Food carts
• Food kiosks
• Food trucks

A food business license is required for new food businesses.

Remodeling or expanding an existing food business

Submit your food plan application. The City must approve it before you remodel or expand your existing business.

Replacing food equipment 

Submit your food plan application. The City must approve it before you replace equipment that requires any of these permits:

• Gas
• Mechanical
• Plumbing

Adding ventless cooking equipment or ventless hoods 

Submit your food plan application. The City must approve it before you add any ventless cooking, such as:

• Ventless hoods
• Ventless cooking equipment

If you have questions about ventless cooking requirements, contact 311. Ask for a health inspector on the Food Plan Review team. 

Contact 311

Application

• Download a food plan review application
• Submit your completed application by email to Minneapolis Development Review (MDR)
  Email Minneapolis Development Review

After MDR receives your application, they will send you an email with a:

• Link to the ProjectDox website
• Temporary password

You will use the ProjectDox website to upload your required documents. 

See required documents

ProjectDox explains the steps to begin and submit your plans and documents.

Finish plan and schedule

Your finish plan should include:

• A detailed and scaled finish plan of your kitchen and facility or vehicle
•  All finishes for:
  • Walls
  • Ceilings
  • Floors
  • Base coves
  • Cabinets and millwork

Equipment plan and schedule

Your equipment plan should include:

• A detailed and scaled plan of all equipment in the proposed business
• All sinks
• Food preparation equipment
• Ware washing equipment
• Ventilation equipment

Equipment specification sheets

• All specification sheets for food service equipment
• Equipment must be NSF certified or equivalent

Menu

• Upload a menu or a list of food items you plan to serve or sell or both
• Based on your menu, you may need a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan

After you submit your plans, a food plan reviewer will visit your site to do an inspection.

We do site visits by appointment only.

Food cart basics

A sidewalk food cart is a licensed cart that sells food from approved sidewalk locations.

The cart must be:

• Licensed by the City, to meet equipment and safety standards
• Stored at an approved commercial kitchen in Minneapolis
• Moveable by a single person and unmotorized

Carts can only sell:

• Approved foods and beverages
• From pre-approved sidewalk locations
• During certain hours of the day

Licensing overview

1. Before you buy, build or modify a cart, you must submit your food plan review application.

• • Some foods require special food safety training. Talk to your inspector to see if you need to be a Certified Food Protection Manager.
  • Submit your food plan review application

2. Apply for a license after your food plan review is approved.

• • Liability insurance and fees are required.
  • Apply for a license

3. Have your cart inspected by a City inspector.

Food cart limitations

There are a few things you are not allowed to do when using a sidewalk food cart.

You cannot: 

• Serve food you made or stored at home.
  • This includes cottage foods.
• Cook on or near your cart.
• Fry or grill food on or near your cart.

What you can sell

You can only sell food approved by the City Health Department. Here are some examples:

• Pre-wrapped or packaged non-hazardous foods
  • Examples include popcorn, candy, canned/bottled beverages, cookies, chips, packaged ice cream
• Precooked ready-to-eat foods prepared in your commercial kitchen
  • Examples include hotdogs, elote, sausages, bratwurst
• Hand scooped ice cream
• Hot/cold beverages
  • Examples include like coffee, tea, soda, water

Other foods may be approved by the Minneapolis Health Department.

Technical help

We have free classes and consulting services for small and mid-sized businesses in the city: 

• Start or expand a business.
• Pursue minority- or women-owned disadvantaged business certification.
• With general business advice, including:
  • Payroll withholding
  • Business licenses
  • Marketing strategy
  • Available loan options

Find a list of small business technical assistance consultants

Resources

We share resources to help with your food plan application:

• Food establishment construction guide 
• Room finish schedule summary
• Food cart informational pamphlets
• Food cart construction guide and sample blueprints

See Food plan review resources

Contact 311 if you have questions about:

• Remodeling
• Equipment upgrades

Contact 311 and ask for a health inspector on the plan review team