Indoor or kiosk food cart

You need a license for an indoor or kiosk food cart.

About

Food carts are standalone units for selling food or beverages at set locations.

In this section

Indoor food cart selling pretzels and other packaged foods.

What to know

Indoor food carts

  • Are non-motorized
  • May sell prepackaged or ready to eat food
  • Must be on private property

Kiosk food carts

  • May sell espresso type drinks
  • Can be on private property
  • Must have plumbing
  • May not be motorized

Application and fee

Applications

Indoor or kiosk food carts in Minneapolis are required to be licensed. 

Indoor food cart

Apply for an indoor food cart license

Kiosk food cart

Apply for a kiosk food cart license

Submit your application

Requirements

Food safety

You are responsible for food safety. This includes control of food from preparation to serving customers.

See City and State food safety resources:

Record some employee illnesses:

Follow City and State regulations:

 

Food plan review

You must submit plans to: 

  • Open a new food or alcohol business, including:
    • Food carts
    • Food kiosks
    • Food trucks 
  • Remodel or expand an existing food or alcohol business 
  • Replace food equipment that needs any of these permits for installation:
    • Gas
    • Mechanical
    • Plumbing  
  • Add ventless cooking equipment or ventless hoods  

The City must approve your plans before you start any work.

See food plan review

Green To Go

Two people holding compostable beverage cups

Minneapolis has rules about containers for prepared food

Food and beverages prepared to be:

  • Eaten immediately off-site or
  • Taken to-go

Must be in containers that are:  

  • Reusable 
  • Recyclable or
  • Compostable

Read more about required containers

Read City code rules

More information

Inspection

Your food handling methods determine how often the City will inspect your business.

Disclaimer 

The information on this page should serve as a guideline only.

Request accessible format

If you need help with this information, please email 3 1 1, or call 311 or 612-673-3000.

Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Contact us

Business Licenses & Consumer Services

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 220
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Office hours
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday – Thursday

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday

Environmental Health

Minneapolis Health Department

Phone

612-673-2301

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 520
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Food Plan Review Team

Mohamed Yusuf

Jim Donovan

Janna Beard

Phone

Mohamed Yusuf
612-673-2612

Jim Donovan
612-673-2795

Janna Beard
612-673-3529

 

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S. 
Minneapolis, MN 55415