Mobile Food Facilities

A mobile food facility is a self-contained, limited-service food facility which is a mechanically, electrically, manually, or otherwise propelled vehicle operating on land or water. All mobile food facilities units are required to report to a commissary and maintain a log of when the mobile food facility has reported to the commissary. For more information about the commissary, see the Commissary Requirements section.

Classes of Mobile Food Facilities:  Mobile food facilities are classified into four classes numbered one through four. Class determination is based on the menu and complexity of food preparation:

• Class IV is a food facility that handles Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) food with complex food preparation steps such as cooling, reheating, and hot holding
• Class III is a food facility that handles TCS food and regularly prepares food for same day service without a cooling step or a food facility that prepares non-TCS Foods. If you open prepackaged foods before serving to your customers, you fall into this category
• Class II is a food facility that handles prepackaged (by the manufacturer), TCS foods
• Class I is a food facility that handles pre-packaged, non TCS foods

Food Facility Classification Charts(PDF, 181KB)

Permitting: Mobile food facilities offering food in Allegheny County are required to obtain Allegheny County Health Department food permits for both their mobile unit and their commissary. For permitting requirements, please see the Mobile & Commissary Food Facility Minimum Requirements(PDF, 209KB).

A commissary for a mobile food facility is the base of operations to provide the mobile food facility with services including, but not limited to: food storage and preparation space, potable water, waste disposal, ware washing, and other cleaning and servicing operations. A commissary for a mobile food facility must meet all the needs of the mobile operation. Commissaries in Allegheny County must have an annual ACHD food permit, meet the minimum requirements of a food facility, and receive inspections from the regulatory authority where it is located.

Commissary Permitting Requirements:

Are you using a commissary facility with a current ACHD food permit?

If a mobile food facility is using a commissary owned and operated by a separate entity, then a written commissary agreement is required. The agreement must include all aspects of the commissary that the mobile operation will be using, such as ware-washing facilities, refrigeration, storage, refuse disposal, etc. A Commissary Agreement Form(PDF, 270KB) must be completed and signed by both parties to serve as the agreement. Commissaries in Allegheny County are subject to routine inspections in addition to that of the mobile food unit.

Are you using a facility with a license or permit located outside of Allegheny County?

If the commissary is located outside Allegheny County, the mobile food facility operator must show proof that said commissary possesses a valid license or permit and has had a satisfactory recent inspection from the appropriate regulatory authority for that location.

To obtain a mobile food facility and commissary permit, complete the Mobile Food Facility Permitting Application(PDF, 1012KB) and the Mobile Food Facility Commissary Application(PDF, 1MB). 

The Mobile Food Facility Application submitted must include:

1. A signed and completed Mobile Food Facility Permitting Application.
2. Tentative menu and/or types of food to be sold, stored, prepared.
3. List of equipment including the manufacturer’s names and model numbers.
4. Labeled floor plan of the mobile food unit and the commissary facility (drawn to scale for dimensions).
5. Commissary Agreement Letter, if applicable.
6. Proof of applying for, or having received, a sales and use tax license from the PA Department of Revenue.
7. Separate Mobile Food Facility Commissary Application.

The Mobile Food Facility Commissary Application submitted must include:

1. List of equipment including the manufacturer’s names and model numbers for Commissary
2. Tentative menu and/or types of food to be sold, stored, prepared
3. Labeled floor plan of the for commissary
4. Commissary site map (Drawing of your facility property with property boundaries, dumpster and grease trap location, where mobile unit will park for loading and unloading, and other buildings or areas of the building your facility will use)
5. Where the commissary is not owned by the mobile food facility, an agreement letter signed by both parties detailing permissions granted by the commissary owner to the mobile food facility owner.

Application fees are not required with your submitted application. The application fee will be verified and invoiced during the review process.

• Guidelines for Mobile Food Units(PDF, 350KB)
• Food Facility Classification(PDF, 181KB)
• Mobile Operation Form(PDF, 149KB)
• Commissary Agreement Form(PDF, 270KB)
• Article III, Food Safety Rules and Regulations(PDF, 1MB)
• Commissary Visit Log(PDF, 261KB)