Temporary Food Service Establishment

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Temporary license application forms (pdf) can be downloaded or are available at the Environmental Health Office, 2785 White Bear Avenue, Suite 350, Maplewood.   The forms can be requested by mail by calling 651.266.1199.  Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.  All fees must be paid in the exact amount due.  Change cannot be provided and credit cards are not accepted.

A Temporary Food Service Establishment is a food service establishment operating in conjunction with a celebration or special event, such as a fair or public exhibition, for a limited time period. Temporary food service establishments include:

1. Special Event Food Stand -- licensed locally for maximum 3 times annually for a total of 10 days;
2. Seasonal Temporary Food Stand -- State-licensed for maximum 21 days annually  at any one location;
3. Mobile Food Unit -- State-licensed food vehicle for maximum 21 days annually at  any one location.

Application and Notification     
An operator of a Temporary Food Service Establishment must complete a written application for a license, including the fee, at least two (2) business days prior to the start of the food service operation. If a license is not required (see Licensing), the operator must notify this Department at least 2 business days prior to the start of the food service operation (telephone 651.266.1199).

If the operator does not provide a complete application or notification at least 2 business days before the event, a late penalty fee of 25% will be required in addition to the license fee.

Licensing     
A Temporary Food Service Establishment in Ramsey County (excluding the cities of St. Paul and Maplewood) is required to have a license from this Department.  A Temporary Food Service License is required unless the operator meets all of the following requirements:

1. has a valid license from the State of Minnesota departments of Health (MDH) or Agriculture(MDA) for a mobile food unit or seasonal temporary food stand;
2. will operate from the State-licensed mobile food unit or seasonal temporary food
   stand;
3. will prepare and/or serve food within the limitations of the State's license; and
4. has provided this Department with a notice of at least two (2) County business
   days prior to the start of the food service operation.

A separate Temporary Food Service License is not required for food prepared, offered, or served on the premises of a Ramsey County-licensed Food Establishment (e.g. restaurant, deli, grocery) if all of the following conditions are met:

1. All food is prepared in the Food Establishment licensed by this Department;
2. All food is prepared by employees of the licensed Food Establishment; and
3. The establishment operator has notified this Department at least 2 business days before the start of the event.

The 2012 license fee is $150.00 for a Temporary Food Service establishment serving potentially hazardous food, and $68.00 if no potentially hazardous food will be served. There are no fee exemptions. A Temporary Food Service license is not transferable to another person, location, or event. This Department may require an applicant to attend a meeting or training session before licensure.