Food Service

Food Licenses and Permits

A health license is generally required to serve food to the public. Missoula Public Health issues health licenses and permits for local food services operations. Please note that more than one food service type may apply to your your operation.

Types of food service establishments

Select the option that represents your business.

Interior of a restaurant kitchen with a chef about to plate mussells

Permanent Retail Food Establishments

Permanent retail food establishments serve, sell, or give food to people at a brick-and-mortar location. Examples are restaurants, coffee shops, cafeterias, delis, grocery stores, school kitchens, and food banks. A license is required.

Mobile Retail Food Establishments

Mobile retail food establishments are food trucks, trailers, and food carts. A license is required.

Crowds at the Western Montana Fair with Mt Sentinel

Temporary Food Service

A temporary food service provides food at an event, such as a farmer's market, fair, festival, fundraiser, or sporting event. A permit is required.

Wholesale Food Establishments

Wholesale food establishments provide food for re-sale at other businesses. Examples of wholesale establishments are local food manufacturers and distribution warehouses. A license is required.

Cottage Food Registration

A cottage food vendor can sell homemade cottage foods that do not require refrigeration. Examples of cottage foods are cakes, cookies, standardized jams, and dry mixes. Vendors register with Missoula Public Health instead of getting a permit or license.

Six glass jars with food prep like rice salads, chia seed pudding and oats

Montana Local Food Choice Act

Montana Local Food Choice Act (MLCFA) allows Montanans to sell homemade foods with certain restrictions. No permit or license is required.

Farmer's Markets & Farm Stands

Vendors can sell limited foods at farm stands or authorized farmer's markets without a permit or license. For vendors preparing or packaging food at a market or selling food with meat, a Temporary Food Service permit or license is required.

Have questions about your permit?

Licensed Establishment Sanitarians are available for calls and walk-in questions Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. No Sanitarian is available on Thursdays.

Food Service

Food Licenses and Permits

Types of food service establishments

Permanent Retail Food Establishments

Mobile Retail Food Establishments

Temporary Food Service

Wholesale Food Establishments

Cottage Food Registration

Montana Local Food Choice Act

Farmer's Markets & Farm Stands

Have questions about your permit?

Food Service Pathways

Submit a Complaint

Restaurant Inspections

County Websites

Helpful Links

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