Apply to Join Mount Branson Food Park

Taney County Health Permit Requirements

Mount Branson Food Park is in Taney County. Every truck, trailer, container, or cart that serves food here must hold a valid Taney County Health Department (TCHD) food permit, and the permit must be posted where customers can see it. No vendor may operate or serve food without one. The health department is helpful and glad to walk you through the process.

Which permit do you need?

• Mobile Food Establishment Permit — for trucks, trailers, carts, and other units that can be driven, moved, or transported. This is the one most vendors here need.
• Food Establishment Permit — for permanent “brick and mortar” buildings.
• Temporary Food Establishment Permit — for a single event only; good for 14 days.

Building or remodeling a unit?

If you are building or remodeling a truck, trailer, container, or building, TCHD performs a plan review before construction. You submit your plans (hand-drawn is fine for simpler work) with your application, and they tell you what is missing or needed before you build. The application for this is called “Food Establishment Plan Review”; mobile units use “Mobile Food Establishment.”

How the permit process works

1. Submit the application with your menu, layout, and equipment spec sheets. Email ehs@taneycohealth.org or drop it off at 320 Rinehart Rd., Branson.
2. Risk assessment. An inspector reviews your food types (raw, ready-to-eat, pre-cooked) and preparation (cook, cool, reheat) and assigns a risk level:
   • High risk — inspected 3 times a year. Typically cooks raw meat, or cooks, cools, and reheats food.
   • Medium risk — inspected 2 times a year. Typically cooks and holds food hot, without cooling or reheating.
   • Low risk — inspected once a year. Packaged food, food needing no cooking or temperature holding, or reheated pre-cooked food discarded at the end of the day.
   This is a simplified guide; several factors apply. New operations are rated one level higher for the first year, then re-assessed and may be reduced based on inspection history.
3. Invoice and fees. After your risk level is set, TCHD sends an invoice. Once paid, a pre-open inspection can be scheduled.
4. Water sample. Every food truck needs one. It must be taken by a TCHD inspector and is tested for coliform and E. coli, which must be absent. Results take 24 hours, and samples cannot be taken on Fridays.
5. Pre-open inspection. Pass this and the water sample and your permit is issued.
6. Other licenses. You may open once you hold all required permits and licenses, such as county and state business licenses.
7. Routine inspection within 60–90 days of opening, then on your risk-level schedule.

Not sure whether you are ready? Contact TCHD early, ideally before you build or buy equipment. Park management may ask to see your permit, and anyone can confirm a vendor’s permit status by emailing TCHD.