Sheriff: State bills will make mobile food permits $450 and change how Greene County issues licenses starting in 2027

The Greene County Sheriff told commissioners that recent state legislation will change how the county issues permits for mobile retail food units and could sharply raise fees.

“Beginning January 1, 2027 … permits here in Greene County are currently $50,” the Sheriff said, summarizing two bills under consideration. “January of 2027, this Senate bill changes mobile permitting to a statewide permit. … We will have to charge $450 for a mobile retail food,” the Sheriff said, adding that “$250 goes to the state” and “$200 will be kept here in county.”

Why it matters: the change shifts licensing from a purely county process to a state-level mobile license with county inspection and paperwork remaining local, the Sheriff said. The Sheriff also said the county will keep the $50 temporary event permit rate for single events and that further details depend on forthcoming state administrative-code guidance.

The Sheriff said staff will meet with local vendors: “We’re meeting tomorrow night with the farmers market and their vendors … so they can get ahead of it with their vendors and explain everything,” the Sheriff said, noting some provisions take effect in 2027 and others (including provisions affecting home-based vendors) take effect on July 1 under a related bill.

Board reaction and next steps: commissioners asked clarifying questions about which fees are annual and which are per event; the Sheriff confirmed the $450 license is annual and noted Greene County will still perform inspections and file paperwork locally. The Sheriff said the county is waiting for guidance from the state’s administrative code before finalizing local fee adjustments and outreach plans.

The board did not adopt an ordinance or set a local fee change during the meeting; the Sheriff and staff will provide further information to commissioners and hold vendor outreach sessions as state guidance becomes available.