Mobile Food Unit Permit (Metro Health) + Commissary Agreement: Nashville restaurant guide
Metro Public Health Department — Food Protection Services
What it is
The health permit for a food truck, trailer or pushcart. Metro Health reviews the unit's plans (menu, food flow, equipment, water and waste tanks) and requires a notarized agreement with a permitted commissary where the unit starts and ends every sale day.
When a restaurant needs it
Before the unit operates anywhere in Davidson County; plan review comes before you build or buy out the unit.
How to apply
Submit the Mobile Food Unit plan review online (RedCap link in Metro Health's process document) with the menu, scaled floor plan, equipment specs and the notarized Mobile Food Unit Agreement (commissary). Get Fire Marshal and Metro Water approvals, then schedule the unit inspection.
Documents you’ll need
- Detailed menu and anticipated volume
- Food flow / cooling procedures
- Scaled floor plan with equipment, sinks and water heater
- Equipment specs (3-compartment sink dimensions, water heater capacity)
- Notarized commissary agreement
- Fire Marshal approval (propane, extinguishers, suppression)
- Metro Water approval for grease/wastewater disposal
Good to know
Your own permitted restaurant kitchen can serve as the commissary. The wastewater tank must be 15% larger than the fresh-water tank, and fill and drain hoses must look different from each other.
Official source
Metro Health — Mobile food unit plan review & permitting process (PDF) · Metro Health — What is a commissary (PDF)
Answer a few questions about your space and get every permit in order, with a timeline, a cost range, walkthroughs, and every application filled in for you to sign with Open.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.