Fire Department

 

 

COMING SOON: Mobile Food Prep Unit Blitz | April 9, 2026

Learn more by clicking here and contact us with any questions!

If you are operating a mobile food preparation vehicle (MFPV) in the City of Cincinnati, you are required to have your food truck registered and inspected by the City of Cincinnati Health Department and the City of Cincinnati Fire Department. This includes vehicles stationed in other cities, counties, or states that would like to operate in the City of Cincinnati for special events. MFPVs found not to have a current license and registration to operate will be ordered to shut down until the proper registration and licensing are obtained.

MFPVs will be inspected and permitted per the Ohio Fire Code, the Cincinnati Fire Prevention Code, and applicable approved standards and recognized testing laboratories. The cost of your permit is subject to the current City of Cincinnati Fire and EMS Fee Schedule. Please review our Food Truck Resources to prepare for your fire inspection and for instructions on setting up your CAGIS ezTRAK account to obtain your Cincinnati Fire permit (see below).

To apply for a Cincinnati Fire Department MFPV permit:

• Register for a CAGIS ezTrak account by visiting CAGIS ezTrak and clicking "Apply Now".
• After registering and logging in to the CAGIS ezTrak system, follow the step-by-step instructions to create a new application.
• Once you have completed your application and submitted payment, please reach out to the Cincinnati Fire Prevention Division at (513) 357-7586 to request your inspection.

*Note*: Once you complete your application for a permit, you will receive an auto-generated email stating your MFPV inspection has already been scheduled. This is incorrect and a system error. While we work to address this concern, please reach out directly to the Cincinnati Fire Prevention Division at (513) 357-7586 to actually schedule your inspection.

 

ATTENTION: IMPORTANT 2025 OHIO FIRE CODE UPDATES

• Permit Fee Update, per Ohio Fire Code 105.5.32 and 319.2, all mobile food preparation vehicles are now required to pay the permit fee of $200 (with or without fuel).  
• Fire Protection for Cooking Equipment Updates: Ohio Fire Code 319.4.1
  • New mobile food preparation vehicles. Vehicles that are manufactured or initially titled on or after May 1, 2026, and vehicles initially modified to operate as a mobile food preparation vehicle on or after May 1, 2026, shall not be operated as a mobile food preparation vehicle in this state unless such vehicle is protected by an automatic fire extinguishing system that is listed, labelled, installed and maintained in accordance with this section and Section 904.13.
  • Existing mobile food preparation vehicles. Mobile food preparation vehicles in operation as of the effective date of this code may continue to operate without a suppression system. Exception: If any mobile food preparation vehicle that is in operation as of the effective date of this code undergoes a substantial modification to the cooking equipment in the vehicle on or after May 1, 2026, the mobile food preparation vehicle shall be protected by an automatic fire extinguishing system that is listed, labelled, installed and maintained in accordance with this section and Section 904.13.