Food trailers for sale in Tennessee

Updated October 2026 · TX Food Trailers, Houston, Texas

Health permit: Tennessee Department of Health

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) Environmental Health Program permits food service establishments, including mobile food units, directly or through county health departments that apply identical standards.

• Plans first: state law requires plans to be approved before construction, remodeling or conversion begins.
• Steps: apply at least 15 days before opening, pay the fee, get plan approval and pass a pre-opening inspection.
• Tanks: the waste tank must be 15% larger than the water supply tank, with a water inlet of 3/4 inch or smaller. Ours are 40 gal fresh and 53 gal waste.
• City permits: cities such as Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville add their own mobile food vendor permits.

Units that only sell packaged retail products are licensed by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture instead.

Fire: optional state fire permit

Since 2023 (Public Chapter 390), food trucks and trailers can get an annual state fire permit from the State Fire Marshal. A local government must recognize it and may not require its own fire permit or inspection from a unit that holds it. The standards include NFPA 96 hood fire suppression serviced every six months, NFPA 10 extinguishers, the National Electrical Code and an accessible gas shut-off valve. The State Fire Marshal's page lists a $300 payment. Our cooking trailers come with the hood, suppression system and gas shut-off.

Title and registration

Title and register at your county clerk.

• ID and proof of Tennessee residency
• Manufacturer's Statement (Certificate) of Origin
• The invoice

Tennessee's registration-tax exemption for trailers does not apply to trailers used in a business.

Sales tax

Tennessee's county clerk tax manual lists 7% state tax on the full price, plus the local option rate on the first $1,600 and a 2.75% state single-article tax on the portion from $1,600.01 to $3,200, collected when you title. Ask your county clerk about credit for tax paid elsewhere. When we ship the trailer to you by carrier, no Texas sales tax is charged; see nationwide delivery.

Rules and fees change and some cities and counties add their own. Confirm current requirements with the agency before you buy or apply.