Grand Forks on the path to recognize other North Dakota jurisdictions’ mobile food licenses

GRAND FORKS — Soon food trucks that want to do business in Grand Forks, but aren’t based in Grand Forks, will have an easier time doing so.

The first step to making that easier was passed by the Grand Forks City Council at its Monday meeting. If the ordinance amendments are approved fully in a few weeks, Grand Forks Public Health will soon recognize other North Dakota jurisdictions’ health licensing for mobile food establishments, saving those businesses time and money.

Currently, for a food truck to serve food within the city’s jurisdiction, it has to obtain a Grand Forks-specific license, which can range from $85 to $175. Without reciprocity, a food truck that wishes to do business across the state could have to obtain several different licenses to do business. With reciprocity, only a $20 registration fee will be applied, which will augment the city’s cost of verifying the license and carrying out inspections.

When the issue first came up at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Sept. 25, the council wanted to make sure that costs were being recouped.

“Even if it takes a minute, we should be charging fairly,” council member Rebecca Osowski said during that meeting.

“We need to at least cover our costs,” council member Ken Vein also said at that meeting.

The council discussed a range of fees, including as low as one dollar. At the regular meeting on Monday, city staff returned with a $20 fee proposal, which they felt was reasonable and not overly burdensome to a business.

Every North Dakota health jurisdiction is handling this issue differently. Five state health jurisdictions license mobile food establishments directly, and the rest are handled by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. According to Javin Bedard, an environmental health manager with Grand Forks Public Health, Grand Forks was unique as it required a formal ordinance change and not just an administrative rule change.

Out-of-state food trucks will still need proof of North Dakota health licensing. But, unlike before, they could get it from any North Dakota jurisdiction, like Fargo, and still be able to operate in Grand Forks provided they register with the city. All food trucks will still need their licensing and fire inspections verified by the city before operating as fire codes can vary slightly across the state. The ordinance change also adds a definition for a push cart, distinguishing it from a food truck or trailer.

Voigt covers city government in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.