Hermiston cracks down on unlicensed food vendors

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, July 29th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

HERMISTON – Hermiston Code Enforcement is seeing a significant increase in unlicensed food vendors in the area. Due to the potential public health risk, the city is working with Umatilla County Public Health and agencies in southeastern Washington who have familiarity with the vendors.

Hermiston ordinances require all mobile and temporary food vendors to be licensed by both the city and Umatilla County Public Health. In order to be granted a license the operation must be within an enclosed truck or trailer at an approved location. In addition to having a business license from the city, they must also have a mobile vending license and certification from UCo Health. The vendors also must have a permit for fats, oils, and grease disposal and handling, a hand-wash station for employees, and proper appliances for refrigeration or heating of food.

The city maintains a list of approved mobile food vendors here.

The city asks those who see a food vendor that is not in an approved mobile unit or does not have all required licenses and certifications on display to report vendors to code enforcement, Umatilla County Health, or the police department non-emergency number after hours. The city of Hermiston will issue citations to unlicensed vendors.

Graphic via the city of Hermiston