Do I need permits to open a ghost kitchen in Portland?

Yes. Portland requires specific health, fire, and zoning permits. Our team at Custom Food Trucks LLC helps you through the entire process to ensure full compliance with Oregon’s food service regulations.

Can you help design my ghost kitchen layout?

Absolutely. We design efficient kitchen layouts based on your menu, workflow, and local health department standards for Portland and surrounding cities.

Do you offer financing for ghost kitchens?

Yes, we offer flexible financing options to help you get started with your ghost kitchen or food trailer build.

Ghost Kitchens in Portland. Custom-Built Mobile Kitchens That Deliver Results

Q: What is a ghost kitchen?

A ghost kitchen is a professional food preparation facility set up for delivery-only or catering operations. It helps restaurant owners and entrepreneurs expand without the high cost of a dine-in location.

Q: How long does it take to build a ghost kitchen?

Most ghost kitchen builds take 6–10 weeks depending on customization, local inspection schedules, and equipment availability.

Launching a delivery-only restaurant in Portland? Skip the expensive commercial leases and endless renovations, start with a custom-built ghost kitchen trailer by Custom Food Trucks LLC.

We help Portland entrepreneurs, chefs, and brands build fully equipped mobile ghost kitchens that meet Multnomah County health codes, include full commercial equipment, and are ready to operate within weeks, not months.

With financing options, a 1-year workmanship warranty, and local permitting guidance, you’ll have everything you need to launch your delivery-only business with confidence.

Get a Free Quote Today

Why Ghost Kitchens Are Booming in Portland

Portland’s food delivery market has exploded in recent years. Local restaurants and start-ups are adopting ghost kitchens — kitchens built exclusively for online delivery apps like DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub.
But unlike expensive commissary leases or shared kitchens (like CloudKitchens or Reef), a custom trailer ghost kitchen gives you complete control:

Lower startup cost – No multi-year lease or high deposit.

Faster launch – 4–8 week build timeline instead of 6+ months.

Mobility – Move your kitchen to different delivery zones or festivals.

Custom layout & brand – Design your own kitchen setup for your menu.

Full ownership – The trailer is yours; it builds equity, not rent.

Unlike big ghost kitchen companies’ fixed locations, you own the entire operation, from the trailer to the brand to the delivery radius.

Our Ghost Kitchen Service

Interior of a stainless steel mobile commercial kitchen with sinks, countertops, and ventilation hood.

Ghost kitchen build-outs

Fixed kitchens instead of mobile ones.

Mobile ghost kitchens

Food trucks used as ghost kitchens.

Industrial kitchen stove with a steaming pot and tiled wall background.

Partnership / consultation

Delivery-only restaurant brand.

Get a Free Quote Today

What We Build — Portland’s Most Advanced Ghost Kitchen Trailers

Every ghost kitchen trailer is built to meet Oregon’s strict commercial codes and comes ready for full operation. Standard Features Include:

Stainless steel commercial kitchen equipment (grill, hood, prep tables)
NSF-certified exhaust hood systems
Power options: generator-ready or shore power hookup
Plumbing: triple sink, hand sink, water heater, grey/clean tanks
Walk-in refrigeration or undercounter refrigeration
Insulated interior & ventilation
Custom menu layout (pizza, tacos, BBQ, coffee, etc.)
Custom branding, exterior wrap & lighting options

Each trailer is hand-built by our fabrication team and inspected for safety, compliance, and performance before delivery.
Optional Add-Ons:

POS system integration
Delivery pickup window or drive-thru slot
Climate-controlled prep area
Backup generator system

Get a Free Quote Today

Recent Portland Ghost Kitchen Projects

We’ve built dozens of ghost kitchens and food trailers for Portland entrepreneurs from coffee concepts to full-scale restaurant brands. Every kitchen is fully compliant, locally approved, and designed for maximum efficiency. See our work gallery page.

Interior of a clean, empty commercial stainless steel kitchen with cooking equipment and a large window showing an outdoor view.

Interior Ghost Kitchen Build

Stationary Ghost Kitchen

Interior of a commercial kitchen featuring a stainless steel stove with four burners, a large exhaust hood, and a white chest freezer on a diamond plate floor.

Interior Food Truck

Stainless steel commercial kitchen appliances including a deep fryer, grill, stove, and a refrigeration unit with overhead ventilation.

Interior Equipment Installation

Downtown Portland street view with illuminated vertical 'PORTLAND' sign on a building and several cars on the road at dusk.

Local Permitting & Compliance in Portland

Getting your ghost kitchen approved in Portland can be one of the most confusing steps, but not when you work with Custom Food Trucks LLC. Our team has helped dozens of food entrepreneurs successfully pass inspections and obtain full operating permits across Multnomah County, Washington County, and Clackamas County.

We understand exactly what the Multnomah County Environmental Health Department looks for when reviewing a mobile food unit or ghost kitchen trailer, including layout drawings, plumbing schematics, equipment specs, and construction materials. That means you won’t have to guess or risk costly rejections, we handle it all for you.

Health Plan Review Preparation – We’ll prepare the kitchen floor plan, plumbing layout, and equipment list required for your Multnomah County plan review.
Fire and Ventilation Compliance – Each trailer includes an NFPA 96-certified hood system, fire suppression setup, and documentation for approval by Portland Fire & Rescue.
Electrical & Plumbing Standards – All builds meet Oregon DEQ, NEC, and state plumbing code requirements.
Commissary Agreement Assistance – If you plan to store supplies or clean tanks off-site, we’ll provide a sample commissary agreement and help you meet the county’s shared-use requirements.
Mobile Food Unit Licensing – We assist with your Oregon Mobile Food Unit License application, making sure all health and sanitation standards are properly documented.
Final Inspection Support – Before you schedule your inspection, we run a full compliance check to ensure your build passes on the first try.

Real Portland Case Study

Business Name: SmokeBoss BBQ

Location: Portland, OR

Industry: Barbecue Catering

Services Included: custom truck design

The Challenge:
SmokeBoss BBQ had been operating from a small pop-up tent and catering setup but wanted to scale into a full-time, mobile business.

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Pricing & Financing Options

Financing available, low monthly payments, quick approval, and zero prepayment penalty.
We build ghost kitchen trailers for every budget:

Type

Description

Price Range

Starter Trailer (12'–16')

Compact kitchen for single-brand menu

$45,000 – $70,000

Standard Build (16'–22')

Multi-station kitchen with refrigeration

$75,000 – $110,000

Premium Kitchen (22'–28')

Full-scale kitchen with walk-in cold storage

$115,000+

Apply For Financing

Our Build Process. From Concept to Delivery

We handle every detail from start to finish, you just focus on your menu and marketing.

Consultation – Tell us your menu and business goals.

Design & Quote – We map your layout, equipment, and costs.

Fabrication – Custom build in our Portland facility.

Permitting Support – We help with drawings and documentation.

Delivery & Setup – We deliver to your site, ready for inspection.

Warranty & Support – 1-year workmanship warranty + post-launch service.

Ghost Kitchen vs Commissary Kitchen

This is where Custom Food Trucks LLC helps you win, full control, faster growth, and local support.

Factor

Ghost Kitchen Trailer

Commissary (CloudKitchens, Reef)

Ownership

You own it

You rent space

Mobility

Move anywhere

Fixed location

Monthly Costs

Low (maintenance only)

High rent + utilities

Brand Control

Full

Limited

Launch Time

4–8 weeks

Availability dependent

Scalability

Add more trailers easily

Wait for space availability

Why Choose Custom Food Trucks LLC

A green checkmark inside a transparent circle on a dark background.

Local to Oregon — we know the Portland permitting process.

Built for performance — commercial-grade, long-lasting materials.

Fast build times — average 4–8 weeks.

Warranty-backed — 1-year workmanship, 3-year structure warranty.

100% custom — designed for your brand and menu.

Trusted by Portland entrepreneurs — dozens of successful builds.

“Solid experience, professional interaction, good follow through, they did everything they said they were going to do and completed the project on time.”— Lyf G, Owner of Food Truck Business

Person preparing food behind a kitchen counter with shelves holding plates, condiments, and kitchen tools.

Get Your Portland Ghost Kitchen Quote Today

Ready to launch your delivery-only business? Fill out the form, our local team will contact you within 24 hours to discuss your ghost kitchen build, pricing, and permit assistance.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a ghost kitchen?
A ghost kitchen is a commercial cooking facility used exclusively for online delivery orders with no dine-in area.
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Can I operate my ghost kitchen trailer anywhere in Portland?
Yes, as long as your trailer is parked in a properly zoned and permitted site and meets local food safety codes.

Do you help with health department approval?
Absolutely. We assist with all drawings, documentation, and inspection preparation.

How long does it take to build a ghost kitchen trailer?
4–12 weeks on average depending on size, layout, and equipment availability.

Can I finance my build?
Yes, we offer multiple financing programs with flexible payment terms.

What warranties do you offer?
1-year workmanship warranty, 3-year structural warranty on the trailer.

Do you build stationary ghost kitchens or only mobile?
We build both, mobile trailers and stationary container-style kitchens.