Permits
Coffee and cart permits in Alaska
To sell coffee in Alaska, you work with your county health department for food and mobile vending permits, then add a business license and state tax registration. Pick your county below for the department that handles your area and the steps to open.
30 counties in Alaska. 2 have a detailed permit page below. For any other county, check your ZIP and we will point you to the right health department.
Statewide rules in Alaska
In Alaska, the Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Food Safety and Sanitation Program issues food establishment permits statewide, except in the Municipality of Anchorage, which runs its own food permitting program.
- Food & vending permits
- Alaska DEC Food Safety and Sanitation, food establishment permits
- Sales tax permit
- State sales tax, Alaska has no state sales tax, though some local municipalities and boroughs levy their own.
- Sales tax rate
- No statewide sales taxAlaska has no statewide sales tax; boroughs and municipalities may levy local sales taxes, commonly capped locally and reported by the state assessor/Alaska Taxable resources.Alaska local sales tax information
Typical license fees
The Alaska DEC Environmental Health Food Safety Section issues all food establishment permits statewide. Annual fees are set by 18 AAC 31.050 and vary by establishment type and seating capacity.
- Brick and mortar cafe with seats
- About $400 to $580 a year based on seating
- Counter or kiosk with no seats
- $190 a year
- Mobile cart, trailer, or truck
- $215 a year
- Catering
- $430 a year
- Pop-up or farmers market vendor
- $35 for a single day event or $65 for a 2 to 3 day event
Restaurant seating tiers are $400 for 0 to 25 seats, $490 for 26 to 100 seats, and $580 for 101 or more seats. The $190 rate applies to limited food service operations with minimal preparation. Alaska has no state sales tax and requires no state seller's permit.
Fee schedule, last verified July 14, 2026.
Official links, last verified July 14, 2026. Requirements vary by city and change over time.
Confirm the current steps and fees before you apply.