Permits
Coffee and cart permits in San Francisco County, CA
San Francisco County is a major California market for a new coffee business. Around 544 coffee and snack bars already operate here, alongside roughly 2,654 restaurants, so expect strong demand and real competition. Below is who issues permits in San Francisco County and the steps to open a coffee shop, cart, or trailer.
Local market in San Francisco County, CA
A broad read on the county around your shop, so you can size up demand before you commit.
These are county figures, so read them as a broad signal. Data from DataUSA (U.S. Census ACS and County Health Rankings).
Statewide rules in California
In California, food and mobile vending permits are issued by your county environmental health department under the California Retail Food Code (CalCode).
- Food & vending permits
- County environmental health, find your county office (CalCode)
- Sales tax permit
- Seller's permit, CA Dept. of Tax & Fee Administration
- Sales tax rate
- 7.25% state base rateCombined rate in San Francisco: about 8.625%Counties, cities, and special or transit districts add local sales tax on top, so your combined rate depends on your exact address.California CDTFA rate lookup
- Food safety cards
- California Food Handler Card for staff, plus a Certified Food Protection Manager for at least one supervisor.
Typical license fees
The San Francisco Department of Public Health Environmental Health Branch issues annual food facility permits. For fiscal year 2024-2025 the annual permit fee is based entirely on the facility's square footage and applies uniformly to all types of food establishments including restaurants, cafes, delis, and other retail food operations.
- Most food businesses
- $768 to $1,639 a year by size
Facilities under 1,000 square feet pay $768 a year, 1,000 to 2,000 square feet pay $1,066 a year, and over 2,000 square feet pay $1,639 a year. Permit codes H24, H25, and H26 map to the three size tiers. The size-based fee applies to all fixed food facilities regardless of business type, while mobile food facilities may use a different structure. Amounts are from the fiscal year 2024 to 2025 Environmental Health Branch fee schedule published on sf.gov and are consistently cited from that official source, though the PDF could not be read directly.
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.
What you need to open
A common order to work through. Filter the cards below by your setup to see just the lines that apply.
- 1Food safetyFood handler and manager cards
- 2Business licenseRegister your business locally
- 3CityLocal permits and zoning
- 4StateSeller's permit and sales tax
Every setup
Food handler and manager cards
You and your staff carry food handler cards, and at least one manager usually holds a food safety manager certificate.
Business license and registration
Register your business, then get a city or county business license for where you operate.
Seller's permit and state tax
Register for a seller's permit and a state tax account so you can collect and send in sales tax.
Depends on your setup
County health permit
A fixed kiosk or cafe applies to the San Francisco County health department for a retail food facility permit covering the space where drinks and food are prepared.
KioskCafeMobile food facility permit
Serving from a cart, trailer, or truck means a mobile food facility permit, often with a commissary or commercial kitchen agreement.
Coffee cartTrailerPop-upFood truckCateringTemporary food facility permit
Selling at farmers markets, festivals, and other events for a set number of dates usually needs a temporary food facility permit.
TrailerPop-upFood truckCateringFire and building sign off
A storefront build out needs zoning and building sign off before you open. A food truck that runs propane or a generator may also need a fire safety inspection.
KioskFood truckCafe
Requirements vary by city and change over time.
Confirm the current steps and fees with the department before you apply.
Common questions about San Francisco County permits
- Do I need a permit to sell coffee in San Francisco County?
- Yes. Any coffee shop, cart, or trailer serving drinks or food in San Francisco County needs a food permit, plus a California sales tax permit and a local business license. Carts, trailers, and trucks are permitted as mobile food units and usually need a commissary or commercial kitchen agreement.
- Who issues food and mobile vending permits in San Francisco County?
- In San Francisco County, food and mobile vending permits are handled by City & County of San Francisco - Environmental Health. You can reach them at (415) 252-3800.
- How many coffee shops are in San Francisco County?
- About 544 coffee and snack bars operate in San Francisco County, alongside roughly 2,654 restaurants (2022 Census County Business Patterns). With about 830,235 residents, that is roughly one coffee or snack bar per 1,526 people.
- Do I need a food handler card in San Francisco County?
- Yes. California Food Handler Card for staff, plus a Certified Food Protection Manager for at least one supervisor.
- How much does a coffee shop or cart permit cost in San Francisco County?
- Fees vary by permit type and are set by the issuing agency. Food facility and mobile unit permits commonly run from about $100 to several hundred dollars a year, on top of your California sales tax permit (free to register) and a local business license. Confirm current fees with the department before you apply.
Show all 28 ZIP codes in San Francisco County
Find yours to confirm the exact jurisdiction before you apply.
- 94102
- 94103
- 94104
- 94105
- 94107
- 94108
- 94109
- 94110
- 94111
- 94112
- 94114
- 94115
- 94116
- 94117
- 94118
- 94121
- 94122
- 94123
- 94124
- 94127
- 94129
- 94130
- 94131
- 94132
- 94133
- 94134
- 94158
- 94188