Permits
Coffee and cart permits in Hawaii
To sell coffee in Hawaii, 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.
5 counties in Hawaii. 4 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 Hawaii
In Hawaii, the Dept. of Health Food Safety Branch issues food establishment and mobile food unit permits statewide; every mobile unit must operate with a permitted support kitchen.
- Food & vending permits
- Hawaii DOH Food Safety Branch, food establishment permits
- Sales tax permit
- General Excise Tax (GET) license, Hawaii Dept. of Taxation
- Sales tax rate
- 4% state base rateTypical combined range: 4%-4.712%Counties, cities, and special or transit districts add local sales tax on top, so your combined rate depends on your exact address.Hawaii DOTAX GET information
Typical license fees
The Hawaii Department of Health Food Safety Branch issues all food establishment permits statewide. Annual fees are set by Hawaii Administrative Rules 11-50 and are based on establishment type and risk category.
- Brick and mortar cafe with seats
- About $100 to $400 a year based on size and risk
- Counter or kiosk with no seats
- About $100 a year
- Mobile cart, trailer, or truck
- About $100 to $300 a year
- Catering
- About $200 to $400 a year
- Pop-up or farmers market vendor
- $50 for 1 to 5 days, more for longer events
Plan review costs $200 for facilities 1,000 sq ft or under and $300 for larger, with no plan review fee for prepackaged only operations. Hawaii General Excise Tax license registration costs $20 one time.
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.