Permits
Coffee and cart permits in Iowa
To sell coffee in Iowa, 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.
99 counties in Iowa. 8 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 Iowa
In Iowa, food establishment licenses, including restaurants and mobile food units, are issued by the Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL) Food Safety Bureau through its statewide online portal.
- Food & vending permits
- Iowa DIAL Food Safety Bureau, food establishment licensing portal
- Sales tax permit
- Sales tax permit, Iowa Dept. of Revenue (GovConnectIowa)
- Sales tax rate
- 6% state base rateTypical combined range: 6%-7%Counties, cities, and special or transit districts add local sales tax on top, so your combined rate depends on your exact address.Iowa DOR sales and use tax guide
- Food safety cards
- A certified food protection manager from an ANSI/CFP-accredited program under the Iowa Food Code (Chapter 137F).
Typical license fees
Iowa food establishments are licensed at the state level by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. Fees scale with annual gross sales, and mobile units pay a flat rate.
- Most food businesses
- $150 to $300 a year based on annual sales
- Mobile cart, trailer, or truck
- $250 a year
- Pop-up or farmers market vendor
- $50 per event
The sales tiers are $150 a year for annual sales under $100,000 and $300 a year for sales from $100,000 to $500,000. No separate application or plan review fee is charged. Iowa sales tax permit registration is free.
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.