Permits
Coffee and cart permits in Kentucky
To sell coffee in Kentucky, 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.
120 counties, 1 with a direct health department link on file so far.
Statewide rules in Kentucky
In Kentucky, food establishment permits for cafes, food trucks, and temporary events are issued by local county health departments; the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Food Safety Branch sets the statewide food code.
- Food & vending permits
- CHFS Food Safety Branch, retail food program (permits issued by county health departments)
- Food safety cards
- A certified food protection manager per establishment under the Kentucky Food Code (902 KAR 45:005).
Official links, last verified July 14, 2026. Requirements vary by city and change over time.
Confirm the current steps and fees before you apply.
Counties in Kentucky
- Jefferson CountyDept link
- Adair County
- Allen County
- Anderson County
- Ballard County
- Barren County
- Bath County
- Bell County
- Boone County
- Bourbon County
- Boyd County
- Boyle County
- Bracken County
- Breathitt County
- Breckinridge County
- Bullitt County
- Butler County
- Caldwell County
- Calloway County
- Campbell County
- Carlisle County
- Carroll County
- Carter County
- Casey County
- Christian County
- Clark County
- Clay County
- Clinton County
- Crittenden County
- Cumberland County
- Daviess County
- Edmonson County
- Elliott County
- Estill County
- Fayette County
- Fleming County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Gallatin County
- Garrard County
- Grant County
- Graves County
- Grayson County
- Green County
- Greenup County
- Hancock County
- Hardin County
- Harlan County
- Harrison County
- Hart County
- Henderson County
- Henry County
- Hickman County
- Hopkins County
- Jackson County
- Jessamine County
- Johnson County
- Kenton County
- Knott County
- Knox County
- Larue County
- Laurel County
- Lawrence County
- Lee County
- Leslie County
- Letcher County
- Lewis County
- Lincoln County
- Livingston County
- Logan County
- Lyon County
- Madison County
- Magoffin County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Martin County
- Mason County
- McCracken County
- McCreary County
- McLean County
- Meade County
- Menifee County
- Mercer County
- Metcalfe County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Morgan County
- Muhlenberg County
- Nelson County
- Nicholas County
- Ohio County
- Oldham County
- Owen County
- Owsley County
- Pendleton County
- Perry County
- Pike County
- Powell County
- Pulaski County
- Robertson County
- Rockcastle County
- Rowan County
- Russell County
- Scott County
- Shelby County
- Simpson County
- Spencer County
- Taylor County
- Todd County
- Trigg County
- Trimble County
- Union County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Webster County
- Whitley County
- Wolfe County
- Woodford County
Not sure of your county?
Enter your ZIP and we will point you to the right county health department and the documents you need.
Check my area by ZIP