Permits
Coffee and cart permits in Maine
To sell coffee in Maine, 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.
16 counties in Maine. 5 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 Maine
In Maine, restaurants and mobile eating places are licensed by the DHHS Health Inspection Program; vendors selling only prepackaged food use a separate Mobile Vendor License from the Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
- Food & vending permits
- Maine DHHS Health Inspection Program, food service and mobile eating place licensing
- Sales tax permit
- Sales tax registration, Maine Revenue Services
- Sales tax rate
- 5.5% statewide sales tax rateThis is a single statewide rate with no county or city sales tax added on top.Maine Revenue sales tax information
- Food safety cards
- A Certified Food Protection Manager is required at every eating establishment; no separate statewide food handler card.
Typical license fees
Maine eating establishment licenses are issued by the DHHS Health Inspection Program for most of the state. Portland, South Portland, and Lewiston run their own local licensing. Annual fees are tiered by seat count.
- Brick and mortar cafe with seats
- $220 a year up to 29 seats, more for larger
- Counter or kiosk with no seats
- $205 a year for a limited menu or $220 a year for takeout
- Mobile cart, trailer, or truck
- $185 a year
- Catering
- $270 a year
- Pop-up or farmers market vendor
- $50 per event
A base kitchen license of $100 is separately required for the commissary that supports a mobile unit. Operators in Portland, South Portland, or Lewiston contact the city licensing office instead. Maine sales tax permit 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.