Permits
Coffee and cart permits in Minnesota
To sell coffee in Minnesota, 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.
87 counties in Minnesota. 12 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 Minnesota
In Minnesota, food and beverage establishment licenses, including food carts, mobile food units, and coffee shops, are issued by the Dept. of Health (MDH) or a delegated local public health agency.
- Food & vending permits
- MDH, food, beverage, and lodging licensing
- Sales tax permit
- Sales and use tax registration, Minnesota Dept. of Revenue
- Sales tax rate
- 6.875% state base rateTypical combined range: 6.875%-9.875%Counties, cities, and special or transit districts add local sales tax on top, so your combined rate depends on your exact address.Minnesota Revenue sales tax rate calculator
Typical license fees
The Minnesota Department of Health licenses food establishments in most of the state, while some counties and cities operate as delegated local licensing agencies that set their own license fees. A $50 statewide hospitality fee and a $5 technology fee are collected from every licensed food establishment in Minnesota each year, even in delegated jurisdictions.
- Brick and mortar cafe with seats
- About $485 a year
- Counter or kiosk with no seats
- About $240 a year
- Mobile cart, trailer, or truck
- About $205 a year
- Catering
- About $485 a year
- Pop-up or farmers market vendor
- About $130 a year per licensed stand
Amounts are for MDH-jurisdiction establishments and include the $50 statewide hospitality fee and $5 technology fee required of all licensed establishments in Minnesota. A cafe with a standard hot-food menu is typically Category 2 at $430 for the MDH license fee. A simple kiosk selling pre-packaged beverages may qualify as Category 1 at $185. Establishments in a delegated county or city pay local license fees set by that agency instead of the MDH fee, but the $55 in statewide fees still applies. Plan review fees for new construction run $550 for Category 1, $750 for Category 2, and $800 for Category 3. Sales tax registration with the Minnesota Department of Revenue 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.