Permits
Coffee and cart permits in Lee County, MS
Lee County is a midsize Mississippi market for a new coffee business. Around 30 coffee and snack bars already operate here, alongside roughly 189 restaurants, so a solid base of demand with moderate competition. Below is who issues permits in Lee County and the steps to open a coffee shop, cart, or trailer.
Local market in Lee County, MS
A broad read on the county around your shop, so you can size up demand before you commit.
These are county figures, so read them as a broad signal. Data from DataUSA (U.S. Census ACS and County Health Rankings).
Permit office
Mississippi State Department of Health, Division of Food ProtectionMississippi issues retail food permits statewide through MSDH's Division of Food Protection (retail facilities include coffee shops and mobile food units). Plan review fee $224.25; annual permit fee by risk level ($40 to $264.50). Applications and payment are handled electronically.
Source, last verified July 17, 2026
Statewide rules in Mississippi
In Mississippi, food establishment permits, including mobile food units and coffee shops, are issued electronically by the MSDH Division of Food Protection statewide, not through county offices.
- Food & vending permits
- MSDH Division of Food Protection, retail food facility permit
- Sales tax permit
- Sales and use tax registration (TAP), MS Dept. of Revenue
- Sales tax rate
- 7% state base rateTypical combined range: 7%-8%Counties, cities, and special or transit districts add local sales tax on top, so your combined rate depends on your exact address.Mississippi DOR sales tax rates
- Food safety cards
- A Food Manager Certificate is required; a copy must be submitted with the permit application.
Typical license fees
Mississippi State Department of Health issues all food permits statewide. Annual permit fees are set by risk level, which MSDH assigns to each facility based on its menu and food-handling complexity during plan review.
- Brick and mortar cafe with seats
- About $198 a year
- Counter or kiosk with no seats
- $40 to $132 a year
- Mobile cart, trailer, or truck
- About $198 a year
- Catering
- $198 to $265 a year
- Pop-up or farmers market vendor
- $40 to $132 a year
A one-time plan review fee of $224 is required before any new facility opens and must be paid online before MSDH begins the review. All permit payments are processed online. The four annual tiers are Risk 1 at $40, Risk 2 at $132, Risk 3 at $198, and Risk 4 at $265. Exact statutory amounts are $40.00, $132.25, $198.00, and $264.50. MSDH assigns the tier during plan review and may reassign it at each annual inspection. Sales tax registration with the Mississippi 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.
What you need to open
A common order to work through. Filter the cards below by your setup to see just the lines that apply.
- 1Food safetyFood handler and manager cards
- 2Business licenseRegister your business locally
- 3CityLocal permits and zoning
- 4StateSeller's permit and sales tax
Every setup
Food handler and manager cards
You and your staff carry food handler cards, and at least one manager usually holds a food safety manager certificate.
Business license and registration
Register your business, then get a city or county business license for where you operate.
Seller's permit and state tax
Register for a seller's permit and a state tax account so you can collect and send in sales tax.
Depends on your setup
County health permit
A fixed kiosk or cafe applies to the Lee County health department for a retail food facility permit covering the space where drinks and food are prepared.
KioskCafeMobile food facility permit
Serving from a cart, trailer, or truck means a mobile food facility permit, often with a commissary or commercial kitchen agreement.
Coffee cartTrailerPop-upFood truckCateringTemporary food facility permit
Selling at farmers markets, festivals, and other events for a set number of dates usually needs a temporary food facility permit.
TrailerPop-upFood truckCateringFire and building sign off
A storefront build out needs zoning and building sign off before you open. A food truck that runs propane or a generator may also need a fire safety inspection.
KioskFood truckCafe
Requirements vary by city and change over time.
Confirm the current steps and fees with the department before you apply.
Common questions about Lee County permits
- Do I need a permit to sell coffee in Lee County?
- Yes. Any coffee shop, cart, or trailer serving drinks or food in Lee County needs a food permit, plus a Mississippi sales tax permit and a local business license. Carts, trailers, and trucks are permitted as mobile food units and usually need a commissary or commercial kitchen agreement.
- Who issues food and mobile vending permits in Lee County?
- In Lee County, food and mobile vending permits are handled by Mississippi State Department of Health, Division of Food Protection. You can reach them at 601.364.2832.
- How many coffee shops are in Lee County?
- About 30 coffee and snack bars operate in Lee County, alongside roughly 189 restaurants (2022 Census County Business Patterns). With about 83,034 residents, that is roughly one coffee or snack bar per 2,768 people.
- Do I need a food handler card in Lee County?
- Yes. A Food Manager Certificate is required; a copy must be submitted with the permit application.
- How much does a coffee shop or cart permit cost in Lee County?
- Fees vary by permit type and are set by the issuing agency. Food facility and mobile unit permits commonly run from about $100 to several hundred dollars a year, on top of your Mississippi sales tax permit (free to register) and a local business license. Confirm current fees with the department before you apply.
Show all 8 ZIP codes in Lee County
Find yours to confirm the exact jurisdiction before you apply.
- 38801
- 38804
- 38849
- 38857
- 38862
- 38866
- 38868
- 38879