Do I need a permit to sell coffee in Lewis and Clark County?

Yes. Any coffee shop, cart, or trailer serving drinks or food in Lewis and Clark County needs a food permit, plus any state registrations that apply 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 Lewis and Clark County?

In Lewis and Clark County, food and mobile vending permits are handled by Lewis & Clark Public Health, Licensed Establishment Program. You can reach them at 406.457.8919.

How many coffee shops are in Lewis and Clark County?

About 25 coffee and snack bars operate in Lewis and Clark County, alongside roughly 113 restaurants (2022 Census County Business Patterns). With about 73,464 residents, that is roughly one coffee or snack bar per 2,939 people.

Do I need a food handler card in Lewis and Clark County?

Yes. No statewide food handler card; a Certified Food Protection Manager is recommended and many county sanitarians require one before issuing a license.

How much does a coffee shop or cart permit cost in Lewis and Clark 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 and a local business license. Confirm current fees with the department before you apply.

Permits

Coffee and cart permits in Lewis and Clark County, MT

Lewis and Clark County is a midsize Montana market for a new coffee business. Around 25 coffee and snack bars already operate here, alongside roughly 113 restaurants, so a solid base of demand with moderate competition. Below is who issues permits in Lewis and Clark County and the steps to open a coffee shop, cart, or trailer.

Local market in Lewis and Clark County, MT

A broad read on the county around your shop, so you can size up demand before you commit.

County population73,464Midsize marketRoom to become a local staple. 2024 estimate.

Median household income$76,8164% below the U.S. median household income, 2025 estimate.

These are county figures, so read them as a broad signal. Data from DataUSA (U.S. Census ACS and County Health Rankings).

Permit office

Lewis & Clark Public Health, Licensed Establishment Program

406.457.8919

Lewis & Clark Public Health licenses food facilities in the county, including restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, and mobile/temporary units. The listed number is a daily-checked message line; email or call to reach the Licensed Establishment team for plan review and applications.

Source, last verified July 17, 2026

Statewide rules in Montana

In Montana, retail food establishment licenses, including for mobile food units, run through the Dept. of Public Health and Human Services Environmental Health and Food Safety program, with plan reviews and inspections by local county sanitarians; Montana has no state sales tax.

Food & vending permits: Montana DPHHS Environmental Health and Food Safety, food establishment and mobile unit licensing
Sales tax permit: State sales tax, Montana has no state sales tax.
Sales tax rate: No statewide sales taxMontana has no statewide general sales tax; some resort/community local taxes may apply to lodging or resort-area transactions, not a statewide retail sales tax.
Food safety cards: No statewide food handler card; a Certified Food Protection Manager is recommended and many county sanitarians require one before issuing a license.

Typical license fees

Montana DPHHS Environmental Health and Food Safety section issues all retail food establishment and mobile food establishment licenses statewide. Under House Bill 853 signed in 2025, fees were reorganized into three size tiers for permanent locations and two tiers for mobile operations.

Brick and mortar cafe with seats: $150 to $275 a year
Counter or kiosk with no seats: $150 a year
Mobile cart, trailer, or truck: $150 to $225 a year
Catering: $150 to $225 a year

The three retail food tiers are Food Small at $150, Food Medium at $225, and Food Large at $275 per year. Mobile food is $150 for Small and $225 for Large. Licenses must be renewed before December 31 each year. Prior to HB 853 the annual fee was $85 for establishments with two or fewer employees and $115 for more. Temporary food event permits for farmers markets and pop-ups are issued by local county health departments rather than DPHHS. Montana has no state sales tax so no state seller's permit is required.

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 Lewis and Clark County health department for a retail food facility permit covering the space where drinks and food are prepared.
KioskCafe
Mobile 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 truckCatering
Temporary 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 truckCatering
Fire 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 Lewis and Clark County permits

Do I need a permit to sell coffee in Lewis and Clark County?: Yes. Any coffee shop, cart, or trailer serving drinks or food in Lewis and Clark County needs a food permit, plus any state registrations that apply 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 Lewis and Clark County?: In Lewis and Clark County, food and mobile vending permits are handled by Lewis & Clark Public Health, Licensed Establishment Program. You can reach them at 406.457.8919.
How many coffee shops are in Lewis and Clark County?: About 25 coffee and snack bars operate in Lewis and Clark County, alongside roughly 113 restaurants (2022 Census County Business Patterns). With about 73,464 residents, that is roughly one coffee or snack bar per 2,939 people.
Do I need a food handler card in Lewis and Clark County?: Yes. No statewide food handler card; a Certified Food Protection Manager is recommended and many county sanitarians require one before issuing a license.
How much does a coffee shop or cart permit cost in Lewis and Clark 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 and a local business license. Confirm current fees with the department before you apply.

Show all 11 ZIP codes in Lewis and Clark County

Find yours to confirm the exact jurisdiction before you apply.

59410
59601
59602
59623
59625
59633
59635
59636
59639
59640
59648