Permits
Coffee and cart permits in New Hampshire
To sell coffee in New Hampshire, 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.
10 counties in New Hampshire. 6 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 New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, food service establishments and mobile food units are licensed statewide by the DHHS Food Protection Section, and New Hampshire has no state sales tax.
- Food & vending permits
- NH DHHS Food Protection Section, food service establishment licensing
- Sales tax permit
- State sales tax, New Hampshire has no state sales tax.
- Sales tax rate
- No statewide sales taxNew Hampshire has no general sales tax; it imposes separate meals and rooms, communications services, and other specific taxes.
- Food safety cards
- A Certified Food Protection Manager is required for most food service establishments under NH's FDA Food Code rules (He-P 2300); some low risk operations are exempt.
Typical license fees
New Hampshire DHHS Food Protection Section issues annual food service licenses for most establishments in the state with fees based on seating capacity or service type. Several cities including Manchester, Nashua, and Concord are self-inspecting and set their own local fees independently.
- Most food businesses
- $225 a year
- Brick and mortar cafe with seats
- $225 to $450 a year
The seating tiers for the annual license are $225 for 0 to 24 seats, $350 for 25 to 99 seats, $450 for 100 to 199 seats, and $875 for 200 or more seats. A push cart or cold-holding-only operation is $150 per year. Mobile cook units that prepare and serve food are $225 per year. Temporary food service establishments operating 14 days or fewer at a fixed location during a single event are exempt from the state license requirement and fee. Operators in self-inspecting cities must contact that city for current local fees. New Hampshire has no general 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.