Do I need a permit to sell coffee in Bernalillo County?

Yes. Any coffee shop, cart, or trailer serving drinks or food in Bernalillo County needs a food permit, plus a New Mexico 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.

How many coffee shops are in Bernalillo County?

About 195 coffee and snack bars operate in Bernalillo County, alongside roughly 1,075 restaurants (2022 Census County Business Patterns). With about 673,930 residents, that is roughly one coffee or snack bar per 3,456 people.

Do I need a food handler card in Bernalillo County?

Yes. An ANSI-accredited food handler card for all food employees and a Certified Food Protection Manager at each permitted establishment.

How much does a coffee shop or cart permit cost in Bernalillo 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 New Mexico sales tax permit (free to register) and a local business license. Confirm current fees with the department before you apply.

Permits

Coffee and cart permits in Bernalillo County, NM

Bernalillo County is a major New Mexico market for a new coffee business. Around 195 coffee and snack bars already operate here, alongside roughly 1,075 restaurants, so a solid base of demand with moderate competition. Below is who issues permits in Bernalillo County and the steps to open a coffee shop, cart, or trailer.

Local market in Bernalillo County, NM

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

County population673,930Major metroDense demand, more competition. 2024 estimate.

Median household income$68,28615% 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

Bernalillo County Planning and Development Services, Consumer Health Protection Division 415 Silver Ave. SW, 2nd Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87102

505.314.0310

Bernalillo County runs its own food safety program, and the state environment department has no jurisdiction here. The City of Albuquerque runs a separate program for establishments within city limits.

Source, last verified July 14, 2026

Statewide rules in New Mexico

In New Mexico, the Environment Department Food Safety Program issues food service and mobile food unit permits statewide; Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque run their own food safety programs.

Food & vending permits: NMED Food Safety Program, food establishment permit applications
Sales tax permit: Gross Receipts Tax (GRT), New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Dept.
Sales tax rate: 4.875% state base rateCombined rate in Albuquerque: about 7.625%Counties, cities, and special or transit districts add local sales tax on top, so your combined rate depends on your exact address.New Mexico TRD gross receipts rate map
Food safety cards: An ANSI-accredited food handler card for all food employees and a Certified Food Protection Manager at each permitted establishment.

Typical license fees

Bernalillo County operates its own food safety program entirely separate from the New Mexico Environment Department. Most food businesses pay $200 minimum a year, with larger businesses paying up to $700 based on gross receipts.

Most food businesses: $200 minimum a year, calculated as 3/10ths of 1 percent of annual gross receipts up to a $700 maximum
Mobile cart, trailer, or truck: $120 a year for a self-contained mobile unit or $75 a year for a non-self-contained unit or pushcart

Bernalillo County Consumer Health Protection Division issues its own food establishment permits and the NMED statewide permit does not apply within Bernalillo County. This replaces rather than supplements the state NMED license. The City of Albuquerque runs a separate program for city limits establishments under its 2024 Food Service and Retail Ordinance. Temporary event and pop-up vendor fees for unincorporated Bernalillo County were not confirmed from an accessible official source. Contact the Consumer Health Protection Division at (505) 314-0310.

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 Bernalillo 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 Bernalillo County permits

Do I need a permit to sell coffee in Bernalillo County?: Yes. Any coffee shop, cart, or trailer serving drinks or food in Bernalillo County needs a food permit, plus a New Mexico 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 Bernalillo County?: In Bernalillo County, food and mobile vending permits are handled by Bernalillo County Planning and Development Services, Consumer Health Protection Division. You can reach them at 505.314.0310.
How many coffee shops are in Bernalillo County?: About 195 coffee and snack bars operate in Bernalillo County, alongside roughly 1,075 restaurants (2022 Census County Business Patterns). With about 673,930 residents, that is roughly one coffee or snack bar per 3,456 people.
Do I need a food handler card in Bernalillo County?: Yes. An ANSI-accredited food handler card for all food employees and a Certified Food Protection Manager at each permitted establishment.
How much does a coffee shop or cart permit cost in Bernalillo 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 New Mexico sales tax permit (free to register) and a local business license. Confirm current fees with the department before you apply.

Show all 24 ZIP codes in Bernalillo County

Find yours to confirm the exact jurisdiction before you apply.

87008
87022
87059
87068
87101
87102
87104
87105
87106
87107
87108
87109
87110
87111
87112
87113
87114
87116
87117
87120
87121
87122
87123
87151