Permits
Coffee and cart permits in Burleigh County, ND
Burleigh County is a midsize North Dakota market for a new coffee business. Around 30 coffee and snack bars already operate here, alongside roughly 147 restaurants, so a solid base of demand with moderate competition. Below is who issues permits in Burleigh County and the steps to open a coffee shop, cart, or trailer.
Local market in Burleigh County, ND
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).
Statewide rules in North Dakota
In North Dakota, retail food and mobile food unit licenses are issued by ND Health and Human Services Food and Lodging or a local public health agency depending on jurisdiction, with statewide reciprocity for units licensed by ND HHS.
- Food & vending permits
- ND HHS Food and Lodging, mobile food unit licensing, jurisdictions map, and reciprocity
- Sales tax permit
- Sales tax permit, ND Office of State Tax Commissioner
- Sales tax rate
- 5% state base rateTypical combined range: 5%-8.5%Counties, cities, and special or transit districts add local sales tax on top, so your combined rate depends on your exact address.North Dakota Tax sales tax rates
- Food safety cards
- No statewide food handler card; the state follows the FDA Food Code and local agencies may require food protection manager training.
Typical license fees
North Dakota sets food establishment license fees in NDAC Chapter 33-33-08. Depending on jurisdiction, licenses are issued by the state HHS Food and Lodging program or by a local public health agency, using the same state fee schedule.
- Most food businesses
- About $130 a year
- Brick and mortar cafe with seats
- About $130 to $310 a year
- Pop-up or farmers market vendor
- About $50 per event
Restaurant fees under NDAC 33-33-08-01 are $130 base plus $0.50 per seat with a maximum of $310 per year. A limited service restaurant or counter-style operation pays $130 flat. Mobile units pay $130 per year. Temporary food service events pay $50 per event with a statewide maximum of $250 per year. North Dakota sales tax registration is free via the ND Office of State Tax Commissioner at tap.tax.nd.gov.
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 Burleigh 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 Burleigh County permits
- Do I need a permit to sell coffee in Burleigh County?
- Yes. Any coffee shop, cart, or trailer serving drinks or food in Burleigh County needs a food permit, plus a North Dakota 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 Burleigh County?
- In North Dakota, retail food and mobile food unit licenses are issued by ND Health and Human Services Food and Lodging or a local public health agency depending on jurisdiction, with statewide reciprocity for units licensed by ND HHS. Confirm which office covers Burleigh County before you apply.
- How many coffee shops are in Burleigh County?
- About 30 coffee and snack bars operate in Burleigh County, alongside roughly 147 restaurants (2022 Census County Business Patterns). With about 100,600 residents, that is roughly one coffee or snack bar per 3,353 people.
- Do I need a food handler card in Burleigh County?
- Yes. No statewide food handler card; the state follows the FDA Food Code and local agencies may require food protection manager training.
- How much does a coffee shop or cart permit cost in Burleigh 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 North Dakota sales tax permit (free to register) and a local business license. Confirm current fees with the department before you apply.
Show all 12 ZIP codes in Burleigh County
Find yours to confirm the exact jurisdiction before you apply.
- 58477
- 58494
- 58501
- 58503
- 58504
- 58505
- 58521
- 58532
- 58558
- 58560
- 58572
- 58579