Permits
Coffee and cart permits in Rhode Island
To sell coffee in Rhode Island, 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.
5 counties in Rhode Island. 4 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 Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, the Dept. of Health Center for Food Protection issues mobile food service licenses at the state level; individual municipalities may require additional permits after state licensure.
- Food & vending permits
- Rhode Island Dept. of Health, mobile food service business licensing
- Sales tax permit
- Sales tax permit registration, RI Division of Taxation
- Sales tax rate
- 7% statewide sales tax rateThis is a single statewide rate with no county or city sales tax added on top.Rhode Island Division of Taxation sales tax FAQ
Typical license fees
Rhode Island licenses all food businesses through the RIDOH Center for Food Protection. Annual fees are set in regulation 216-RICR-10-05-2 Section 2.11 and vary by establishment type and seating. The plan review fee for new establishments equals the annual fee.
- Brick and mortar cafe with seats
- $160 a year for under 50 seats or $240 a year for over 50 seats
- Counter or kiosk with no seats
- $160 a year
- Mobile cart, trailer, or truck
- $100 a year
- Catering
- $280 a year
- Pop-up or farmers market vendor
- $100 a year
The plan review fee for a new food service establishment equals the annual fee for that category, so a new cafe under 50 seats pays $160 for plan review plus $160 for the first year. Registrations are prorated if applied mid-year. The Retail Food Peddler rate of $100 applies to farmers market and pop-up vendors. Rhode Island sales tax registration is free via the RI Division of Taxation.
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.