Permits
Coffee and cart permits in South Carolina
To sell coffee in South Carolina, 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.
46 counties in South Carolina. 16 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 South Carolina
In South Carolina, retail food establishments and mobile food units are permitted by the South Carolina Dept. of Agriculture (SCDA), which took over retail food safety from DHEC in 2024; mobile units also need a commissary agreement.
- Food & vending permits
- SCDA, retail food safety (retail food and mobile food unit permits)
- Sales tax permit
- Sales tax registration, SC Dept. of Revenue
- Sales tax rate
- 6% state base rateTypical combined range: 6%-9%Counties, cities, and special or transit districts add local sales tax on top, so your combined rate depends on your exact address.South Carolina DOR sales tax
- Food safety cards
- At least one certified food service manager per establishment under Regulation 61-25.
Typical license fees
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture has issued retail food establishment permits statewide since July 2024, replacing SCDHEC. Annual fees are based on prior-year gross food sales and range from $100 for small operations to $450 for large ones.
- Most food businesses
- About $100 to $200 a year
- Counter or kiosk with no seats
- About $100 a year
A one-time non-refundable permit application fee of $100 applies to all new establishments. Annual fees are calculated on prior-year food and food product sales only, not alcohol, and range from $100 for under $250K in sales up to $450 for over $1.75M in sales. Most new small operations will pay $100 annually. Temporary event permit fees were not confirmed for the period after the July 2024 SCDHEC to SCDA transition. South Carolina sales tax registration is free via the SCDOR.
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.