Permits
Coffee and cart permits in Vermont
To sell coffee in Vermont, 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.
14 counties in Vermont. 1 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 Vermont
In Vermont, the Dept. of Health Food and Lodging Program licenses all retail food service establishments at the state level, including food trucks and carts.
- Food & vending permits
- Vermont Dept. of Health, retail food service establishment licensing
- Sales tax permit
- Sales and use tax registration, Vermont Dept. of Taxes
- Sales tax rate
- 6% state base rateTypical combined range: 6%-7%Counties, cities, and special or transit districts add local sales tax on top, so your combined rate depends on your exact address.Vermont Tax sales and use tax
- Food safety cards
- No universal statewide food handler card; a Certified Food Protection Manager may be required depending on the operation's risk classification.
Typical license fees
The Vermont Department of Health Food and Lodging Program issues all retail food service licenses statewide under Title 18 of Vermont Statutes. Annual fees are set by the state and vary by establishment type and seating capacity.
- Brick and mortar cafe with seats
- About $105 to $350 a year based on seating
- Counter or kiosk with no seats
- About $105 a year
- Mobile cart, trailer, or truck
- About $140 a year
- Catering
- About $230 a year
- Pop-up or farmers market vendor
- $125 for a single event, or $230 for a calendar year license
The calendar year temporary license expires December 31 regardless of when it was issued. Applications must be submitted at least 15 days before the first event and 30 days before opening a new permanent establishment. The annual retail food establishment fees for fixed restaurants were sourced from third-party references to the VDH application form and could not be confirmed directly from the official fee schedule PDF during this research. Calling the Food and Lodging Program at 802-863-7221 is recommended to confirm current amounts. State sales tax registration is free.
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.