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What a food truck permit costs in Washington

The figures below come from Washington's agency pages, each with the date it was read. Government fees only: commissary rent, insurance and the truck are private costs, and the profit calculator is where those go.

The main license

Snohomish County: $525 (low risk), $780 (medium) or $1,075 (high risk) a year; King County issues low-risk mobile permits at $406 a year

Mobile food unit operating permit by risk level, after plan review and a pre-operational inspection; a Labor & Industries insignia on the vehicle

Snohomish schedule effective November 1, 2026; King County figure from its 2025 program notice (permit year April 1 to March 31). King County waives plan review for a unit already permitted in another Washington county (reciprocity). Plan review can take 8 to 10 weeks in King County.

Issued by Local health jurisdictions under the Washington Retail Food Code (WAC 246-215): Public Health Seattle & King County, Snohomish County Health Department and others Read on the agency page Nov 5, 2026

Every step, with the fee where it is published

In filing order. A step without a published fee links the agency to ask.

  1. 1

    Form your entity and get your EINFederal

    the IRS

    Fee not published here; ask the agency
  2. 2

    Register for Washington sales taxState

    the Washington revenue department

    Private cost or no fee
  3. 3

    Sign your commissary agreementState

    Washington State Department of Health — Food Safety Program

    Fee not published here; ask the agency
  4. 4

    Apply for the Washington mobile food unit permitState

    Washington State Department of Health — Food Safety Program

    Fee not published here; ask the agency
  5. 5

    Clear the county and city layersCity

    your city and county

    Private cost or no fee
  6. 6

    Get general liability insurance and a certificate of insurance (COI)Private

    your insurer

    Private cost or no fee

Renewal timeline

  • General liability insurance (COI)

    Every year · start paperwork 21 days before · Your insurer

Download the renewal calendar (.ics) Open the printable checklist

What changed in Washington

  1. Snohomish County Health Department's new schedule: mobile food unit permits $525 low risk, $780 medium, $1,075 high risk a year, each unit permitted separately; late renewals add $350. Source

Read the full picture

Washington food truck permit guideAgencies, fees, inspections, city rules and the pitfalls, with sources.Seattle permitsCity layer on top of the state: zoning, fire, local business tax.

Compare every state on the permit hub or take the CSV.

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