Food Truck permits in Seattle, Washington

The city and county permits, taxes, and inspections a food truck needs in Seattle (King County), on top of the statewide Washington and federal credentials covered on their own pages.

Local feesAbout $2,200 to $2,900 in first-year local fees for a private-lot truck (King County plan review and health permit, the Seattle license, and the fire permit); a public-right-of-way spot adds the SDOT vending permit and occupation fees, both waived citywide through January 1, 2026CountyKing County

This page covers only the Seattle city and county permits for food trucks. The statewide Washington credentials and the federal credentials every food truck needs are on their own pages.

All Washington requirementsFood Trucks in Washington Federal requirementsEvery food truck nationwide

What you need to run a food truck in Seattle

Credential	Level	Fee	Renewal
Public Health Seattle and King County Mobile Food Unit Permit	County	$630 to $1,260 a year by risk category (Risk 1 to Risk 3), with seasonal discounts; prorated in the first year	Annual (permit year April 1 to March 31)
Public Health Seattle and King County Mobile Food Unit Plan Review	County	$1,008 for a new build (first 4 hours) or $756 for a remodel or ownership change, plus $252 an hour beyond; waived for a truck transferring an active permit from another Washington county	One-time per build, remodel, or change of ownership
Seattle Business License Tax Certificate	City	$73 to $147 a year for most trucks (by Seattle revenue tier, up to $3,210 for the largest businesses); a business with no Seattle location and under $4,000 in city revenue is exempt	Annual (expires December 31)
Seattle Business and Occupation (B&O) Tax	City	0.342% of Seattle gross receipts under the retail classification (2026), but no tax owed below $2 million in city revenue; filed quarterly or annually	Ongoing; quarterly or annual filing
Seattle Fire Department Food Truck Fire Permit	City	$490 a year with a Seattle inspection, or $408 if you bring a regional WSAFM inspection; a single-event permit is $273	Annual
SDOT Street Use Vending Permit (only for the public right-of-way)	City	Year-round site-specific vending is normally $1,025 to issue plus per-slot occupation fees, but both are waived citywide through January 1, 2026 under the Downtown Activation ordinance	Annual, or per season or event
SDCI Use Permit for a Private-Property Truck (only if conditions are not met)	City	No SDCI permit or fee if you meet all five private-lot conditions; otherwise a temporary or establishing-use permit applies, priced by project	Per use, if a permit is required

A typical food truck in Seattle, Washington needs 17 separate credentials to operate legally, and that is for one location. Federal, statewide, and local Seattle requirements all stack on the same food truck, each with its own renewal date, fee, and issuing agency.

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Each food truck credential in Seattle, explained

Grouped by the level of government that issues it, county then city. Every credential here is specific to operating a food truck in Seattle, Washington.

County level

2 credentials

Public Health Seattle and King County Mobile Food Unit Permit

Public Health, Seattle and King County is the health authority for the whole county, Seattle included, so there is no separate city health permit. Every truck needs this operating permit, priced by risk category from $630 for the simplest menus to $1,260 for the most complex. You file a signed commissary agreement with the application unless the unit is approved as self-contained, and the county charges no separate fee for using an already-permitted restaurant kitchen as your commissary.

Issued by: Public Health, Seattle and King County, Environmental Health
Fee: $630 to $1,260 a year by risk category (Risk 1 to Risk 3), with seasonal discounts; prorated in the first year
Renewal: Annual (permit year April 1 to March 31)
Processing: Issued after plan review and a pre-operational inspection scheduled at least a week ahead

Public Health Seattle and King County Mobile Food Unit Plan Review

Before you build, remodel, or take over a truck, the county reviews your floor plan, equipment, menu, and commissary agreement through its online permit center. You pay and pass this before the operating permit issues, and a truck moving in from another Washington county can skip the plan-review fee under the state reciprocity rule. Operating before the pre-opening inspection risks closure and a penalty of half the annual permit fee.

Issued by: Public Health, Seattle and King County, Environmental Health
Fee: $1,008 for a new build (first 4 hours) or $756 for a remodel or ownership change, plus $252 an hour beyond; waived for a truck transferring an active permit from another Washington county
Renewal: One-time per build, remodel, or change of ownership
Processing: 4 to 6 weeks after a complete application

City level

5 credentials

Seattle Business License Tax Certificate

Separate from the statewide UBI license, a truck doing business in Seattle needs the city's own business license tax certificate, even if it only works private property inside the city. The annual fee is tiered by your Seattle revenue, $73 under $20,000 and $147 up to about $500,000, which covers nearly every truck. You get it through the FileLocal portal.

Issued by: City of Seattle, Office of City Finance
Fee: $73 to $147 a year for most trucks (by Seattle revenue tier, up to $3,210 for the largest businesses); a business with no Seattle location and under $4,000 in city revenue is exempt
Renewal: Annual (expires December 31)
Processing: Printable 2 to 3 business days after you apply and pay online

Seattle Business and Occupation (B&O) Tax

Seattle levies its own B&O tax on top of the state's, filed with the city through FileLocal rather than the Department of Revenue. As of January 1, 2026 the Seattle Shield change raised the exemption to $2 million in city gross receipts, so almost every truck owes nothing, but you still must file and report your revenue each year. Food sales report under the retail classification.

Issued by: City of Seattle, Office of City Finance
Fee: 0.342% of Seattle gross receipts under the retail classification (2026), but no tax owed below $2 million in city revenue; filed quarterly or annually
Renewal: Ongoing; quarterly or annual filing
Processing: Self-assessed and filed through FileLocal

Seattle Fire Department Food Truck Fire Permit

A truck that cooks with propane, natural gas, solid fuel, or a deep fryer needs Seattle Fire's annual permit; an all-electric truck does not. Seattle takes part in the statewide WSAFM program, so a truck that already passed a regional WSAFM inspection pays the lower $408 rate instead of $490. The permit is tied to the truck and does not transfer to a new owner or address.

Issued by: Seattle Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division
Fee: $490 a year with a Seattle inspection, or $408 if you bring a regional WSAFM inspection; a single-event permit is $273
Renewal: Annual
Processing: Seattle inspects trucks on Wednesday mornings after you apply and pay

SDOT Street Use Vending Permit (only for the public right-of-way)

Required only to vend on the public right-of-way, a street curb space, sidewalk, or plaza, and not for a truck on a private lot or pod. SDOT assigns the location, days, and hours, and trucks usually take a designated food-vehicle zone in curb parking. Occupation fees normally run by the 4-hour slot per weekday per year, but every vending fee is waived citywide through January 1, 2026. You carry liability insurance naming the City.

Issued by: Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Street Use
Fee: Year-round site-specific vending is normally $1,025 to issue plus per-slot occupation fees, but both are waived citywide through January 1, 2026 under the Downtown Activation ordinance
Renewal: Annual, or per season or event
Processing: Varies; respond quickly to corrections to keep your site priority

SDCI Use Permit for a Private-Property Truck (only if conditions are not met)

A truck on private property needs no SDCI permit if it meets all five conditions: a non-residential zone, the owner's permission, no overnight parking, an existing parking area, and at least 50 feet from any residential zone. Miss one and you may need a temporary use permit (good for 2 days a week) or a permanent establishing-use permit. Check with SDCI before signing a lease.

Issued by: Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)
Fee: No SDCI permit or fee if you meet all five private-lot conditions; otherwise a temporary or establishing-use permit applies, priced by project
Renewal: Per use, if a permit is required
Processing: Varies if a permit is needed

See how other food trucks in Seattle are managing every permit, license, and renewal in one place with CredentiAlert.

Seattle-specific things to watch for

1Two different governments run the local permits. Public Health, Seattle and King County, a county agency, issues the health permit for trucks anywhere in Seattle, while the City of Seattle separately handles the business license, the B&O tax, the fire permit, and street vending. Operators often approach the wrong counter first.

2Seattle's B&O tax is a local tax, separate from the state's, and filed with the city. You report it through Seattle's FileLocal portal, not the Department of Revenue. Starting January 1, 2026 the Seattle Shield change raised the exemption to $2 million in city revenue, so almost every truck owes nothing, but you are still required to file and report your gross revenue to the city every year.

3The SDOT street-use permit is only for public space, and a private-lot truck skips it. Vending at a curbside food-vehicle zone, sidewalk, or plaza needs an SDOT permit with per-slot occupation fees; a truck on a private lot or in a private pod does not. Both the issuance fee and the occupation fees are waived citywide through January 1, 2026, so this is currently free to permit.

4On private property, five conditions decide whether you need SDCI at all. A truck needs no construction or land-use permit if it sits in a non-residential zone, has the owner's permission, does not stay overnight, parks in an existing parking area, and stays at least 50 feet from any residential zone. Miss one and a temporary or establishing-use permit can apply, so confirm before signing a lease.

5King County health permits do not transfer with a sale. Buy an existing truck and you go through plan review and apply as a new operator; running on the prior owner's permit is a violation. The county is enforcing it harder, shutting down 111 unpermitted mobile vendors in 2024 against 27 the year before. Vending inside a Seattle park is its own track entirely, through a Parks concession permit awarded by competitive proposal.

How long does it take?

Plan on 8 to 10 weeks from first application to vending if your King County plan package is complete on the first try. The county plan review is the long pole at 4 to 6 weeks, then a pre-opening inspection booked at least a week out, then the operating permit. The Seattle license (2 to 3 days), the fire permit (a Wednesday inspection), and any SDOT street-use permit run in parallel. An incomplete plan package resets the clock.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food truck permit in Seattle?

There is no single permit. For a new truck in 2026 the main local costs are the King County health plan review ($1,008 for a new build, plus time beyond 4 hours), the annual King County health permit ($630 to $1,260 by risk category), the Seattle business license tax certificate ($73 to $147 for most trucks), and the Seattle Fire permit ($408 with a regional inspection, or $490 with a Seattle one). Vending on a public street adds an SDOT permit, currently fee-waived through January 1, 2026.

Do I need a business license for a food truck in Seattle?

Yes, two. You need the statewide Washington business license with its UBI number, and separately the City of Seattle business license tax certificate from the Office of City Finance, filed through FileLocal. The city license is required for any business operating in Seattle, including a truck that only works private property in the city. The 2026 fee runs $73 under $20,000 in Seattle revenue and $147 up to about $500,000.

Where can I park my food truck in Seattle?

On private property with the owner's permission, generally with no SDOT permit if you are in a non-residential zone, stay in an existing parking area, do not stay overnight, and keep 50 feet from a residential zone. On a public street, sidewalk, or plaza, only in a spot SDOT permits, usually a designated food-vehicle zone in curb parking. Inside a city park, only through a Seattle Parks concession permit or as part of a permitted event.

Does a food truck need a King County health permit even in Seattle?

Yes. Public Health, Seattle and King County is the health authority for all of Seattle as well as the rest of the county, so there is no separate Seattle city health permit. Every mobile food unit operating in Seattle holds the King County mobile food unit permit, which runs $630 a year for Risk 1 up to $1,260 for Risk 3.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-06-04. Requirements change. Always confirm with the issuing department before applying.