How to Start a Food Truck in Washington: Permit $240 to $1,260 by County and the RCW 43.20.148 Commissary Exemption

If you want to start a food truck business in Washington, plan on stacking several approvals. Washington has no single statewide food truck license. Instead, you register with the state, get a local mobile food unit permit from your county or health district, and clear any city, fire and street use rules that apply to your route. The local permit decides whether you can operate, and its cost depends on where you park.

This guide covers the order that works: register the business, get the state business license, secure the health permit, solve the commissary question, and clear fire and street rules before your first sale. Fees and processing times change, so confirm each figure with the agency named in the section.

This article is informational only. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Food truck rules involve several state agencies, counties, cities and fire authorities. Consider speaking with a qualified attorney or CPA before you sign a lease, buy a vehicle or sign a commissary agreement, and contact your local health district before you buy equipment.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these items before you file anything. Most delays come from missing paperwork, not from the agencies themselves.

• Legal name and structure. Sole proprietors and general partnerships do not file with the Secretary of State. An LLC or corporation does.
• Federal employer identification number (EIN). You will need one if you form an entity or hire staff, so apply through the IRS before you need it.
• Vehicle details. Have the make, model, year, VIN and a floor plan showing where each piece of equipment sits.
• Full menu. List every item and how it is prepared, including anything cooked to order or held hot or cold.
• Equipment list. Include refrigeration, hot holding, a handwashing sink, warewashing, fresh water tank, wastewater tank and generator.
• Plan of operations. Describe prep steps, cooling, storage, hours and planned routes.
• Service areas. List the cities and counties where you plan to operate, plus any recurring events.
• Commissary or exemption paperwork. Either a signed servicing area or commissary agreement, or the materials for an exemption request.
• Fire safety details. Needed if you plan to use propane, charcoal, wood or oil frying.
• A budget. Include permits, vehicle, insurance, and sales tax. The state sales tax rate is 6.5%, and local rates are added on top.

Step 1: Choose and Register Your Business Structure

Your structure determines whether you file with the Secretary of State at all. Many food truck owners start as a sole proprietor to keep costs low. An LLC adds personal liability protection but requires a state filing and ongoing paperwork.

If you form an LLC, file a Certificate of Formation with Initial Report through the Corporations and Charities Filing System at https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov/. The filing fee is $180. Key requirements:

• The name must include Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Co., L.L.C. or LLC, and it must be distinguishable from every other name on record. Under RCW 23.95.305, it also cannot contain bank, banking, banker, trust, cooperative, or certain combinations of loan, savings, home and similar words.
• You must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Washington. PO Boxes and private mailbox addresses are not accepted, and the agent must supply an email address.
• You can reserve a name for 180 days for $30 if you need time to finish your paperwork.
• Expedited service is $100 per entity and is generally processed within three business days. The Secretary of State does not publish a standard turnaround for regular online filings.

Your LLC will also owe an annual report. The fee is $70, due by the last day of the month in which it was formed, every year. A late filing adds a delinquency fee for a total of $95. You can file up to 180 days early. Put the due date on your calendar the day you form the company.

Step 2: Register a Trade Name If You Need One

If your truck operates under a name other than your legal name or your LLC name, you need a trade name registration, also called a doing business as (DBA) filing. Trade names are not registered with the Secretary of State or your county. They are filed with the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service using the Business License Application. The trade name fee is $5 for each name, plus the non-refundable $50 processing fee to open a business. Learn more at https://dor.wa.gov/manage-business/grow-business/register-trade-names.

Step 3: Apply for Your Washington Business License

Washington's general business license is issued through the Business Licensing Service, a unit of the Department of Revenue. The application produces your nine-digit Unified Business Identifier (UBI) and can also add city and state endorsements in one submission. You need a license if any of these apply:

• You need city, county or state endorsements.
• You operate under a name other than your full legal name.
• You plan to hire employees within 90 days.
• You sell anything subject to sales tax. A food truck almost always qualifies here.
• Your gross income is $12,000 or more per year.

An LLC or corporation must file with the Secretary of State before it submits the Business License Application. The processing fee is $50, plus separate endorsement fees. Online applications take about 10 business days. Add 2 to 3 weeks if city or state endorsements need approval. A mailed application can take up to six weeks, so file online if you can. Apply at https://dor.wa.gov/open-business/apply-business-license.

Washington does not have a corporate or personal income tax. It uses the business and occupation (B&O) tax, a gross receipts tax with no deduction for labor, materials or other costs. About 54 cities also levy their own B&O tax, which the Department of Revenue does not administer. Ask your city whether it has a local B&O tax that applies to your truck.

Step 4: Get the Mobile Food Unit Permit From Your Health Authority

Mobile food unit permits are local. Your permit fee depends on the county and, in some places, your menu's risk level. The following figures come from 2026 fee schedules, so confirm them before you apply.

Health authority	Permit fee	Notes
King County	$630 Risk 1, $1,008 Risk 2, $1,260 Risk 3	Fee rises with menu risk level
Tacoma-Pierce County	$240 low risk, $900 high risk	Menu determines the category
Spokane Regional Health District	$630 with an approved kitchen, $120 for each additional unit	Additional units carry a lower fee

If you plan to work in more than one county, expect to need a permit from each health authority where you operate. Other counties set their own fees, so contact the health district for every county on your route. Your local health district will also review your menu and plan of operations before approving your truck.

Step 5: Solve the Commissary Question With RCW 43.20.148

Most mobile food units must have a commissary or servicing area agreement. A commissary is a licensed commercial kitchen where you store supplies, prep food, dump wastewater and restock. The commissary requirement is the part of the process that catches many new owners off guard, because it adds a recurring cost and a daily trip.

RCW 43.20.148 provides a path to an exemption. The health authority must approve an exemption request when your unit meets every condition in the statute, including:

• Complete prep equipment onboard the truck.
• A dedicated handwashing sink.
• Enough water and warewashing capacity for your menu and service volume.
• A sanitary plan for wastewater and garbage disposal.
• Local health officer approval of your menu and plan of operations.

The statute lists nine conditions in all, including protection from environmental contamination, food storage temperatures, onboard cleaning tools and approved food sources, so ask the health authority for its full checklist. Include equipment specification sheets, a photo of the handwashing sink, a water capacity calculation, and a written wastewater plan that shows where you will empty tanks. Ask the health authority whether it wants the plan in a specific format. Also confirm whether the exemption covers every county you plan to serve.

Step 6: Clear Fire, Street Use and Event Rules

Health permits do not cover everything. Other agencies may require their own approval:

• Fire approval. If you plan to use propane, charcoal, wood or oil frying, get fire approval before you cook. Ask the local fire authority what documentation it needs, such as tank placement, fire suppression equipment and clearance distances.
• Right-of-way vending. In Seattle, selling from a public street or sidewalk falls under Seattle Street Use. Confirm the rules for each city where you plan to park. Private lots generally need the property owner's permission instead.
• Temporary events. King County temporary event permits in 2026 range from $126 for a minimal event to $441 for a complex one, charged per event. Festival and market operators often require proof of your health permit and insurance before they will book you.
• Alcohol. If you plan to sell beer, wine or any liquor, the Liquor and Cannabis Board licenses that activity. Start that process early because it has its own timeline.

Step 7: Register as an Employer if You Will Hire Staff

If you plan to hire employees, register with the Employment Security Department for unemployment insurance and with the Department of Labor and Industries for workers' compensation. The Business License Application is also required once you plan to hire within 90 days. Confirm the registration steps and any costs directly with each agency before your first shift.

Step 8: Plan Insurance and Vehicle Requirements

Talk with an insurance agent that works with food vendors before you buy the truck. Most food truck owners need commercial auto coverage and general liability coverage, and many event organizers request a certificate of insurance. Ask your health district whether it requires a vehicle inspection as part of plan review, and confirm the vehicle and commercial driving requirements with the Department of Licensing before you register the truck.

Step 9: Calendar Your Renewals and Reports

Permits renew on schedules that differ by agency. Create a single calendar with the following:

• LLC annual report due date, set for the last day of the formation month each year.
• Health permit renewal date for each county.
• Business license renewal and any endorsement renewals.
• Commissary or servicing agreement renewal, and any fire inspection dates.
• Quarterly or monthly B&O and sales tax reporting dates set by the Department of Revenue.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming one permit covers everywhere. A permit from one county does not let you operate in another. Map your routes before you apply.
• Filing the business license before the LLC. An LLC or corporation must file with the Secretary of State first, so the Business License Application will be delayed if you reverse the order.
• Using a PO Box as the registered agent address. The agent must have a physical Washington street address.
• Skipping the commissary planning. Choosing a truck before you know whether it can qualify for the RCW 43.20.148 exemption can leave you with equipment that fails review.
• Forgetting fire approval. A permit for food service does not cover propane or fryer setups.
• Ignoring local B&O taxes. The state B&O tax is not the only gross receipts tax you may owe.
• Missing the annual report. A late LLC annual report carries a total cost of $95 rather than $70.

Tips for a Faster Launch

• File the CCFS formation and the Business License Application in the same week so your state paperwork moves together.
• Call your health district before you buy the truck. A pre-purchase conversation can prevent a costly rebuild.
• Pay for expedited service only if the timing matters. The $100 fee saves time on the Secretary of State filing, not on every other agency.
• Keep one binder, digital or paper, with every approval, receipt and agreement. Inspectors and event organizers ask for these often.
• Ask other food truck operators in your county which health officers they work with. Local experience helps you prepare for the questions you will get.

What to Expect From the Process

Based on the published processing times, the state steps alone can take roughly two to five weeks, depending on whether your endorsements need approval. Health permit review and any exemption request run on the health authority's schedule, so they may take longer. Plan your launch date around the slowest approval, not the fastest.

Operators who prepare complete documents, match their equipment to the RCW 43.20.148 criteria and calendar their renewals may find that the process goes more smoothly. A well-prepared application is not a guarantee of approval or of sales volume. Food truck revenue depends on location, menu, pricing and marketing, and the outcome for any one business can differ.

Next Steps

1. Choose your structure and file with the Secretary of State if you form an LLC or corporation.
2. Register any trade name with the Business Licensing Service.
3. Submit the Business License Application online and request every endorsement you need.
4. Call your county health authority, confirm the fee schedule, and ask about the commissary exemption.
5. Get fire approval for your cooking method and check street use rules for each city on your route.
6. Confirm insurance, vehicle requirements and any employer registrations before you open for business.

Each agency sets its own rules, and local conditions vary. Verify every fee and requirement with the agency named above before you spend money, and consult a qualified professional for anything that affects your liability, taxes or ownership.