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15 permits · verified 2026-10-27

What permits do you need to open a food truck in New Hanover County?

In short

A food truck in New Hanover County, NC has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 13 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. New Hanover County Building Safety charges $100 per trade inspection for the facility licensing verification inspection (conditional). 6 of the 15 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-27 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a food truck in New Hanover County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Food Service Plan Review (restaurants, food stands, mobile food units and pushcarts)only if it applies to youNew Hanover County Public Health, Environmental HealthNon-prototype/Independent Restaurants, Food Stands & Mobile Food Units $250.00; Pushcarts $100.00; Renovations/Changes (changes in dimension of food preparation area, seating capacity or addition of room) $250.00 (Exhibit 3, Environmental Health Fee Schedule Effective 07/01/2026). For prototype restaurants and food stands the schedule lists 'NCDHHS - EH Section Approval Letter' in place of a county amount.one-time, per project2026-10-27
Temporary Food Establishment Permitonly if it applies to youNew Hanover County Public Health, Environmental Health$75 per permitper event, per permit2026-10-27
Hood-Suppression System Permitonly if it applies to youNew Hanover County Building SafetyHood-Suppression Systems: $100 + $10 per 1,000 sq ft, minimum $110 (Exhibit 1, Fire Prevention Fees, Permits/Verifications for Other Than New Construction).per system2026-10-27
Certified Food Protection Manageronly if it applies to youNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health SectionNo feenot stated in North Carolina law — the certifying programme sets its own2026-09-03
Food Establishment PermitNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section$120 a year, statewidethe permit does not expire; the fee is reassessed annually2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in New Hanover County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Facility Licensing Verification Inspection (conditional)only if it applies to youNew Hanover County Building Safety$100 per trade inspectionper inspection2026-10-27
Commercial Building Permit and Trade Permitsonly if it applies to youNew Hanover County Building SafetyVaries — formula on the New Hanover County pageper project2026-10-27
Sign Permitonly if it applies to youNew Hanover County Building SafetyVaries — formula on the New Hanover County pageper sign2026-10-27
Commercial Zoning-Only Permitonly if it applies to youNew Hanover County Planning & Land UseVaries — formula on the New Hanover County pageper permit2026-10-27
Commercial Site Plan Review (Technical Review Committee)only if it applies to youNew Hanover County Planning & Land Use$75 per reviewper review2026-10-27

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

NC registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Certificate of Registration (sales and use tax)North Carolina Department of RevenueNo feeno renewal — but see the dormancy rule2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youNorth Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division$125 one-time filingno expiry, but an annual report is due every 15 April2026-09-03
Annual Reportonly if it applies to youNorth Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration DivisionVaries — formula on the NC pageannual — 15 April for an LLC2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youNorth Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division$125 one-time filingno expiry, but an annual report is due each year2026-09-03
General Business License — North Carolina Secretary of State Positiononly if it applies to youNorth Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration DivisionNo feenot applicable2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

How much does it actually cost to permit a food truck in New Hanover County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 15 records listed for a food truck in New Hanover County, NC, 2 apply to every business of this type and 13 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

Of the 2 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $120.00. That is a floor, not a total. 6 of the 15 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 3 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Food Service Plan Review (restaurants, food stands, mobile food units and pushcarts): Non-prototype/Independent Restaurants, Food Stands & Mobile Food Units $250.00; Pushcarts $100.00; Renovations/Changes (changes in dimension of food preparation area, seating capacity or addition of room) $250.00 (Exhibit 3, Environmental Health Fee Schedule Effective 07/01/2026). For prototype restaurants and food stands the schedule lists 'NCDHHS - EH Section Approval Letter' in place of a county amount.

Hood-Suppression System Permit: Hood-Suppression Systems: $100 + $10 per 1,000 sq ft, minimum $110 (Exhibit 1, Fire Prevention Fees, Permits/Verifications for Other Than New Construction).

The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the New Hanover County permits page and the NC state page.

Which offices issue these permits in New Hanover County?

Permits for a food truck in New Hanover County, NC come from 6 separate offices: New Hanover County Public Health, Environmental Health, New Hanover County Building Safety, New Hanover County Planning & Land Use, North Carolina Department of Revenue, North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a food truck need in New Hanover County that other businesses do not?

Food Service Plan Review (restaurants, food stands, mobile food units and pushcarts)

A new independent restaurant, food stand or food truck in New Hanover County has its plans reviewed by New Hanover County Public Health's Environmental Health division before it opens: $250.00 for a non-prototype or independent restaurant, food stand or mobile food unit, and $100.00 for a pushcart. Renovations or changes to an existing establishment, which the schedule describes as changes in dimension of the food preparation area, seating capacity or addition of a room, are $250.00. For a prototype restaurant or food stand the schedule lists an 'NCDHHS - EH Section Approval Letter' instead of a county fee. The figure is as published on the Environmental Health page of Exhibit 3 (Health) of the New Hanover County Fee Schedule FY26-27, headed 'Environmental Health Fee Schedule Effective 07/01/2026'; the schedule's footer reads 'Fee Schedule FY26-27 (Revised 7-01-26)'. Exhibit 3 states that payment can be made through the county's COAST online portal, by phone or in person at 230 Government Center Drive. The state food establishment permit that follows plan review is carried at the state layer.

Temporary Food Establishment Permit

A vendor serving food at a temporary event in New Hanover County needs a Temporary Food Establishment Permit from Environmental Health, listed at $75.00. The figure is as published on the Environmental Health page of Exhibit 3 (Health) of the New Hanover County Fee Schedule FY26-27, headed 'Environmental Health Fee Schedule Effective 07/01/2026'; the schedule's footer reads 'Fee Schedule FY26-27 (Revised 7-01-26)'. The $75 is the state-mandated local fee: the NCDHHS Division of Public Health position statement 'Food and Lodging Permit Fee Changes', dated July 30, 2013 and issued pursuant to Session Law 2013-360, states: 'Effective August 1, 2013 local health departments are to charge a $75 fee for each permit issued to a temporary food establishment or limited food service establishment. The proceeds from those fees are to be used to support local Food, Lodging and Institution Program activities.'

Shared with other businesses in New Hanover County

  • Hood-Suppression System Permit — New Hanover County Building Safety, Hood-Suppression Systems: $100 + $10 per 1,000 sq ft, minimum $110 (Exhibit 1, Fire Prevention Fees, Permits/Verifications for Other Than New Construction)., per system. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Certified Food Protection Manager — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, No fee, not stated in North Carolina law — the certifying programme sets its own. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Food Establishment Permit — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, $120 a year, statewide, the permit does not expire; the fee is reassessed annually. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.

The other 5 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in New Hanover County, NC; what each one involves is set out on the New Hanover County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across NC and are covered on the NC state page.

How does a food truck compare with other businesses in New Hanover County?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 5 of these permits. A coffee shop needs County Beer and Wine Business/Privilege License, Limited Food Service Establishment Permit and Fire Alcohol Licensing Inspection (unincorporated county), which a food truck does not.

Permits particular to each business type in New Hanover County, NC, compared with a food truck
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a food truckOnly a food truck needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops8503
Restaurants9504
Auto repair shops3053
Childcare centres2052
Contractors and trades2052
Fitness studios2052
Retail stores2052
Salons and barbers3053
Veterinary clinics1051

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the restaurants page and coffee shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the New Hanover County permits page and the NC state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. New Hanover County Fee Schedule FY26-27 (Revised 7-01-26)New Hanover County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  2. POSITION STATEMENT: Food and Lodging Permit Fee Changes (July 30, 2013)North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.