14 permits · verified 2026-10-01
What permits do you need to open a food truck in Washington County Ut?
In short
A food truck in Washington County Ut, UT has 6 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 8 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code charges $59 one-time filing for the articles of incorporation. 8 of the 14 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-01 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a food truck in Washington County Ut
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Food Establishment Permitonly if it applies to you | Southwest Utah Public Health Department | Tier/Risk 1 $60.00 (plus $25.00 if applied for on-site); Tier/Risk 2 $85.00 (plus $25.00 if applied for on-site); Seasonal (up to 6 months) Tier 1 $125.00; Tier 2 $180.00. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026. | Per event, or up to 6 months under the seasonal tier | 2026-10-01 |
| Food Handler Card / Food Safety Manager Certification | Southwest Utah Public Health Department | Food Handler Card $25.00, valid 3 years; duplicate card $5.00. Food Safety Manager Exam Proctor Fee $25.00, including one retake. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026. | 3 years (Food Handler Card); per exam (Food Safety Manager Proctor Fee) | 2026-10-01 |
| Mobile Food Establishment Permit | Southwest Utah Public Health Department | Mobile establishment plan review $380.00 (one-time); primary permit Tier 1 $350.00 a year; primary permit Tier 2 $500.00 a year. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026. | Annual, after a one-time $380.00 plan review for a new unit | 2026-10-01 |
| Food Handler Card | Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services Division | Food handler permit fee of no more than $15, uniform statewide, paid to the local health department under rule R392-103; the approved training provider may also charge its own reasonable training fee, and may collect both at once | 3 years, valid statewide (rule R392-103) | 2026-09-04 |
| Food Service Establishment Permit (local, not state) | Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services Division | No fee | set locally | 2026-09-04 |
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 Washington County Ut
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Business License (Standard) | Washington County Community Development Department | Varies — formula on the Washington County Ut page | Annual, expiring January 31; an application filed after July 1 is prorated to half the annual fee | 2026-10-01 |
| Building Permit and Related Building-Division Feesonly if it applies to you | Washington County Community Development Department | Varies — formula on the Washington County Ut page | One-time, per project; add-on inspection fees are billed per occurrence | 2026-10-01 |
| Zoning / Land Use / Planning Application Feesonly if it applies to you | Washington County Community Development Department | Varies — formula on the Washington County Ut page | Per application | 2026-10-01 |
| Commercial Septic System Permitsonly if it applies to you | Southwest Utah Public Health Department | Varies — formula on the Washington County Ut page | One-time per installation for a conventional system; annual renewal for an alternative/experimental system or a hauler-vehicle permit | 2026-10-01 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
UT registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales and Use Tax License | Utah State Tax Commission | No fee | ongoing — no fixed expiration, with a filing frequency the state assigns and can revisit | 2026-09-04 |
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code | $59 one-time filing | perpetual, but a renewal is due every year | 2026-09-04 |
| Certificate of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code | $59 one-time filing | perpetual, but a renewal is due every year | 2026-09-04 |
| General Business License — Utah State Position (Entity Registration)only if it applies to you | Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code | No fee | set by the city or county | 2026-09-04 |
| Annual Renewalonly if it applies to you | Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code | $18 a year; a late renewal adds $10 | annual — due in the calendar month tied to the entity's own formation anniversary | 2026-09-04 |
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 Washington County Ut?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 14 records listed for a food truck in Washington County Ut, UT, 6 apply to every business of this type and 8 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
8 of the 14 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:
Temporary Food Establishment Permit: Tier/Risk 1 $60.00 (plus $25.00 if applied for on-site); Tier/Risk 2 $85.00 (plus $25.00 if applied for on-site); Seasonal (up to 6 months) Tier 1 $125.00; Tier 2 $180.00. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026.
Food Handler Card / Food Safety Manager Certification: Food Handler Card $25.00, valid 3 years; duplicate card $5.00. Food Safety Manager Exam Proctor Fee $25.00, including one retake. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026.
Mobile Food Establishment Permit: Mobile establishment plan review $380.00 (one-time); primary permit Tier 1 $350.00 a year; primary permit Tier 2 $500.00 a year. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026.
Food Handler Card: Food handler permit fee of no more than $15, uniform statewide, paid to the local health department under rule R392-103; the approved training provider may also charge its own reasonable training fee, and may collect both at once
The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Washington County Ut permits page and the UT state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Washington County Ut?
Permits for a food truck in Washington County Ut, UT come from 5 separate offices: Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Washington County Community Development Department, Utah State Tax Commission, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services Division, Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Southwest Utah Public Health DepartmentIssues 4 permits on this page: Temporary Food Establishment Permit, Food Handler Card / Food Safety Manager Certification, Mobile Food Establishment Permit, Commercial Septic System Permits(435) 673-3528swuhealth.gov/fees
- Washington County Community Development DepartmentIssues 3 permits on this page: General Business License (Standard), Building Permit and Related Building-Division Fees, Zoning / Land Use / Planning Application Fees111 East Tabernacle St., St. George, UT 84770 · (435) 301-7250www.washco.utah.gov/departments/community-development/business-license-information
- Utah State Tax CommissionIssues 1 permit on this page: Sales and Use Tax License210 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84134 · (801) 297-2200tax.utah.gov
- Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services DivisionIssues 2 permits on this page: Food Handler Card, Food Service Establishment Permit (local, not state)4315 South 2700 West, Taylorsville, UT 84129 · (385) 332-1499ag.utah.gov/regulatory-services/retail-food-regulatory-program
- Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial CodeIssues 4 permits on this page: Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Organization (LLC), General Business License — Utah State Position (Entity Registration), Annual Renewal160 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 · (801) 530-4849corporations.utah.gov
What does a food truck need in Washington County Ut that other businesses do not?
Mobile Food Establishment Permit
A food truck or a mobile coffee-shop unit operating anywhere in Washington County needs its own annual permit from SWUPHD: $350.00 a year at Tier 1 or $500.00 a year at Tier 2, per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026, after a one-time $380.00 mobile-establishment plan review for a new unit. A one-off event instead uses the Temporary Food Establishment Permit listed separately. SWUPHD's coverage reaches every part of Washington County, including inside each of the 15 incorporated cities and towns.
Food Service Establishment Permit (local, not state)
No state fee, because a food establishment engaged primarily in service for immediate consumption is placed by the state agriculture department's own published guidance under the jurisdiction of the local health department where it operates, not under the state's own retail food registration. Utah has thirteen local health department jurisdictions, each setting its own fee under a shared statewide minimum sanitation standard. Confirm the figure with the specific local health department rather than assuming a statewide number, because none exists.
Shared with other businesses in Washington County Ut
- Temporary Food Establishment Permit — Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Tier/Risk 1 $60.00 (plus $25.00 if applied for on-site); Tier/Risk 2 $85.00 (plus $25.00 if applied for on-site); Seasonal (up to 6 months) Tier 1 $125.00; Tier 2 $180.00. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026., Per event, or up to 6 months under the seasonal tier. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
- Food Handler Card / Food Safety Manager Certification — Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Food Handler Card $25.00, valid 3 years; duplicate card $5.00. Food Safety Manager Exam Proctor Fee $25.00, including one retake. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026., 3 years (Food Handler Card); per exam (Food Safety Manager Proctor Fee). Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
- Food Handler Card — Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services Division, Food handler permit fee of no more than $15, uniform statewide, paid to the local health department under rule R392-103; the approved training provider may also charge its own reasonable training fee, and may collect both at once, 3 years, valid statewide (rule R392-103). Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
The other 4 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Washington County Ut, UT; what each one involves is set out on the Washington County Ut permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across UT and are covered on the UT state page.
How does a food truck compare with other businesses in Washington County Ut?
The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 5 of these permits. A coffee shop needs Major Home Occupation Business License, County Alcohol Business License, Food Establishment Permit and 3 more, which a food truck does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a food truck | Only a food truck needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Restaurants | 10 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Auto repair shops | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Childcare centres | 4 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| Contractors and trades | 6 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Retail stores | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Salons and barbers | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
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 Washington County Ut permits page and the UT state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Southwest Utah Public Health Department Fee Schedule, effective May 1, 2026Southwest Utah Public Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-02
- Utah Department of Agriculture and Food — retail food regulatory program, splitting jurisdiction between the state and local health departmentsUtah Department of Agriculture and Food · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.