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

Mobile Food Unit Plan Review and Pre-Op Inspection

A food truck or other mobile food unit in Kitsap County goes through plan review with the Kitsap Public Health District before it operates. Per the 2026 fees in Kitsap Public Health Board Resolution 2025-06 (Environmental Health Division Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026), the 'Mobile Units' line under 'Plan Review and Pre-Op Inspections' is $995. This is a plan review fee, not the operating permit. KPHD's Mobile Unit Plan Review Packet states that a mobile unit needs 'to obtain either a Temporary Food Service Establishment Permit or a Permanent Food Service Establishment Permit': the temporary permit covers operating 'In one location for up to 21 days in a row in conjunction with a single public event OR in multiple locations up to three days per week in conjunction with public events', and the permanent permit covers a fixed location or multiple sales sites for one year. A food truck on a permanent permit therefore pays this $995 plan review plus the annual Low Risk ($340) or High Risk ($800) permit. The packet also calls for Washington Department of Labor and Industries approval of the unit before the KPHD pre-opening inspection. These are the 2026 fees; the Board sets each year's schedule by resolution. Call Environmental Health at 360-728-2235.

Permanent Food Establishment Annual Permit (Low Risk or High Risk class)

A restaurant, coffee shop, grocery or other permanent food establishment anywhere in Kitsap County, including Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Port Orchard and Poulsbo, needs an annual food establishment permit from the Kitsap Public Health District, which its mission page describes as 'a local government agency serving all of Kitsap County and its cities.' Per the 2026 fees in Kitsap Public Health Board Resolution 2025-06 (Environmental Health Division Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026, approved at the Board's Nov. 4, 2025 meeting), the annual permit is $340 for the Low Risk Class and $800 for the High Risk Class. KPHD FOOD Policy 2026-01 (effective 01/01/2026) sets the class: Low Risk applies when food handling activities 'do not exceed the following processes: 1. Preparation and service of cold-held foods 2. Heating for immediate service of commercially prepared, fully cooked foods', and includes bakeries limited to shelf-stable foods; High Risk applies when activities 'include one or more of the following processes: 1. Hot holding of TCS foods 2. Cooking raw animal proteins to destroy pathogens 3. Cooling of TCS foods'. Footnote 16 of the schedule adds a late penalty of 1% of the fee per day for up to 30 days, after which the establishment is subject to closure. Reinspections are $165 with a site visit and $95 without. KPHD's Mobile Unit Plan Review Packet states that a food truck operating at a fixed location or multiple sales sites holds this permanent permit, which 'allows you to operate for one year and is renewed annually'. Plan review is charged separately. These are the 2026 fees; the Board sets each year's schedule by resolution. Call Environmental Health at 360-728-2235.

Temporary Food Establishment Permit (single or recurring event)

A food truck, restaurant or coffee business serving food at a fair, festival or other public event in Kitsap County needs a temporary food establishment permit from the Kitsap Public Health District. Per the 2026 fees in Kitsap Public Health Board Resolution 2025-06 (Environmental Health Division Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026): a single event permit is $110 for a Limited menu and $165 for a Complex menu; a recurring event permit is $130 Limited and $240 Complex; permit-exempt food is listed at no charge. KPHD FOOD Policy 2026-02 (effective 01/01/2026) defines the menus: Limited when activities 'do not exceed' preparation and service of cold-held foods (excluding any raw animal proteins), heating for immediate service of commercially prepared, fully cooked foods, and hot holding of commercially prepared, fully cooked foods; Complex when they include hot holding of TCS foods, raw animal proteins for immediate consumption, cooking raw animal proteins to destroy pathogens or cooling of TCS foods. The policy states that recurring event permits 'expire at the end of the recurring event, or 1 year from issuance.' Footnote 20 of the resolution states that single event permits 'are good for a maximum of 21 days in one location', that applications and fees are due 'fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the event', that 'There is a 25% permit fee surcharge for applications submitted from 13 to 2 days prior to an event', and that 'No permit will be issued less than 2 business days prior to an event.' These are the 2026 fees; the Board sets each year's schedule by resolution. Call Environmental Health at 360-728-2235.

Shared with other businesses in Kitsap County

• Food Establishment Permit — Washington State Department of Health, Food Safety Program, $240–$1,386 a year, set by the local health jurisdiction — there is no state fee, annual, on a cycle the local jurisdiction sets. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Food Worker Card — Washington State Department of Health, Food Safety Program, $10 per card, 2 years first time, 3 on renewal, 5 with extra food safety training. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.