Washington
Public Health — Seattle & King County issues the Mobile Food Unit operating permit. 2026 annual fees depend on risk category. New units also pay a plan-review fee. You will likely also need a City of Seattle business license if you operate in the city — confirm that fee with the City; it is not quoted here.
Last checked 2026-11-09 (America/New_York).
Amounts below come from the linked official pages or PDFs. If a figure could not be confirmed, we say so and do not invent one.
| Item | Amount | Term and source |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Food Unit annual permit — Risk 1 Risk category is assigned by Public Health based on the complexity of the food you serve. Confirm your risk level with the department rather than self-assigning. |
$630 | Permit year runs April 1 through March 31. First-year fees are prorated if you start mid-year (100% on/after April 1 and before July 1; 75% on/after July 1 and before October 1; 50% on/after October 1 and before January 1; 25% on/after January 1 and before April 1). Seasonal discounts also exist if you operate fewer than 12 months. King County Food & Facilities Program Fees — 2026 PDF |
| Mobile Food Unit annual permit — Risk 2 Confirm risk category with Public Health. |
$1,008 | April 1–March 31, with the same proration rules King County Food & Facilities Program Fees — 2026 PDF |
| Mobile Food Unit annual permit — Risk 3 Confirm risk category with Public Health. |
$1,260 | April 1–March 31, with the same proration rules King County Food & Facilities Program Fees — 2026 PDF |
| New construction plan review (base fee) New construction plan review is billed as a 4-hour base fee of $1,008, plus $252 per hour after 4 hours. Remodel and other plan-review types have different base hours (see the official fee PDF). |
$1,008 | Plan review (plus hourly overage) King County Food & Facilities Program Fees — 2026 PDF |
Use the county’s Mobile Food Unit Plan Review and Permitting Guide and application. New construction plan review starts at a $1,008 (4-hour) base, then $252/hour. Changes to mobile and limited food service establishments are listed at $504 plus $252/hour after 2 hours. Do not invent a risk category — the department assigns it from your menu and processes.
King County publishes educational resources and a way to look up commissary kitchens. Confirm that your kitchen is approved to service a mobile food unit, and budget for a $25 commissary-change fee if you switch kitchens later (published in the 2026 miscellaneous fees).
2026 annual fees are $630 (Risk 1), $1,008 (Risk 2), or $1,260 (Risk 3). Ask Public Health which risk category applies. Watch the April 1–March 31 permit year and the official proration table if you open mid-year.
A King County health permit is not the same as a city business license. Confirm requirements and fees with the City of Seattle or the city where you vend. Those fees are not quoted here.
If you use propane, a generator, or a hood/suppression system, check with Seattle Fire Department (or the fire authority for the city where you operate). Fees are not listed in the King County food-establishment fee PDF and are not quoted here.
Other 2026 fees in the official PDF include a $10 food and beverage worker’s license, late fees of 10/20/30% of the annual permit, and a $25 facility name-change fee.
Commercial commissary kitchen annual permit is listed at $441 (Risk 1) in the same 2026 PDF — relevant if you will operate or contract with a commissary.
Map pins use OpenStreetMap. Listings are not a complete official directory.
4634 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98134
Shared commercial kitchen. Confirm with Public Health — Seattle & King County that the location is an approved commissary for your mobile food unit.
Last checked 2026-11-09. Confirm availability and whether the kitchen can sign your official commissary paperwork.
5604 Delridge Way Southwest, Seattle, WA 98106
Large shared commissary kitchen. Confirm King County approval and truck-servicing capacity.
Last checked 2026-11-09. Confirm availability and whether the kitchen can sign your official commissary paperwork.
This page is not affiliated with Seattle or the agencies above. It is a practical summary by Thirty and Beyond, LLC. Confirm current rules before you spend money or start construction.
