Food Truck Permit Requirements in St. Louis, MO

Complete permit and license guide for starting a food truck in St. Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri.

Verified 2026-09-02 6 stops $600–$1,500 est. 3–6 weeks to obtain all permits and pass inspections
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Missouri

2 stops

  1. Missouri Department of Revenue — Sales Tax License

    Required for all businesses selling taxable goods in Missouri. The state rate is 4.225%; local rates vary by city and county. Register online with the Missouri Department of Revenue.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

  2. Missouri Department of Health — Food Safety Manager Certification

    Missouri's state Food Code (19 CSR 20-1.025) does not require a Certified Food Protection Manager; the person in charge must be able to demonstrate food-safety knowledge, and an ANSI-accredited CFPM certificate is one accepted way to do that. Several local health departments (including Kansas City) impose their own food manager/handler permit requirements — check the local health code.

    Official government source

    $80–$1501–2 days

City of St. Louis / St. Louis City

3 stops

  1. City of St. Louis — Food Truck Permits (Health Permit + Street Department Vending Permit)

    Food trucks in the City of St. Louis need two permits: (1) a permanent food permit from the City Department of Health — mobile units must provide a letter of agreement from a commissary and its most recent inspection report, and pass inspection (fees are not published online; confirm with the Food and Beverage Control Program, 314-657-1539); and (2) a motorized food truck vending permit from the Street Department, which requires the business license, health permit, fire safety certification, and liability insurance naming the City.

    Official government source

    $500/year or $125/quarter (Street Department vending permit) plus Health Department permit fees (confirm with the department)2–4 weeks after application and inspection

  2. City of St. Louis License Collector — Business License

    St. Louis City is an independent city (not part of St. Louis County) and requires a Graduated Business License (GBL) from the License Collector's Office before commencing business. The license must be renewed annually; renewal applications and payment are due before June 1 to avoid penalties.

    Official government source

    $200 initial fee ($100 if starting between January 1 and May 31); annual renewal is graduated by number of St. Louis employees, from $200 (0-2 employees) up to $37,5001–3 weeks

  3. Commissary Agreement

    City of St. Louis mobile food units must submit a letter of agreement from a commissary plus a copy of the commissary most recent inspection report with the Permanent Food Permit application. An occupancy permit is not required for mobile units. A commissary is a licensed commercial kitchen used for food prep, storage, and cleaning.

    Official government source

    No city fee for the agreement itself; commissary rental is a private cost that varies by operatorArranged before permit application

Terminus

Open for business — est. $600–$1,500 · 3–6 weeks to obtain all permits and pass inspections

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