Food Truck Permit Requirements in Bismarck, ND

Complete permit and license guide for starting a food truck in Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota.

Verified 2026-09-07 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 North Dakota

2 stops

  1. North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner — Sales and Use Tax Permit

    Required for any business selling taxable goods or services in North Dakota. The state sales tax rate is 5% for most retail sales, and cities and counties may levy additional local sales and use taxes that vary by location — check the Tax Commissioner’s local tax rate listings for your address. Apply for the permit in ND TAP, the state’s Taxpayer Access Point.

    Official government source

    FreeApply through ND TAP at least 30 days before you open for business, as the Tax Commissioner advises.

  2. Certified Food Protection Manager (recommended, not required)

    A Certified Food Protection Manager is not required by the North Dakota Food Code. ND Health and Human Services states: "A CFPM is not a requirement of the North Dakota Food Code but may be required in some areas of the state," and recommends that each establishment have at least one supervisor or manager certified. If you pursue it, use an ANSI-accredited program and check with your city or county public health agency for any local requirement.

    Official government source

    $80–$150 for an ANSI-accredited course and exam, if you choose to certify1–2 days

City of Bismarck / Burleigh County

3 stops

  1. Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health — Mobile Food Unit License

    Food trucks, trailers, and pushcarts operating in Bismarck are licensed and inspected by the Environmental Health Division of Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health; Burleigh County has no separate food licensing office. It is unlawful to operate a food establishment in Bismarck without a city food license. You submit plans and a menu for plan review first, the unit is classed as Mobile Food Unit 1 (Level 1 menu) or Mobile Food Unit 2 (Level 2 or 3 menu), and the unit is inspected before the license is issued. Licenses renew annually.

    Official government source

    The license fee is set by the assigned Mobile Food Unit category and is quoted to you when plan review is complete; the city does not publish a flat annual figure.Plan review generally takes 7-10 days, after which the fee is quoted and the pre-opening inspection is scheduled.

  2. No General Business License in Bismarck

    The City of Bismarck states plainly that it does not presently have a general business license. Certain occupations do require a license or permit specific to that use — building permits, food service, gaming, liquor sales, excavation and concrete work, taxi operations, and Fire Department permits among them — and the State of North Dakota licenses some occupations separately. Check whether your specific activity is regulated rather than assuming a general license applies. There is no City Clerk business license.

    Official government source

    No fee — Bismarck issues no general business license. Activity-specific permits carry their own fees.Not applicable

  3. Commissary / Servicing Area Agreement

    North Dakota's Mobile Food Unit Plan Review Manual requires a mobile food unit to work from an approved commissary or servicing area — a licensed commercial kitchen used for food prep, storage and cleaning — documented by a signed Commissary/Servicing Area Agreement filed with the license application. The regulatory authority may waive it for a fully self-contained unit after a plan-review risk assessment. In Bismarck the licensing and plan review authority is Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health's Environmental Health Division.

    Official government source

    Commissary rental is a private arrangement between you and the kitchen owner, not a government fee; no rate is published, so get quotes from local licensed kitchens.Arrange before submitting your plan review application

Terminus

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

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