Food Truck Permit Requirements in Aberdeen, SD
Complete permit and license guide for starting a food truck in Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota.
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 stopEIN (Employer Identification Number)
Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.
Official government sourceFreeImmediate (online application)
Free
Immediate (online application)
State of South Dakota
2 stopsSouth Dakota Department of Revenue - Sales Tax License
Any business with a physical presence in South Dakota must be licensed for sales tax collection, and South Dakota taxes services as well as tangible personal property and products transferred electronically. The state sales and use tax rate is 4.2 percent (reduced from 4.5 percent), and municipal sales and use tax of generally 1 to 2 percent applies where the purchaser receives the product or service. Remote sellers and marketplace providers with more than $100,000 in gross sales into South Dakota in the previous or current calendar year must also license and remit. Register using the Department of Revenue's online Tax License Application.
Official government sourceFree - there is no fee for a South Dakota sales tax licenseApply online through the Tax License Application; the license is typically issued within a few business days
Free - there is no fee for a South Dakota sales tax license
Apply online through the Tax License Application; the license is typically issued within a few business days
Certified Food Protection Manager (ARSD 44:02:07:03)
Administrative Rules of South Dakota 44:02:07:03 requires at least one person on staff at a licensed food establishment to have passed an eight-hour food service training and certification program. SD DOH does not run the training itself; it publishes the list of accepted providers, which deliver ANSI/ANAB-CFP accredited Certified Food Protection Manager courses and proctored exams (ServSafe/National Registry, 360training, StateFoodSafety, EduClasses/FMC with Prometric or remote proctoring, FoodSafePal, M&M Biz Solutions, Professional Server Certification Corporation, and Cash-Wa Distributing classes). Exams may be taken online with a remote proctor or at a Pearson VUE test center.
Official government sourceSet by the training provider, not the state. DOH's published examples range from about $100 (Professional Server Certification Corporation: $59.95 online course plus a $40 proctored exam) to about $159 (M&M Biz Solutions with a Pearson VUE or at-home ANSI-approved exam).An eight-hour course plus a proctored exam; online courses are available 24/7 and are commonly completed in one to two days
Set by the training provider, not the state. DOH's published examples range from about $100 (Professional Server Certification Corporation: $59.95 online course plus a $40 proctored exam) to about $159 (M&M Biz Solutions with a Pearson VUE or at-home ANSI-approved exam).
An eight-hour course plus a proctored exam; online courses are available 24/7 and are commonly completed in one to two days
City of Aberdeen / Brown County
3 stopsSouth Dakota Department of Health - Mobile Food Service License
Food trucks operating in Aberdeen are licensed by the South Dakota Department of Health as a mobile food service establishment - Aberdeen and Brown County have no local health department, so the state both licenses and inspects. Operating without the license is a Class 2 misdemeanor (SDCL 34-18-9). Apply through the DOH online food service license application; layout plans must be submitted for approval at least 30 days before construction of a new unit or major renovation of an existing one. Units need a hand-washing sink with hot and cold running water, a plumbed three-compartment sink (waivable for limited-menu foods), a retention tank at least 15% larger than the potable water tank, and mechanical ventilation over cooking equipment. Mobile units must operate from a commissary or other fixed food service establishment unless approved onboard utensil-washing and storage facilities are provided. The license renews annually on or before December 31.
Official government source$38 per year for a mobile food service establishment license (SDCL 34-18-16). Temporary food service licenses are $38 each (SDCL 34-18-17). The one-time $100 initial license fee under SDCL 34-18-10.4 applies to new fixed food service establishments, not mobile units.Submit layout plans at least 30 days before construction or major renovation; the license is issued after plan approval and a passing inspection by your regional Health Protection Advisor
$38 per year for a mobile food service establishment license (SDCL 34-18-16). Temporary food service licenses are $38 each (SDCL 34-18-17). The one-time $100 initial license fee under SDCL 34-18-10.4 applies to new fixed food service establishments, not mobile units.
Submit layout plans at least 30 days before construction or major renovation; the license is issued after plan approval and a passing inspection by your regional Health Protection Advisor
No Aberdeen General Business License Required
Aberdeen does not issue a general business license. The City Finance Office (Auditor Division, 605-626-7023) issues licenses only for a specific enumerated list of activities: ambulance driver, ambulance service, garbage hauler, community event, day care, junk dealer, lottery notice, mobile home park, pawn broker, street use, shooting gallery, special event alcohol, taxi/motorbus company, taxi/motorbus driver, transient merchant/solicitor, and alcohol. Trades such as plumbing, HVAC, and pest control are not on that list and need no city business license. Their state-level licensing applies instead: plumbing through the SD Plumbing Commission, pesticide application through SD DANR, and there is no statewide HVAC or mechanical contractor license. A South Dakota sales tax license from the Department of Revenue is still required.
Official government source$0 - no general business license existsN/A - no application
$0 - no general business license exists
N/A - no application
Commissary or Fixed Food Establishment Requirement (Mobile Food Units)
South Dakota does require this. The Department of Health's Mobile Food Service guidelines state that mobile food service establishments shall operate from a commissary or other fixed food service establishment, and that this requirement may be waived only if approved utensil-washing and adequate storage facilities are provided onboard the unit. Menu items are reviewed individually against the facilities available on the unit. Related construction requirements include a plumbed three-compartment sink with drainboard (exempt for limited-menu foods such as non-potentially-hazardous items and frankfurters if a plumbed hand sink and one or two dispensing utensils are used), a hand-washing sink with hot and cold running water, a water heater, and a liquid waste retention tank at least 15% larger than the potable water tank. Layout plans must be submitted to DOH for approval at least 30 days before construction or major renovation. Aberdeen and Brown County have no local health department, so DOH reviews and inspects.
Official government sourceNo government fee - the commissary requirement itself costs nothing to satisfy. Any rental or use fee for a commercial kitchen is set privately by that facility and varies widely; there is no published or regulated rate.Arrange the commissary or approved onboard facilities before submitting layout plans, which are due to SD DOH at least 30 days before construction or major renovation of the unit
No government fee - the commissary requirement itself costs nothing to satisfy. Any rental or use fee for a commercial kitchen is set privately by that facility and varies widely; there is no published or regulated rate.
Arrange the commissary or approved onboard facilities before submitting layout plans, which are due to SD DOH at least 30 days before construction or major renovation of the unit
Terminus
Open for business — est. $600–$1,500 · 3–6 weeks to obtain all permits and pass inspections
Want this mapped to your exact business and structure, in filing order?
Official Sources
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