Food Truck Permit Requirements in Rapid City, SD

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

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

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. South 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 source

   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

   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

2. 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 source

   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

   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

1. South Dakota Department of Health - Mobile Food Service License

   Food trucks operating in Rapid City are licensed by the South Dakota Department of Health as a mobile food service establishment - neither Pennington County nor Rapid City operates a 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. Units need a hand-washing sink with hot and cold running water, a plumbed three-compartment sink with drainboard (waivable for limited-menu foods), a liquid waste 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

2. City of Rapid City - No General Business License for Most Businesses

   Rapid City does not require a general business license. The city's own licensing page states that the Finance Office requires a business license only for these types: Adult Oriented Business, Central Station Service, Ice Cream Vendor, Pawn / Precious Metals and Gems / Second Hand, Refuse Hauling, Security, Sidewalk Vending, Taxi, Transportation Network, or Alcohol Related Business/Event (Finance Office, 605-394-4143). It adds explicitly that if you do not have one of these businesses, the Finance Office does not require you to have a business license through their office, and refers other business licensing questions to the Department of Revenue at 605-394-2332. Contractor licenses, building permits, plan review, inspections, and air quality permits are handled separately by Building Services at 605-394-4120. A South Dakota sales tax license from the Department of Revenue is required and is free.

   Official government source

   $0 for most businesses - no general business license exists. A license fee applies only to the enumerated categories above; contact the Finance Office at 605-394-4143 for those amounts.·N/A for most businesses - there is nothing to file. For an enumerated license type, contact the Finance Office at 605-394-4143.

   $0 for most businesses - no general business license exists. A license fee applies only to the enumerated categories above; contact the Finance Office at 605-394-4143 for those amounts.

   N/A for most businesses - there is nothing to file. For an enumerated license type, contact the Finance Office at 605-394-4143.

3. 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. DOH does not publish a requirement that a signed commissary agreement be filed with the application; the commissary arrangement is verified as part of plan review and inspection, so confirm the exact documentation with your regional Health Protection Advisor. 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 provided), 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. Neither Pennington County nor Rapid City operates a health department, so SD DOH performs the plan review and inspection.

   Official government source

   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, so treat any dollar range as an unverified market estimate.·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, so treat any dollar range as an unverified market estimate.

   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

Official Sources

• Rapid City / Pennington County Health Department
• South Dakota Department of Revenue — Sales Tax License

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