Food Truck Permits in Hawaii
Last verified against official sources on by Amrit. How we verify
Yes. In Hawaii a food truck needs a food establishment permit from the state Department of Health (DOH), which handles food safety for every island. Every truck must work from a permitted support kitchen (a licensed kitchen you use as your base), and you send DOH a plan of the truck before you build or buy it. You also need a General Excise Tax license and any county license where you sell, such as Honolulu's peddler's license.[1][2][10]
At a glance
| Permit needed | Yes. A food establishment permit from the state Department of Health, unless you sell only prepackaged shelf-stable food or whole, uncut produce.[1][2] |
|---|---|
| Who issues it | The DOH Food Safety Branch office for your island (Oahu, Hilo, Kona, Maui/Molokai/Lanai or Kauai). Your permit is based on the address of your main support kitchen.[2][7] |
| Permit fee | $100, $200 or $300 a year, depending on how many kinds of food handling the truck does (its risk category).[1] |
| Plan review fee | $200 for a mobile unit of 1,000 square feet or less. No fee if you sell prepackaged food only.[1] |
| Support kitchen | Required for every truck. It must hold its own DOH permit; home kitchens are not allowed.[2] |
| Training | The person in charge must pass a food safety course. DOH runs a free food handler class, and ANSI-accredited courses also count. DOH's certificate lasts 3 years.[1][6] |
| Renewal | Every year. A permit is valid for one year, and a late renewal costs an extra 20% of the annual fee.[1] |
| Tax | A General Excise Tax (GET) license from the Hawaii Department of Taxation, a one-time $20 fee.[9] |
| Local rules | Each county adds its own. In Honolulu you need a city peddler's license, and you can't sell on public streets or in public places in Waikiki.[10] |
Step by step
Do these in order. Each step links to the official form or page.
Line up a support kitchen
Every food truck in Hawaii must have a support kitchen: a DOH-permitted food establishment that backs up your truck with things like cleaning, storage, food prep, cooking, water supply and waste water disposal. You can share one with another business. If it isn't already permitted to you, it needs its own permit, and you and the kitchen's owner both sign DOH's Support Kitchen Use Agreement. Ask the sanitarian (DOH inspector) who inspects that kitchen whether it will work for you. If the kitchen uses a septic system instead of a public sewer, DOH's Wastewater Branch must approve it too.[2][1][5]
Send DOH your truck plans before you build or buy
Submit an Application for Plan Review with drawings of the truck: a top-down floor layout and side views, with dimensions or drawn to scale, showing the equipment, water supply and waste water system. You can build or buy the truck once the plans are approved. A truck that handles open food needs a hand sink with soap and paper towels and at least 5 gallons of water for handwashing. The waste water tank must be 15% bigger than the fresh water tank, and all equipment must be fixed to the unit.[2][1][4]
Take a food safety class
The person in charge of the truck must pass a food safety course, and at least one certified person must be on the truck whenever it is open. DOH's food handler class is free; on Oahu it runs in person and by Zoom, and the other islands have Zoom classes. ANSI-accredited online courses from other providers also count, though they may charge. DOH's certificate is good for 3 years.[1][6][7]
Apply for the food establishment permit and pass inspection
Send the Application for Food Establishment Permit to the DOH office for your island, with the fee. On the form, mobile units give the support kitchen's address. The fee depends on your menu and how many kinds of food handling you do on the truck: $300 for six to eight, $200 for three to five, $100 for two or fewer. Both the truck and the support kitchen must pass an inspection before you can open. Fees are not refunded if you don't qualify.[2][3][1]
Get a General Excise Tax license
Register with the Hawaii Department of Taxation using Form BB-1, online at Hawaii Tax Online or on paper. The GET license is a one-time $20 fee. Online filing takes about 5-7 days; paper takes 4-6 weeks.[9]
Get your county license and check where you can park
Your DOH permit covers food safety only, and counties can add their own licenses and parking rules. In Honolulu, for example, you need a city peddler's license from the Business License Office, and the vehicle must be registered, safety-inspected and insured. Ask your county before you start selling.[10]
Renew every year
A permit lasts one year. DOH mails renewal invoices, and you can pay online. Pay before the permit expires: late renewals cost an extra 20% of the annual fee, and DOH won't renew a permit while you owe fines.[1][7]
Local rules
These places add their own requirements on top of the state rules.
- Honolulu (Oahu): You need a City and County of Honolulu peddler's license. Where there's no posted time limit, you can park for up to three hours; otherwise follow the sign and the meters. You can't sell on public streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches or other public places in the Waikiki Special Design District, in city parks or beaches without a city concession or permit, or in a school zone while school is in session.[10]
What it costs
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Send DOH your truck plans before you build or buy | $200 (for a unit of 1,000 sq ft or less; no fee if prepackaged food only) |
| Take a food safety class | Free (DOH class is free; other approved courses may charge) |
| Apply for the food establishment permit and pass inspection | $100 to $300 (per year, by risk category: $100, $200 or $300) |
| Get a General Excise Tax license | $20 (one-time) |
| Get your county license and check where you can park | Set by each county |
| Total if every fee applies to you | $320 to $520 |
Not included in the total because the fee is set locally: Get your county license and check where you can park.
Recent changes
- : Hawaii's updated Food Safety Code (HAR Chapter 11-50) took effect. It adopts most of the 2022 FDA Food Code, and every food establishment, food trucks included, must now tell customers about allergens in its food through labels or signs. Hawaii did not adopt the FDA rule requiring a Certified Food Protection Manager.[7][8]
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my home kitchen as my support kitchen?
No. A support kitchen must be a DOH-permitted food establishment, and the rules say a private home kitchen can't be one.[1][2]
Can I share a commercial kitchen with other food trucks?
Yes. Support kitchens may be shared, but check with the DOH sanitarian who inspects that kitchen first. If you lose access to the kitchen, or it loses its permit, you have to stop operating.[2][5]
How much does a Hawaii food truck permit cost?
The DOH permit is $100, $200 or $300 a year, depending on how much food handling the truck does. Add $200 for plan review and a one-time $20 for the GET license. County licenses are extra.[1][9]
Do I need a permit if I only sell drinks and snacks?
Not from DOH, if everything is prepackaged and doesn't need refrigeration (bottled water, canned sodas, chips, candy) or is whole, uncut fruit and vegetables. You still need a GET license and any county license.[2][10]
Can I sell from my food truck in Waikiki?
Not on public streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches or other public places in the Waikiki Special Design District. Elsewhere in Honolulu you need a peddler's license and must follow parking limits, and city parks, beaches and school zones during school hours are also off limits.[10]
How long does the DOH have to decide on my application?
If DOH doesn't act on a complete application within 30 days, it counts as approved, as long as you acted in good faith and sent everything DOH asked for.[1]
Will my food truck get a health placard?
It can. After an inspection DOH may post a green, yellow or red placard showing how you did, and it must stay where customers can see it.[1]
Sources
- Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 50, Food Safety Code (amended and compiled, eff. 2025-08-24), Hawaii Department of Health. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Procedures for Operation of a Mobile Food Establishment (10/2015), Hawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Application for Food Establishment Permit (Oahu, 08/2021), Hawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Application for Plan Review (Oahu), Hawaii Department of Health, Sanitation Branch. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Support Kitchen Use Agreement (10/2019), Hawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Food Safety Education, Hawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Food Safety Branch, Hawaii Department of Health. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Highlights of Approved Amendments to HAR Title 11, Chapter 50, Food Safety Code (2025-08-24), Hawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch. Checked October 25, 2026.
- General Excise Tax (GET) Information, Hawaii Department of Taxation. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Food Truck Information and Resources, City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services. Checked October 25, 2026.
Related
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change. Before you apply or start selling, confirm the details with Hawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch or your local health department. Spotted something wrong or out of date?Report it and we will check it.