Food Safety Licenses
The Kansas Department of Agriculture issues seven types of food licenses to food businesses. They are Retail Food Store, Food Service in a Retail Food Store, Food Service Establishments (restaurants, schools, senior meal sites, caterers and mobile food units), Food Processor, Ice Cream Truck, Vending Machine Company and Vending Machine Dealer. A business may be required to have more than one license, depending on their operation. The most common combination is a Retail Food Store license and a Food Service in a Retail Food Store license.
In order to issue a license the department must have a passed inspection, a signed license application, and the appropriate fees. The fees include an application fee and an annual license fee.
All licenses expire on December 31 of each year. The department cannot prorate license fees.
For more information visit Food Safety, Egg and Lodging Forms or see below.
Retail Food Store License
A business that offers food intended for consumption off premises needs a Retail Food Store License. Some examples of this type of business are convenience stores, grocery stores, variety stores, and retail butcher shops. The application and license fees are based on the square footage of the facility.
| Square Feet | Application Fee | License Fee | Total Fee 1st Year | Total Fee Subsequent Years |
| Under 5,000 | $50 | $50 | $100 | $50 |
| 5,000-15,000 | $100 | $100 | $200 | $100 |
| Over 15,000 | $150 | $150 | $300 | $150 |
Please contact the program at (785) 296-7430 for more information.
Food Service License in a Stand-Alone Restaurant
A business that prepares or offers food for immediate consumption needs a Food Service Establishment License. These food service establishments include restaurants, school meal sites and kitchens, senior meal sites and kitchens, special events, caterers, and mobile food units. The application fee is $200 and the license fee is $200. The total fee the first year is $400. Subsequent renewals will cost $200.
Food Service License online renewal
Online registration is available November 15th through December 31st to anyone with a current restaurant license.
Please contact the program at (785) 296-7430 for more information.
Food Service in a Retail Food Store License
A business that is located in a retail food store that prepares or offers food for immediate consumption needs a Retail Food Store License. Some examples of this type of business are deli counters, Chinese kitchens, fast food shops, soda fountains and hot dog roller grills. The application fee is $200 and the license fee is $200. The total fee the first year is $400. Subsequent renewals will cost $200.
Please contact the program at (785) 296-7430 for more information.
Food Processor or Food Storage License
Beginning in 2009 the Food Processing and Food Storage Licenses have been divided into two categories. Category one is for facilities that process and store food. Category two is for facilities that only store food. A food processing plant that processes food and stores food will not be required to obtain a separate license for food storage. The total square footage of the facility will be used in determining the license fee for a food processing plant that processes and stores food.
1. Food Processing Plant: Manufacturing, preparing, packaging or labeling includes cooking, canning, extracting, extruding, fermenting, distilling, pickling, freezing, baking, drying, smoking, grinding, cutting, mixing, coating, stuffing, packing, bottling, packaging, or any treatment or preservation process; the receipt and salvaging of distressed food for sale or distribution to other business entities such as food establishments, food warehouses and other food processing plants
| Square Feet | Application Fee | License Fee | Total Fee 1st Year | Total Fee Subsequent Years |
| Under 1,000 | $100 | $80 | $180 | $80 |
| 1,000 to 5,000 | $100 | $135 | $235 | $135 |
| 5,001 to 10,000 | $100 | $190 | $290 | $190 |
| 10,001 to 50,000 | $100 | $245 | $345 | $245 |
| more than 50,000 | $100 | $300 | $400 | $300 |
2. Food Storage Facility: Storing includes any premises, establishment, building, room area, facility, or place, in whole or in part, where food is stored, kept, or held, regardless of whether the food is temperature controlled, for distribution to other wholesalers, to retail food stores, food service establishments, or any other facility which sells or distributes to the ultimate consumer.
| Square Feet | Application Fee | License Fee | Total Fee 1st Year | Total Fee Subsequent Years |
| Under 1,000 | $100 | $50 | $150 | $50 |
| 1,000 to 5,000 | $100 | $75 | $175 | $75 |
| 5,001 to 10,000 | $100 | $105 | $205 | $105 |
| 10,001 to 50,000 | $100 | $140 | $240 | $140 |
| more than 50,000 | $100 | $180 | $280 | $180 |
Please contact the program at (785) 296-7430 for more information.
Ice Cream Truck License
A business that sells commercially prepared, packaged, frozen ice cream and ice cream novelties needs an Ice Cream Truck License. The annual license fee is $5.
Please contact the program at (785) 296-7430 for more information.
Vending Machine Company License
A business that operates vending machines that offer food that requires temperature control for safety needs a Vending Machine Company License. This license has an annual $30 license fee and an additional fee of $3 per vending machine.
Vending machine companies are required to report the location, name brand, and serial number of all vending machines as part of the application. In addition, all newly acquired vending machines must be reported to the department within 10 days and a $2 license fee per new machine must be submitted.
List of Vending Machines (to be used with Vending Machine Company License form above.)
Please contact the program at (785) 296-7430 for more information.
Vending Machine Dealer License
A business that manufactures vending machines that dispense food that requires temperature control for safety needs a Vending Machine Dealer License. The annual license fee is $25.
Vending machine dealers are required to report all vending machine sales to the department monthly. The report must include the name and address of the purchaser, the brand name and serial number of the machine, and its sale price
Please contact the program at (785) 296-7430 for more information.
The 
Kansas Business Center is a one-stop-shop for information and resources that new and existing business owners will need in order to do business in Kansas.