To sell any food or beverage, you need to contact several agencies to find out what you need to do. Most agencies have an information specialist who can answer your specific questions. Which agencies you need to contact will depend on your particular business.

	Public Health - Seattle & King County
	Washington State Liquor Control Board
	Building Departments
	Street usage requirements
	Sewer availability
	Fire Departments
	Business licensing agencies
	Taxes

If you have any questions about preparing your food plans, contact the Plans Examiner serving the area where your food establishment will be sited:

Additional phone numbers:

• Food Establishment Permits: 206-296-4632
  
• Food Worker Permit Information: 206-296-4791
  
• For Temporary Food Permits call your district health office where your food establishment is located.

Permits are needed to sell any alcoholic beverage.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board is responsible for issuing alcohol server permits through their website at www.liq.wa.gov/license.asp

You may need to contact your local building department to discuss issues such as zoning and building occupancy requirements, plan review, inspections, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, ventilation, etc.

See list of building department contacts below:

• City of Seattle
  Department of Planning and Development (DPD)
  720 2nd Avenue
  Seattle, WA 98104
  206-684-8850
  > Web: www.seattle.gov/dpd
  
  
• Unincorporated King County
  King County Building Department
  900 Oaksdale Ave. SW
  Renton, WA 98055
  206-296-6600
  > Web: www.metrokc.gov/ddes
  
  
• Suburban Cities and Towns in King County
  Look in the Blue Pages of the telephone book for your city (can be found under City Hall, City Clerk, etc.) or, if unavailable, contact the King County Building Department at 206-296-6600.
  > Find your city or town's web address listed at: www.statelocalgov.net/state-wa.htm#City
  
  
• Washington State Motor Vehicles and
  Labor & Industries Approval
  PO Box 44430
  Olympia, WA
  Phone: 360-902-4959
  > Motor Vehicles web: www.dol.wa.gov
  > Labor and Industries web: www.lni.wa.gov

For issues involving street use permits for mobile food carts and sidewalk cafes:

• City of Seattle
  Street Use Division
  700 - 5th Avenue, Suite 3700 (Key Tower)
  Seattle, WA 98104
  206-684-5253
  > Web: www.ci.seattle.wa.us/transportation/stuse_home.htm
  
  
• Unincorporated King County
  King County Property Services
  King County Administration Building, 5th Floor
  500 4th Ave
  Seattle, WA 98104
  206-296-7456
  > Web: www.metrokc.gov/psd
  
  
• Suburban Cities and Towns in King County
  Look in the Blue Pages of the telephone book for your city (can be found under City Hall, City Clerk, etc.) or, if unavailable, contact the King County Building Department at 206-296-6600.
  > Find your city or town's web address listed at: www.statelocalgov.net/state-wa.htm#City

• City of Seattle
  Seattle Public Utilities
  700 - 5th Avenue, Suite 3100 (Key Tower)
  Seattle, WA 98104
  206-684-7774
  > Web: www.ci.seattle.wa.us/util
  
  
• Outside Seattle
  Contact your local sewer district.
  > Find your city or town's web address listed at: www.statelocalgov.net/state-wa.htm#City
  
  
• Septic Tanks
  If your food business will be on a septic tank, you will need approval from the King County Sewage Review Board. Call our Eastgate Public Health Office at 206-296-4920 for assistance.
  > Learn more from Public Health's Wastewater homepage: www.metrokc.gov/health/wastewater

For fire prevention, plan review, inspections, etc. contact your local Fire Marshal:

• City of Seattle
  Fire Department
  229 3rd Ave. S.
  Seattle, WA 98104
  206-386-1443
  > Web: www.cityofseattle.net/fire/home.htm

• Unincorporated King County
  King County Building Department
  900 Oaksdale Ave. SW
  Renton, WA 98055
  206-296-6600
  For new construction, call: 206-296-6615
  > Web: www.metrokc.gov/ddes
  
  
• Suburban Cities and Towns in King County
  Look in the Blue Pages of the telephone book for your city (can be found under City Hall, City Clerk, etc.) or, if unavailable, contact the King County Building Department at 206-296-6600.
  > Find your city or town's web address listed at: www.statelocalgov.net/state-wa.htm#City

• Seattle Revenue and Consumer Affairs (Where to obtain business licenses for establishments in Seattle)
  700 Fifth Ave., Suite 4250
  Seattle, WA 98104-5020
  206-684-8484
  > Web: www.ci.seattle.wa.us/rca/licenses/Licmain.htm
  
  
• Unincorporated King County
  King County government does not require a separate business license for establishments in unincorporated King County however you will need the appropriate food service permits from the Health Departrment to legally operate your food business. Go back to the Food Business Information webpage for more information.
  
  
• Master Business License from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
  
  • Seattle: 206-281-5495
  • Bellevue: 425-990-1400
  • Tukwila: 206-248-8240

> Web: www.lni.wa.gov/home/StartRunBusiness.htm

• Washington State Department of Revenue
  State Business and Occupation Tax, Retail Sales Tax and Use Tax . (toll-free): 1-800-647-7706
  > Web: http://dor.wa.gov
  
  
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  Income tax withholding tables, withholding and Social Security taxes.
  
  912 Second Avenue
  Seattle, WA 98104
  206-442-1040
  > Web: www.irs.gov
  
  
• Washington State Employment Security Department
  
  • North King County
    8746 Mary Avenue NW
    Seattle, WA 98117
    206-545-6518
    
    
  • South King County
    8830 25th Avenue SW
    Seattle, WA 98106
    206-764-4290
    
    
  • Eastside
    14711 NE 29th Place
    Redmond, WA 98080
    425-739-1765

> Web: www.wa.gov/esd

• Washington State Department of Licensing
  360-664-1400
  > Web: www.dol.wa.gov
  
  
• Small Business Administration (Federal), Seattle District Office
  360-664-1400
  > Web: www.sba.gov/wa/seattle
  
  
• Washington State Office of Community Development
  360-725-2800
  > Web: www.ocd.wa.gov