Richland County, SC Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Classification
- NAICS 722330, Mobile Food Services
- Rate class
- 9.94
- Base license fee
- $40.00
- Incremental rate
- $3.00
- License period
- May 1 through April 30
Summary
Richland County treats mobile food trucks as a licensed business under NAICS 722330, Mobile Food Services, Rate Class 9.94, requiring a county business license before operating anywhere in the unincorporated area. The license carries a $40 base fee plus $3.00 per unit of the classification's measured base before renewal each May.
9.94 722330 Mobile Food Services $40.00 $3.00 ... Sec. 16-6. Registration Required. (1) The owner, agent, or legal representative of each business subject to this article, whether listed in the classification index or not, shall register the business and make application for a business license on or before the due date of each year. A new business license shall be required to have a business license prior to operation within any unincorporated area of the county.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-24: This supplement is current through Ordinance No. 033-25HR).
Full Breakdown
00 incremental rate (Sec. 16-5(5)). within the unincorporated areas of the county is required to submit a completed application for a business license' (Sec. 16-1). The registration application must include the applicant's Social Security number or federal employer ID, South Carolina retail license number if applicable, and the business name as it appears to the public (Sec. 16-6(2)). No business license issues until the applicant has obtained every other license or permit required by the county or state, paid all associated fees, and shown the premises or operation complies with applicable state and local health, fire, zoning and building regulations (Sec.
16-6(4), (5)). Vehicles used to travel between job or vending sites are also subject to the county's separate decal system for business vehicles. Licenses run May 1 to April 30 each year, and fees are recalculated on the operator's prior-year or projected gross income under the standard business license formula in Sec. 16-4.
Violations & Fines
Operating a mobile food unit in unincorporated Richland County without the required business license, or submitting a false license application, is a misdemeanor under Sec. 16-8 and the Code's general penalty section, punishable by a fine up to $500, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both, with each day of unlicensed operation treated as a separate offense (Sec. 16-22(a), Sec. 1-8). Unpaid license fees also draw a 5 percent monthly civil penalty (Sec. 16-22(b)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a food truck need a business license in unincorporated Richland County?
How much does a Richland County mobile food license cost?
What must a food truck operator show before getting licensed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richland County
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