Fee is keyed to square footage, not sales. The 'food establishment' license category covers restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, delicatessens, bars, caterers, and mobile food units. Statute (K.S.A. 65-688) caps the application fee at $350; KDA's charged application fee is $200.
KDA is the primary licensor/inspector of mobile food units statewide; Shawnee County does not license them. The City of Topeka additionally requires a local vendor/business permit (recently $300, expiring Dec 31; schedule in Topeka Municipal Code 14.55 - confirm current amount with the City Clerk).
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery / market with deli | Food establishment license by floor area: up to $250 (<5,000 sq ft), up to $300 (5,000-9,999), up to $500 (10,000-49,999), up to $750 (50,000+); plus one-time $200 application fee | KDA licenses groceries under the same square-footage food establishment schedule as restaurants (K.S.A. 65-688 caps). |
| Bakery / food processing | Food establishment license by floor area: up to $250 (<5,000 sq ft) through up to $750 (50,000+ sq ft); plus one-time $200 application fee | Retail bakeries/delis licensed under the same KDA square-footage schedule; wholesale food processing may require a separate KDA food-processing license. |
| Bar / limited food service | Food establishment license by floor area (up to $250-$750 by sq ft); plus one-time $200 application fee | Bars/drinking establishments serving food fall under the KDA food establishment license; liquor licensing is separate. |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | Mobile food unit licensed as a food establishment: $200 initial application + annual license (typically smallest tier, up to $250/yr) | KDA is the statewide licensor of mobile units; City of Topeka also requires a separate local vendor permit (Municipal Code 14.55, recently $300). |