Commercial Compliance Hub
Check requirements

Merced County

Merced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental Health

In short

Merced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental Health issues 6 permits we publish for Merced County, last verified 2026-10-23. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Public Pool / Spa Health Permitonly if it applies to youMerced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental HealthAnnual local fees: Public Pool (year-round) $888/year; Public Pool (seasonal) $442/year; each additional pool per site or facility $197/year. New pool plan check $649 each (5.5-hour minimum); renovation plan check $354 each. State surcharges are added separately.annual2026-10-23
Retail Food Facility Health PermitMerced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental HealthAnnual local fees, by the schedule's labels. Food Facility with food preparation (i.e. restaurants, delicatessens): 0 - 49 seats $550; 50 - 149 seats $770; ≥150 seats $944. Bar $590; Bakery $590. Retail Market (grocery store): <300 sq. ft. (Pre-packaged, non-hazardous food) $40; <2,000 sq. ft. $442; 2,001 - 6,000 sq. ft. $590; 6,001 - 15,000 sq. ft. $888; 15,001-30,000 sq. ft. $1,245; >30,001 sq. ft. $1,459. Plan check: prepackaged food / equipment remodel $295 each (2.5-hour minimum); unpackaged food, food preparation $826 each (7-hour minimum); each additional hour at the schedule's hourly rate of $118. State surcharges are added separately.annual2026-10-23
Mobile Food Facility Health PermitMerced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental HealthAnnual local fees, by the schedule's labels: Basic Cart (packaged non-potentially hazardous or commercially packaged frozen foods) $247; Intermediate Cart (packaged potentially hazardous food, i.e. hot food sales; sales of raw fish) $287; Advanced Cart (non-potentially hazardous food preparation, preparation of hot dogs or coffee-based drinks with milk as an ingredient) $329; Deep fat fryer and/or cooked-to-order carts $590; single operating site mobile food facility with non-potentially hazardous food $166; with potentially hazardous food $247; Mobile support unit $298; Mobile food facility (Food Preparation Unit) $816. State surcharges are added separately.annual2026-10-23
Temporary Food Facility Permitonly if it applies to youMerced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental HealthLocal fees, by the schedule's labels: low risk single event $42/event; low risk annual fee $216/year; high risk single event $123/event; high risk annual fee $612/year; temporary food facility operating at a weekly or monthly community event less than 25 consecutive or non-consecutive days in any 90-day period $494/event. State surcharges are added separately.per event, or annual for the annual-fee options2026-10-23
Body Art Facility Permit and Practitioner Registrationonly if it applies to youMerced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental HealthLocal fees under 'Tattooing, Body Piercing, Permanent Cosmetics or Ear Piercing': Body Art Facility Permit $888/year; Practitioner Annual Registration Fee $124/year; Ear Piercing Notification Fee (one-time) $61. State surcharges are added separately.annual (facility permit and practitioner registration)2026-10-23
Medical Waste Generator Registration (veterinary clinic, hospital or office)only if it applies to youMerced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental HealthAnnual local fees, by the schedule's labels: Small Quantity Generators (with no on-site treatment) $95/year; Small Quantity Generators on-site treatment (less than 200 pounds/month) $185/year. Under 'Large Quantity Generator (200 or more pounds/month)': Veterinary Clinic or Hospital $756/year; Medical/Dental/Veterinary Office $756/year. State surcharges are added separately.annual fee; small quantity generators resubmit the registration application every two years and large quantity generators every year2026-10-23

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Public Pool / Spa Health Permit

The county's Recreational Health page says the Division of Environmental Health 'is responsible for ensuring that all public swimming pools, spas, and other water recreation attractions are maintained and operated in compliance with State and local codes', with compliance evaluated through routine and complaint inspections and 'through plan review for new and renovated public facilities'. A gym or fitness studio that operates a public pool or spa holds this permit; a studio without a pool or spa has no pool permit. Amounts are from the Public Swimming Pool Program section of the Division's schedule 'Environmental Health Fees', effective July 1, 2026, issued under the CPI clause of County Code §9.49.010 (Ordinance 1898 as amended by Ordinance 2022). The schedule sets one inspection a year for seasonal pools and two for year-round pools. The county's Environmental Health fee page says the schedule 'only reflects local fees maintained by the Division. State surcharges are not created nor maintained by the Division. State surcharges collected by this Division are subject to change without notice.' The figures shown are local fees; state surcharges are added separately.

Retail Food Facility Health Permit

The Division of Environmental Health's 'How to Start a Food Business FAQ' says 'A health permit issued by Merced County Division of Environmental Health (MCDEH) is a required step to start most food businesses in Merced County', and its Food Protection and Inspection page lists restaurants, grocery stores and mini-marts among the facilities it inspects. For a commercial building, the FAQ says that where the location already has a health permit and no changes are made, the operator submits a health permit application; otherwise digital plans go in for plan review. Amounts are from the Division's schedule 'Environmental Health Fees', effective July 1, 2026, which applies a 2.8% Consumer Price Index escalator, under the CPI clause of County Code §9.49.010, to the local fees of Ordinance 1898 as amended by Ordinance 2022 (approved October 4, 2022); fees adjust again each July 1. The county's Environmental Health fee page says the schedule 'only reflects local fees maintained by the Division. State surcharges are not created nor maintained by the Division. State surcharges collected by this Division are subject to change without notice.' The figures shown are local fees; state surcharges are added separately. The schedule says the annual fee for a new business is pro-rated by month, and that 'As a condition for the issuance of a permit, the permittee must have clearance from the appropriate planning agency to operate.'

Mobile Food Facility Health Permit

The Division of Environmental Health's 'How to Start a Food Business FAQ' answers 'What do I need to vend on the streets or in parking lots?' with 'A mobile food facility (MFF) permit is required. A temporary food facility (AKA "popup") permit does not permit regular vending of food outside of approved community food events.' The FAQ's back page links the MFF health permit application, operational statement, commissary approval form and restroom permission form. Amounts are from the Division's schedule 'Environmental Health Fees', effective July 1, 2026, issued under the CPI clause of County Code §9.49.010 (Ordinance 1898 as amended by Ordinance 2022); the cart categories are the schedule's own labels, and the Advanced Cart line covers coffee-based drinks with milk, which is why a coffee cart is listed here. The schedule's pro-rating rule for new businesses excludes mobile food facilities and mobile support units, so the full annual fee applies. The county's Environmental Health fee page says the schedule 'only reflects local fees maintained by the Division. State surcharges are not created nor maintained by the Division. State surcharges collected by this Division are subject to change without notice.' The figures shown are local fees; state surcharges are added separately.

Temporary Food Facility Permit

The Division of Environmental Health's 'How to Start a Food Business FAQ' says that to vend food at community events such as the fair or educational, political, religious or other public events, 'A temporary food facility (TFF) permit is required', with applications submitted to the organizer of the community food event unless the vendor is the only food vendor. A restaurant, food truck operator or coffee vendor selling at such an event takes this permit for the booth. Amounts are from the Division's schedule 'Environmental Health Fees', effective July 1, 2026, issued under the CPI clause of County Code §9.49.010 (Ordinance 1898 as amended by Ordinance 2022); low risk and high risk are the schedule's own labels. The schedule's pro-rating rule for new businesses excludes temporary food facilities. The county's Environmental Health fee page says the schedule 'only reflects local fees maintained by the Division. State surcharges are not created nor maintained by the Division. State surcharges collected by this Division are subject to change without notice.' The figures shown are local fees; state surcharges are added separately.

Body Art Facility Permit and Practitioner Registration

The county's Body Art page says the Division of Environmental Health 'is responsible for regulating the operation of tattoo, permanent cosmetics, body piercing and branding facilities and practitioners in Merced County' under the California Safe Body Art Act, through annual inspections and by permitting facilities and practitioners. It says 'Practitioners are required each year to submit a renewal application, an updated bloodborne pathogen (BBP) training certificate, and pay applicable fees', and 'Body art facility permits are not transferable. Upon ownership change, the new owner must obtain a new Permit to Operate before business operation.' A salon offering tattooing, body piercing, permanent cosmetics or ear piercing holds the facility permit and registers each practitioner; a salon offering only hair, nail or skin services without body art has no body art permit. Amounts are from the Division's schedule 'Environmental Health Fees', effective July 1, 2026, issued under the CPI clause of County Code §9.49.010 (Ordinance 1898 as amended by Ordinance 2022). The county's Environmental Health fee page says the schedule 'only reflects local fees maintained by the Division. State surcharges are not created nor maintained by the Division. State surcharges collected by this Division are subject to change without notice.' The figures shown are local fees; state surcharges are added separately.

Medical Waste Generator Registration (veterinary clinic, hospital or office)

The county's Medical Waste page says the Division of Environmental Health 'is the local enforcement agency responsible for administering the State's Medical Waste Management Program in Merced County' and oversees registration of small and large quantity medical waste generators. It says 'All small quantity generators are required to resubmit the application every two years. All large quantity generators are required to resubmit the application every year', that 'Depending on the generator type, an annual fee is required to be paid for the registration/permit', and that generators with onsite treatment also submit a Medical Waste Management Plan. The Division's schedule 'Environmental Health Fees', effective July 1, 2026 (issued under the CPI clause of County Code §9.49.010), prices a small quantity generator with no on-site treatment at $95 a year and one with on-site treatment (less than 200 pounds a month) at $185 a year; a veterinary clinic, hospital or office generating 200 or more pounds a month is a large quantity generator at $756 a year. Contact the Division at (209) 381-1100 to confirm which line applies. The county's Environmental Health fee page says the schedule 'only reflects local fees maintained by the Division. State surcharges are not created nor maintained by the Division. State surcharges collected by this Division are subject to change without notice.' The figures shown are local fees; state surcharges are added separately.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Merced County
Phone
(209) 381-1100

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. Body ArtMerced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-24
  2. Environmental Health Fees — Effective July 1, 2026Merced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-24
  3. Fee Schedule — New Environmental Health Fees, Effective July 1, 2026Merced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-24
  4. Food Protection and InspectionMerced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-24
  5. How to Start a Food Business FAQMerced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-24
  6. Medical WasteMerced County Community and Economic Development Department, Division of Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-24
  7. Merced County Code, Title 9 — Health and Safety (§9.49.010, Environmental Health fees)County of Merced / eCode360 · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-24
  8. Recreational Health — Pools, Spas & Water RecreationMerced County Division of Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-24

Other offices serving Merced County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

California jurisdictions

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.