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Monterey County

County of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau

In short

County of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau issues 8 permits we publish for Monterey County, last verified 2026-10-13. 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
Retail Food Facility Health PermitCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health BureauRestaurants/Deli/Bars: Tier 1 Bar only (no food prep) $1,205; Tier 2 $1,495; Tier 3 $1,876. Retail Markets: Tier 1 Retail Market No Food Preparation $1,084; Tier 2 Limited Food Preparation $1,425. Retail Markets with Food Preparation: Tier 2 $1,954; Tier 3 $2,511. Retail Store with Incidental Food Sales $632. Catering Operation $759. Operating without a valid or current health permit: 'Two times the permit fee'. Reinspection $259 per hour.annual; the Environmental Health application refers to 'the annual expiration date of June 30th'2026-10-13
Mobile Food Facility Health PermitCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health BureauMobile Food (pre-packaged, bulk dispensing, catering truck) $518; Mobile Food Limited Food Preparation (tamales, corn, hot dogs, etc.) $611; Mobile Food Preparation Units $1,293; Compact Mobile Food Operation (limited food preparation) $611; Compact Mobile Food Push Cart Operation (limited to pre-packaged, non-potentially hazardous food, no food preparation) $332. Commissary verification (2-hour minimum) $519.annual (fiscal year ending June 30)2026-10-13
Public Swimming Pool / Spa Permit and Plan Reviewonly if it applies to youCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health BureauAnnual permit: Public Swimming Pool $967; Spa Pool $967. Plan review: major pool/spa plan review $3,615; minor pool/spa plan review $1,682; minor equipment remodel $259 per hour.annual; expires June 302026-10-13
Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (Septic) Permitsonly if it applies to youCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health BureauConventional OWTS construction permit (complete system) $2,394; alternative OWTS construction permit (complete system) $4,399; OWTS operating permit, initial application or annual renewal, $194.construction permit per project; operating permit annual2026-10-13
Food Facility Plan Checkonly if it applies to youCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health BureauNew facility with food preparation (i.e. plumbing, electrical, hood ventilation) $4,140; existing facility major remodel $3,321; existing facility minor remodel, or new facility with limited or no food preparation, $1,682; request for service $259 per hour.per project (one-time)2026-10-13
Temporary Food Facility Permit (community events)only if it applies to youCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health BureauTemporary food facility: 1-3 days (for profit) $519; 1-3 days (non-profit, after 4 events in a fiscal year) $362; 4-7 days (for profit) $628; 4-7 days (non-profit, after 4 events in a fiscal year) $459; temporary food facility with food preparation, annual permit $1,100. Facility offering only nonperishable prepackaged food, beverages or whole uncut produce: per event $132; annual permit $500.per event, or annual for the annual permits2026-10-13
Body Art Facility Permit and Operator Registrationonly if it applies to youCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health BureauBody art facility: facility application $625; facility permit $598; temporary facility permit $598; temporary body art demonstration booth inspection $117. Body art operator: application $132; operator registration $274; temporary operator registration $64 (schedule footnote: 'If registered in California, then no fee').fiscal year (July 1 – June 30); health permits expire on June 302026-10-13
Medical Waste Generator Health Permitonly if it applies to youCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health BureauSet by generator category in Article I.E, Section 7 (medical waste) of the County Master Fee Resolution (Resolution No. 26-074, effective July 1, 2026); contact Environmental Health Solid Waste Services, (831) 755-4505, for the category and amount that apply to a given practice.fiscal year, July 1 – June 302026-10-13

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

Retail Food Facility Health Permit

A restaurant, coffee shop, market or other retail food facility needs an annual health permit from the Environmental Health Bureau. The Bureau's Consumer Health Protection FAQ says 'An application and fee must be submitted to the Environmental Health Department (EHD) office, and the permit must be received, before opening', and its inspector assignments cover the city of Salinas, Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, King City, Seaside, Del Rey Oaks, Pacific Grove, Marina, Monterey and Carmel as well as the unincorporated communities. The fee depends on the facility category and the tier the Bureau assigns; the schedule does not print the tier definitions, so contact the Bureau, (831) 755-4505, for the tier that applies. All amounts are from Article I.E of the County Master Fee Resolution, adopted as Resolution No. 26-074 on 24 March 2026 and effective July 1, 2026; the county's Environmental Health fee page says 'The fees were approved by the Board of Supervisors and are effective July 1, 2026'. The same schedule lists a 'Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Surcharge per Chapter 10.67 of Title 10 of the Monterey County Code' with the line 'General Environmental Health Permits 44'.

Mobile Food Facility Health Permit

A food truck, cart or other mobile food facility operating in Monterey County needs a health permit from the Environmental Health Bureau; the fee depends on the type of unit and how much food preparation it does, per Article I.E of the County Master Fee Resolution (Resolution No. 26-074, adopted 24 March 2026, effective July 1, 2026). The Bureau's Mobile Food Facilities page says that for limited-food-preparation units 'Environmental Health shall review and approve the written operational procedures prior to operation', and that the completed forms 'must be completed and returned to this office for approval before a permit is issued.' The same page adds: 'For vendors located in incorporated cities in County of Monterey, contact your local city jurisdiction for additional information regarding street vendor operations. For vendors located in unincorporated areas of County of Monterey, please contact County of Monterey Housing and Community Development at (831) 755- 5025.'

Public Swimming Pool / Spa Permit and Plan Review

A gym or fitness studio that operates a pool, spa or hot tub used by members or the public needs an annual permit from the Environmental Health Bureau, whose Pools & Spas page says the program 'conducts plan reviews for new and remodeled pools and spas, and issues permits.' A studio without a pool or spa has no pool permit. The annual fee is $967 for a public swimming pool and $967 for a spa pool, and plan review for new or remodelled pools is $3,615 (major) or $1,682 (minor), per Article I.E of the County Master Fee Resolution, adopted as Resolution No. 26-074 on 24 March 2026 and effective July 1, 2026. The Bureau's application form asks permit holders to renew before 'the annual expiration date of June 30th'.

Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (Septic) Permits

A business on a site served by a septic system, rather than a public sewer, needs Environmental Health permits to build or replace the onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS), and some systems also carry an annual operating permit. A business on a public sewer system has no septic permit. Article I.E of the County Master Fee Resolution (Resolution No. 26-074, adopted 24 March 2026, effective July 1, 2026) describes these as systems 'regulated in Chapter 15.20 of the Monterey County Code' and states: 'Fees for wastewater system permits associated with new or expanded development are collected at HCD Building Services or Environmental Health. Additional hourly fees may be collected by the Bureau of Environmental Health.' A conventional complete system is $2,394, an alternative complete system $4,399, and the operating permit $194 a year.

Food Facility Plan Check

Building a new food facility or remodelling an existing one requires Environmental Health plan check before the health permit is issued; the Consumer Health Protection FAQ says plans 'must be submitted to the EHD before the application for a permit can be approved'. The FAQ also answers 'Is the first year's permit fee included with the plan check fee?' with: 'No. Payment for the first annual permit fee will be billed after your establishment is permitted with a health permit.' So the plan check fee is charged in addition to the annual retail food facility permit. Amounts are from Article I.E of the County Master Fee Resolution, adopted as Resolution No. 26-074 on 24 March 2026 and effective July 1, 2026. The plan check is separate from any building permit the city or county requires for the same work.

Temporary Food Facility Permit (community events)

Selling, sampling or giving away food at a public community event needs a Temporary Food Facility permit from the Environmental Health Bureau. The Bureau's Special Events page defines a temporary food facility as one operating 'from a fixed location for a limited period of time, not to exceed 25 days in a 90-day' period, says an event 'is considered public and requires a Temporary Health Permit to Operate' when it is open to the general public, and lists a deadline of '30 Days or More Prior to the Event' for 'All completed applications and fees' from the event organizer. Each booth is 'required to fall under the permit obtained by the Sponsor'. Amounts are from Article I.E of the County Master Fee Resolution, adopted as Resolution No. 26-074 on 24 March 2026 and effective July 1, 2026; the non-profit lines apply after four events in a fiscal year.

Body Art Facility Permit and Operator Registration

A salon or studio offering tattooing, body piercing, permanent cosmetics or branding needs a body art facility health permit, and each person doing the work registers as a body art operator. The Bureau's Body Art page says each Health Permit 'is valid only during fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) the permit was issued' and that 'Health permits expire on June 30'; it also says 'A residential location (home) or mobile body art truck that provides tattoo, permanent cosmetic, body piercing and/or branding services are not authorized nor permitted to operate in the County of Monterey by the Health Department.' A salon offering only hair, nail or skin services without body art has no body art permit. Fees are from Article I.E of the County Master Fee Resolution, adopted as Resolution No. 26-074 on 24 March 2026 and effective July 1, 2026; contact the Bureau, (831) 755-4505, about the ear-piercing facility notification.

Medical Waste Generator Health Permit

A veterinary clinic or hospital that generates medical waste registers with the Environmental Health Bureau and holds a medical waste health permit. The Bureau's Medical Waste page says the Environmental Health Department's Solid Waste Services 'is the local enforcement agency that is responsible for administering and enforcing the State's Medical Waste Management Act to all persons, facilities and businesses that generate Medical Waste as part of their business'. It states that 'Each Health Permit is ONLY valid during the Fiscal Year (July 1 – June 30) the permit was acquired or renewed' and that 'A facility is required to renew and pay for the Health Permit before July 1 of each year if the facility will continue to operate into the new fiscal year'. Permits do not transfer to a new owner or a new address, and the Bureau conducts at least one unannounced inspection per fiscal year.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Monterey County
Phone
(831) 755-4505

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. Board Order, Agenda Item No. 24, 24 March 2026 — Resolution No. 26-074 (RES 26-036)County of Monterey Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  2. Body ArtCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  3. Consumer Health Protection FAQCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  4. County Master Fee Resolution Article I.E — Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau Fees, Effective July 1, 2026County of Monterey Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  5. Environmental Health Bureau Application (food facility and pool permits)County of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  6. Environmental Health FeesCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  7. Medical Waste Generators & Permitting RequirementsCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  8. Mobile Food FacilitiesCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  9. Pools & SpasCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  10. Resolution No. 26-074 — amending Article I.E of the Monterey County Master Fee Resolution, effective July 1, 2026 (RES 26-036)County of Monterey Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  11. Special EventsCounty of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13

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