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Johnson County

Johnson County Public Health

In short

Johnson County Public Health issues 4 permits we publish for Johnson County, last verified 2026-10-14. 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
Food Establishment License (issued through Johnson County Public Health)Johnson County Public HealthThe license fee is the state amount set by Iowa Code §137F.6 by establishment type and annual gross food sales (recorded on the Iowa state page). Johnson County Public Health's food establishment application states: "There is no fee for plan review."annual, under the state food licensing rules2026-10-14
Tanning Facility Certified Operator Test (Johnson County Public Health)only if it applies to youJohnson County Public Health$25 per test attempt, payable to Johnson County Public Health, as published on JCPH's Tanning License pageper test attempt; the Certificate of Completion is issued on passing2026-10-14
Private Sewage Disposal (Septic) Construction Permit and Commercial/Industrial Use Permitonly if it applies to youJohnson County Public HealthFees are set by the Johnson County Board of Health (Private Sewage Disposal System Regulations §4.10) and paid to Johnson County Public Health (§4.03); the amounts are not published in the Regulations or on JCPH's Wastewater & Septic Systems page. Contact JCPH (319-356-6040) for the current amounts.construction permit expires 1 year from issue, with one extension of up to 1 year on request (§4.06); commercial/industrial use permit renewed annually (§4.09(A))2026-10-14
Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection (Johnson County Public Health, state-delegated)only if it applies to youJohnson County Public HealthNo inspection fee amount is published on Johnson County Public Health's Pool and Spa page. Contact JCPH (319-356-6040) for any current amount.annual inspections2026-10-14

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

Food Establishment License (issued through Johnson County Public Health)

Iowa DIAL's Food Inspection Jurisdictions page lists Johnson County Public Health (JCPH) as the local health department that "Serves Johnson County," so restaurants, coffee shops, food trucks and grocery or convenience stores in Johnson County apply to JCPH for the state food establishment license. JCPH's application states that Iowa law prohibits a food establishment from opening or operating until a license has first been obtained from the appropriate regulatory authority, and that completed applications and documents must be submitted at least 30 days before the anticipated opening date. JCPH's Restaurant Licenses page distinguishes a food service establishment license (on-site consumption: restaurants, cafeterias, bars) from a food retail establishment license (off-site consumption: grocery stores, convenience stores with only prepackaged food), and says dual licensing may be required for businesses such as coffee shops that sell for both; it also asks applicants to check with their city government or fire officials for any additional permits or inspections. Plan submission is required for new construction and remodels, and the application states that there is no fee for plan review. The license fee is the state amount in Iowa Code §137F.6, recorded on the Iowa state page. Iowa's state licensing system changes on 20 October 2026; JCPH (319-356-6040) gives the current application route.

Tanning Facility Certified Operator Test (Johnson County Public Health)

Johnson County Public Health's Tanning License page states that "Johnson County tests and inspects tanning facilities within Johnson County" and that at least one person at a tanning facility must be licensed as a certified operator. A salon or fitness studio offering tanning schedules the Certified Operator Test with JCPH; the page states that there is a $25 fee payable to Johnson County Public Health each time the test is taken, that the open-book test has 75 multiple-choice or true/false questions with at least 70 correct answers needed to pass, and that the Certificate of Completion is issued immediately on passing. The page then directs the facility to send a copy of the certificate with its application and fee to the state, and says the facility may begin operating once the license arrives; the state facility license and its fee are separate from this county test fee. The page states that inspections occur annually at the facility. JCPH can be reached at 319-356-6040.

Private Sewage Disposal (Septic) Construction Permit and Commercial/Industrial Use Permit

A business site in Johnson County served by a private sewage disposal (septic) system deals with Johnson County Public Health (JCPH) under the county's Private Sewage Disposal System Regulations, effective July 1, 2020; a site on a public sewer has no septic permit. Under §4.03 a permit to install a wastewater system is issued on approval of the signed application and associated documents and payment of the required fees to JCPH, and under §4.06 a construction permit expires one year from the issue date, with one extension of no more than a year on request. Under §4.09(A), a commercial/industrial use permit "is required for private sewage disposal systems that dispose of domestic waste from properties that are zoned for commercial or industrial use"; it is non-transferable, issued to the parcel owner and renewed annually, and requires a water meter, reporting of use beyond design capacity, changes in use and malfunctions, and septic tank pumping records. Section 4.10 states that "All fees shall be set by the Board of Health"; the amounts are not published in the Regulations or on JCPH's Wastewater & Septic Systems page, and JCPH (319-356-6040) gives them.

Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection (Johnson County Public Health, state-delegated)

A fitness studio, gym or club in Johnson County that operates a swimming pool or spa is inspected by Johnson County Public Health (JCPH); a studio without a pool or spa has no pool inspection. JCPH's Pool and Spa page states that the swimming pool and spa inspection program "is a contractual program in which authority to enforce the Iowa Department of Public Health swimming pool and spa rules, as specified in Iowa Code Supplement Chapter 135I, has been delegated to Johnson County Public Health," that annual inspections are conducted in Johnson County, and that the rules establish minimum safety and water quality requirements for the construction and operation of pools and spas. The page publishes recent inspection reports for individual facilities. Any state registration of the pool or spa is a separate state matter; no inspection fee amount is published on the JCPH page, and JCPH (319-356-6040) answers questions about the programme.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Johnson County
Phone
319-356-6040

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. Food Establishment License Application packet (mobile food unit), with Plan Review ApplicationJohnson County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  2. Iowa Code section 137F.6 — the food establishment license fee schedule, banded by gross salesIowa Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  3. Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing — the ten local health departments with delegated food inspection authorityIowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  4. Johnson County Private Sewage Disposal System Regulations (effective July 1, 2020), §§4.03, 4.06, 4.09, 4.10Johnson County Board of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  5. Pool and Spa pageJohnson County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  6. Restaurant Licenses page (food service and retail establishment licensing)Johnson County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  7. Tanning License pageJohnson County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  8. Wastewater & Septic Systems pageJohnson County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14

Other offices serving Johnson County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

Iowa jurisdictions

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