Hamilton County

Hamilton County Health Department

In short

Hamilton County Health Department issues 7 permits we publish for Hamilton County, last verified 2026-10-15. 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
Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Body Art Establishment and Body Artist Licenses (Hamilton County Health Department)only if it applies to you	Hamilton County Health Department	Schedule H: fixed body art establishment license $250; body artist license $75; temporary body artist license $50; temporary body art establishment license $150; mobile body art establishment license $150. Late charge 25% of the annual fee; a body art establishment operating without a permit pays $100 plus license fees; a new establishment first opening on or after September 1 pays one-half of the annual operating fee.	establishment license issued annually (County Code 16-20-9-14(b)(1)); body artist license expires annually on a date set by the Health Department (16-20-9-14(c)(2)); temporary establishment license: no more than 14 consecutive days	2026-10-15
Food Service / Food Store Establishment Permit (Hamilton County Health Department)only if it applies to you	Hamilton County Health Department	Schedule C, food establishments. Food service establishment with a permanent location, by number of employees: one through nine $200; ten through 20 $300; 21 and greater $400; bed and breakfast operation $200. Food store establishment, by floor area: under 1,000 sq ft $200; 1,000 to 8,000 sq ft $300; over 8,000 sq ft $500. Food establishment plan review $150. New establishment operating without a permit: $100 plus all associated fees. Late charge for a permit fee not paid by the date set by the health officer: 25% of outstanding fees. A new establishment that first opens on or after September 1 pays one-half of the annual operating fee.	calendar year: issued from January 1 or before operation begins, expiring December 31 of the same year; applied for annually (County Code 16-20-7-2(e), 16-20-8-2(b))	2026-10-15
Mobile Food Establishment Permit (Hamilton County Health Department)only if it applies to you	Hamilton County Health Department	Mobile food establishment: prepackaged foods only $75 per vehicle; prepares/serves ready-to-eat foods $125 per vehicle. Late charge for a permit fee not paid by the date set by the health officer: 25% of outstanding fees. A new establishment that first opens on or after September 1 pays one-half of the annual operating fee.	calendar year, expiring December 31; applied for annually (County Code 16-20-8-1, 16-20-8-2(b))	2026-10-15
Temporary and Annual Temporary Food Establishment Permits (Hamilton County Health Department)only if it applies to you	Hamilton County Health Department	Temporary food establishment permit: $30 for the first day + $15 each additional consecutive day; applications received less than three days before the event start: $20 in addition to the temporary permit fee. Annual temporary permit: $125. Late charges are not assessed on annual temporary permits.	temporary permit: one continuous operation with an event or celebration of no more than 14 consecutive days (County Code 16-20-8-2(b)(1)); annual temporary permit: the calendar year	2026-10-15
Public and Semi-Public Swimming Pool and Spa Permit (Hamilton County Health Department)only if it applies to you	Hamilton County Health Department	Schedule E: pools open year round $200; seasonal pools (May through September) $150; plan review for a new public or semi-public pool $100 per location.	one year, January 1 to December 31 (County Code 16-20-2-3(d)(3)); seasonal pools operate May through September	2026-10-15
On-Site Sewage System (Septic) Permit and Installer Registration (Hamilton County Health Department)only if it applies to you	Hamilton County Health Department	Schedule D: septic construction $250; septic tank or perimeter drain only $100; permanent holding tank $100; annual permanent holding tank renewal permit $100; re-inspection $75; installer registration $25.	permit per installation or repair; installer registration January 1 to December 31, applied for annually (County Code 16-20-2-4(b)(1))	2026-10-15
Private Well Construction and Pump Permits (Hamilton County Health Department)only if it applies to you	Hamilton County Health Department	Schedule F: well construction permit $125; well pump replacement $50.	valid for one year after the date of issue (County Code 25-39-4-1(b)(1)b, (b)(2)b)	2026-10-15

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

Body Art Establishment and Body Artist Licenses (Hamilton County Health Department)

Hamilton County Code chapter 16-20-9, in effect January 1, 2025 (16-20-9-25), licenses body art, which 16-20-9-2 defines as "body piercing, tattooing, branding, scarification, or cosmetic tattooing". Under 16-20-9-14(b)(1) no one may operate a body art establishment except with a body art establishment license issued annually by the Hamilton County Health Department, and under 16-20-9-14(c)(1) no person may practise body art procedures without a body artist license; licenses are not transferable and must be posted in a prominent and conspicuous area. Section 16-20-9-14(b)(5) states that a jewelry retail establishment using an ear-piercing gun for earlobe piercings only does not require a license but must meet the same sanitary requirements as a body piercing facility. As set in Hamilton County Code 16-20-1-27, Health department fees (Ord. 10-14-24-B, 10-14-2024, effective January 1, 2025; Ord. 06-09-2025-A, 6-9-2025), as codified on Municode, Schedule H, a fixed establishment license costs $250, a body artist license $75, a temporary body artist license $50, and a temporary or mobile body art establishment license $150 each; the temporary establishment license covers a fixed location operating no more than 14 consecutive days. A late charge of 25% of the annual fee applies, an establishment operating without a permit pays $100 plus license fees, and one first opening on or after September 1 pays half the annual fee. A body artist applicant shows bloodborne pathogen and first aid training.

Food Service / Food Store Establishment Permit (Hamilton County Health Department)

Hamilton County Code 16-20-8-2(a) makes it unlawful to operate a food establishment or bed and breakfast establishment "in Hamilton County without first obtaining a valid permit from the health officer", so the permit applies in Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield and the towns as well as outside them; the Health Department's Food Establishment Program page says it permits and inspects over 1,400 food service, food store, mobile and annual temporary establishments operating within the county. A separate permit is needed for each establishment, permits are not transferable to another person or location, and fees are not refunded for a partial year (16-20-7-2). The written application goes to the Health Department at least 30 days before the planned opening (16-20-8-2(d)), and plans and specifications are reviewed before construction, conversion or remodelling (16-20-7-2(g)). As set in Hamilton County Code 16-20-1-27, Health department fees (Ord. 10-14-24-B, 10-14-2024, effective January 1, 2025; Ord. 06-09-2025-A, 6-9-2025), as codified on Municode, a food service establishment with a permanent location pays $200 for one to nine employees, $300 for ten to 20 and $400 for 21 or more, and a bed and breakfast pays $200; a food store pays $200 under 1,000 square feet, $300 from 1,000 to 8,000 and $500 over 8,000. Plan review is $150. A new establishment operating without a permit pays $100 plus all associated fees, a late charge of 25% of outstanding fees applies, and an establishment first opening on or after September 1 pays half the annual fee. The permit runs for the calendar year and must be posted conspicuously. The Health Department is at 18030 Foundation Drive, Suite A, Noblesville; (317) 776-8500.

Mobile Food Establishment Permit (Hamilton County Health Department)

Hamilton County Code 16-20-8-1 defines a food establishment to include a "vehicle of transportation" used for handling food, so a food truck operating in Hamilton County needs the county health officer's permit under 16-20-8-2, which runs for the calendar year from January 1 (or the start of operation) to December 31 and is applied for annually. As set in Hamilton County Code 16-20-1-27, Health department fees (Ord. 10-14-24-B, 10-14-2024, effective January 1, 2025; Ord. 06-09-2025-A, 6-9-2025), as codified on Municode, the mobile permit costs $75 per vehicle for prepackaged foods only and $125 per vehicle for a unit that prepares or serves ready-to-eat foods; the Health Department's mobile application form (December 2024) states the same "$125 fee for prepare and serve or $75 fee for prepackaged only". The form also asks for a plan review packet, a commissary agreement and a certified food protection manager certificate, and says to allow 30 days for plan review. It tells operators: "You must contact the municipality (city or town) in which you will be operating your mobile to find out if an additional mobile permit is needed." The general late charge of 25% of outstanding fees and the half fee for a first opening on or after September 1 also apply under 16-20-1-27(d).

Temporary and Annual Temporary Food Establishment Permits (Hamilton County Health Department)

A food business selling at a fair, festival or other event in Hamilton County needs a Health Department temporary food establishment permit. Under County Code 16-20-8-2(b)(1) a temporary permit covers one continuous operation in conjunction with an event or celebration of no more than 14 consecutive days. As set in Hamilton County Code 16-20-1-27, Health department fees (Ord. 10-14-24-B, 10-14-2024, effective January 1, 2025; Ord. 06-09-2025-A, 6-9-2025), as codified on Municode, the fee is $30 for the first day plus $15 for each additional consecutive day, with $20 more when the application arrives less than three days before the event starts. A vendor working many events can instead buy the annual temporary permit for $125; the Health Department's annual temporary application (December 2024) says it covers all temporary events throughout the calendar year, and under 16-20-1-27(d)(5) late charges are not assessed on annual temporary permits. Food stored or prepared before retail service must come from an approved source that is separately permitted or inspected. The Health Department's Temporary Food Permit / Event Organizer page says of the event organiser's registration: "There is no fee for this registration."

Public and Semi-Public Swimming Pool and Spa Permit (Hamilton County Health Department)

A fitness studio or club in Hamilton County that operates a public or semi-public swimming pool or spa needs a Health Department permit for it; a studio without a pool or spa has no pool permit. County Code 16-20-2-3(d)(3) provides that a person shall not construct, install or operate a public or semipublic swimming pool without a valid permit from the health officer, for a one-year term from January 1 to December 31, posted in a conspicuous place; plans must first be approved by the state Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (16-20-2-3(d)(1)). The Swimming Pool Program page describes permitting and inspecting all public and semi-public pools and spas, permitted as either seasonal (May-September) or year-round operations. As set in Hamilton County Code 16-20-1-27, Health department fees (Ord. 10-14-24-B, 10-14-2024, effective January 1, 2025; Ord. 06-09-2025-A, 6-9-2025), as codified on Municode, Schedule E, a year-round pool permit costs $200, a seasonal (May through September) permit $150, and plan review for a new public or semi-public pool $100 per location.

On-Site Sewage System (Septic) Permit and Installer Registration (Hamilton County Health Department)

Hamilton County Code 16-20-2-4(a) applies "to any residential or commercial on-site sewage system constructed in the county", under Indiana Department of Health rules 410 IAC 6-8.3 and the commercial on-site sewage rule 410 IAC 6-10. Under 16-20-2-4(d) no person may construct, install, alter or repair an on-site sewage system without first filing a written application and obtaining a written permit, so a business site not on a public sewer that builds or repairs a septic system needs one; a site on public sewer has no septic permit. Under 16-20-2-4(b) every person who constructs, installs, alters or repairs on-site sewage systems in the county must be on the Health Department's contractor registry, for a term from January 1 to December 31, registered before applying for a permit and renewed annually. As set in Hamilton County Code 16-20-1-27, Health department fees (Ord. 10-14-24-B, 10-14-2024, effective January 1, 2025; Ord. 06-09-2025-A, 6-9-2025), as codified on Municode, Schedule D, septic construction costs $250; a septic tank or perimeter drain only $100; a permanent holding tank $100 and its annual renewal permit $100; a re-inspection $75; and installer registration $25. Under 16-20-2-4(c) a failing commercial system must connect to sanitary sewer when sewer is available within 300 feet at a cost within the code's limit.

Private Well Construction and Pump Permits (Hamilton County Health Department)

Under Hamilton County Code 25-39-4-1(b)(1), before construction of a well or geothermal heat pump system begins, the owner or agent must obtain a written permit signed by the county health officer, and no work may be done until the permit is obtained; under (b)(2) the same applies before installing a pump or other facilities that convey water from a well. A business on a private well, and a contractor drilling or fitting one, therefore deals with the Hamilton County Health Department. A site without a private well has no well permit. Permits are valid for one year after the date of issue, and in an emergency the applicant notifies the health officer and obtains a permit within the next scheduled workday. The permit inspection fee is the amount set in 16-20-1-27: as set in Hamilton County Code 16-20-1-27, Health department fees (Ord. 10-14-24-B, 10-14-2024, effective January 1, 2025; Ord. 06-09-2025-A, 6-9-2025), as codified on Municode, Schedule F, a well construction permit costs $125 and a well pump replacement $50, paid to the county Health Department when the permit is issued.

Contact

Jurisdiction: Hamilton County
Phone: (317) 776-8500
Website: www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/256/Food-Establishment-Program

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.

Annual Temporary Food Establishment Permit Application (December 2024)Hamilton County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
Body Art program pageHamilton County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
Food Establishment Program pageHamilton County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
Food Rules and Regulations pageHamilton County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
Hamilton County Code 25-39-4-1, Well and water supply systemsHamilton County, Indiana (codified by Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
Hamilton County Code Title 16, Article 20, County Health Departments, including 16-20-1-27 Health department fees (Supplement 22)Hamilton County, Indiana (codified by Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
Mobile Food Establishment Permit Application (December 2024)Hamilton County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
Ordinance No. 10-14-24-B, Hamilton County Health Department fee schedule (effective January 1, 2025)Hamilton County, Indiana · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
Swimming Pool Program pageHamilton County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
Temporary Food Establishment Permit Application (December 2024)Hamilton County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
Temporary Food Permit / Event Organizer pageHamilton County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15

Other offices serving Hamilton County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

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