Commercial Compliance Hub

Ramsey County

Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health — Environmental Health

In short

Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health — Environmental Health issues 5 permits we publish for Ramsey 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
Food Establishment License (food service and retail food)only if it applies to youSaint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health — Environmental HealthAnnual license fee by class, as the 2026 schedule labels each row: Class A Food Service $1,598; Class B Food Service $1,125; Class C Food Service $941; Class D Food Service High Risk $757; Class D Food Service Med/Low Risk $630; Limited Food Service $432; Seasonal Food Service (per calendar month max. 5) $103; Seasonal Retail Food Service (5 calendar months max) $201; Class A Retail Food $2,216; Class B Retail Food $1,941; Class C Retail Food $1,388; Class D Retail Food $499; Class E Retail Food $289; Class F Retail Food $201. Plan review: Class A, B and C Food Service and Class A, B and C Retail Food $809 each; Class D Food Service, Class D Retail Food, Limited Food Service and Seasonal Food Service $564 each; Class E and Class F Retail Food $281 each; Initial HACCP Review $139; Equipment Review $140; remodeling of less than 50% of floor space 1/2 of the full fee; Pre Licensing Inspection (change of ownership) In-Person Consultation of existing space $248. Re-inspection fee for any licensed establishment failing a follow-up inspection $250. Participation in a food waste diversion program discounts the food establishment license fee by 25%. An initial license is charged 8.33% of the normal fee amount per month remaining in the initial licensing period (this does not apply to special event food stands, seasonal temporary food stands, seasonal food service and mobile food units or food carts).calendar year, January 1 through December 31 (Food Protection Ordinance §4.04)2026-10-13
Hazardous Waste Generator Licenseonly if it applies to youSaint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health — Environmental HealthAnnual license: Base Generator Fee – non silver $102, plus cumulative per-gallon volume fees (first 10 gallons $0). Non-sewered hazardous waste, per gallon: 11–50 gallons $6.05; 51–100 $2.82; 101–250 $1.87; 251–1,000 $1.21; 1,001–10,000 $0.66; 10,001–50,000 $0.28; 50,001–100,000 $0.14; over 100,000 $0. Sewered hazardous waste, per gallon: 11–264 gallons $2.02; 265–2,640 $1.09; 2,641–10,000 $0.48; 10,001–50,000 $0.12; 50,001–100,000 $0.08; over 100,000 $0. Total Fee for Self-Audit generators that provide for silver reclamation from spent fixer solution and other identified wastes only (dental clinics, etc.) $102. One-time generation license (fees are non-cumulative), by gallons: under 50 $0; 50–100 $0; 101–264 $102; 265–1,000 $201; 1,001–2,640 $402; more than 2,640 $1,002.license year May 1 to April 30 (Hazardous Waste Management Ordinance §4.05)2026-10-13
Special Event Food Stand / Seasonal Temporary Food Stand Licenseonly if it applies to youSaint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health — Environmental HealthSpecial Event Food Stand with TCS Food: $88 for 1 day, $136 for 2–10 days. Limited Special Event Food Stand w/o TCS Food: $56 for 1 day, $76 for 2–10 days. Seasonal Temporary Food Stand: $232 flat. Expedited review (application received within 48 hours of the event) adds 25% of the license fee with a minimum of $25.special event stand: up to ten days annually, one special event license per calendar year per stand; seasonal temporary stand: up to 21 days annually per location2026-10-13
Mobile Food Unit / Food Cart Licenseonly if it applies to youSaint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health — Environmental HealthMobile Food Unit $173; Food Cart $173. Plan review for a Mobile Food Unit or Food Cart $304. Expedited review (application received within 48 hours of the event) adds 25% of the license fee with a minimum of $25.calendar year; licenses expire on the last day of December each year (Food Protection Ordinance §§4.01, 4.04)2026-10-13
Public Swimming Pool Licenseonly if it applies to youSaint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health — Environmental HealthIndoor or Outdoor Swimming Pool – Primary $723; Indoor or Outdoor Swimming Pool – Secondary $365; re-inspection fee for outdoor pools that fail their initial pre-opening inspection $101.licenses expire on the last day of April each year (Public Swimming Pool Ordinance §5.03)2026-10-13

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

Food Establishment License (food service and retail food)

The county's Food & Vending page states: "Ramsey County inspects and licenses all establishments (except those in Saint Paul and Maplewood) that provide permanent and temporary food services." Its list of establishments that need a license, which it says is not all inclusive, includes restaurants, bars and supper clubs, catering kitchens and commissaries, grocery stores, convenience stores and delicatessens, public and private school kitchens and daycares, and cafeterias and snack bars. The page says "Ramsey County issues food licenses for the calendar year (Jan. 1 through Dec. 31)", that a food license is not transferable to another person or location, that a new food establishment must complete a plan review before construction begins and pass a final inspection before a license is issued, and that a remodel or new food equipment needs a remodel plan review or equipment review. The schedule sets a separate fee for each class row it prints. The county's Food Waste Diversion page says participating establishments can "Save 25% on food license fees" and that "Discounts are applied to license renewal fees for the upcoming year." Figures are the 2026 column of the Ramsey County 2026–2027 fee schedule for Environmental Health (Legistar file 2026-029, adopted by the County Board in Resolution B2026-018 on January 27, 2026), in effect through December 31, 2026; the adopted 2027 column lists different amounts. Contact Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health, Environmental Health, 2785 White Bear Ave. N, Suite 350, Maplewood, MN 55109, 651-266-1199.

Hazardous Waste Generator License

The county's Hazardous Waste Licensing page states: "All businesses that generate hazardous waste must have a license according to Ramsey County's hazardous waste management ordinance." A business that generates hazardous waste occasionally, sporadically or annually needs an annual license; a business disposing of hazardous waste one time only needs a one-time license. For either, the page says the first step is to get a hazardous waste ID from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the second is to fill out the county's generator license application. The ordinance applies "within the County" (§4.01A), and the license therefore covers businesses in Saint Paul and Maplewood as well as the other cities. An auto repair shop, salon, veterinary clinic, retailer or contractor needs this license only if it generates hazardous waste. Under §4.05 the license year for hazardous waste generators runs from May 1 to April 30; the fee amounts are the schedule's 2026 column. Figures are the 2026 column of the Ramsey County 2026–2027 fee schedule for Environmental Health (Legistar file 2026-029, adopted by the County Board in Resolution B2026-018 on January 27, 2026), in effect through December 31, 2026; the adopted 2027 column lists different amounts. Contact Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health, Environmental Health, 2785 White Bear Ave. N, Suite 350, Maplewood, MN 55109, 651-266-1199.

Special Event Food Stand / Seasonal Temporary Food Stand License

Both county applications (dated 1.21.2026) state: "You need a food stand license if you prepare, offer or serve food to the public with or without charge except as exempted by Minnesota Statutes 157.22 and 28A.15," and "Ramsey County licenses food stands in all Ramsey County cities except Saint Paul and Maplewood." A special event food stand is used in conjunction with celebrations and special events and can operate up to ten days annually; a seasonal temporary food stand is disassembled and moved from location to location and can operate up to 21 days annually in one location, and one license can cover several locations. The special event fee depends on the number of operating days and on whether the menu includes time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods; the application's examples for the full license include meat, eggs, rice, pizza, sandwiches and cut fruit, and for the limited license cookies, chips, popcorn, lemonade and pre-packaged items. A Ramsey County-licensed food service establishment serving at an event on its own premises for no more than ten days annually, with all food prepared in the establishment by its employees, notifies the county on the same application "(no fee required)" at least two business days before the event. Licenses are not transferable. Figures are the 2026 column of the Ramsey County 2026–2027 fee schedule for Environmental Health (Legistar file 2026-029, adopted by the County Board in Resolution B2026-018 on January 27, 2026), in effect through December 31, 2026; the adopted 2027 column lists different amounts. Contact Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health, Environmental Health, 2785 White Bear Ave. N, Suite 350, Maplewood, MN 55109, 651-266-1199.

Mobile Food Unit / Food Cart License

The county's Food & Vending page states that "A mobile food unit/food cart must obtain a Ramsey County license if: Planning to operate in any Ramsey County city other than Maplewood and Saint Paul, and Is licensed by any agency other than the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)." The same page says a Ramsey County license is not required for a unit holding a valid, displayed retail mobile food handler license from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture that operates within the limits of that license. The county's application (dated 10.4.2024) states "This license is not valid in Saint Paul or Maplewood" and that units may operate within Ramsey County Parks only as part of a permitted event; it asks for a certificate of compliance, plan review documentation and, where applicable, commissary kitchen documentation, and tells applicants to contact the city where they will operate because zoning may restrict mobile food service and a city may require a peddler's permit. Minn. Stat. §157.15 subds. 6 and 9 define food carts and mobile food units as food and beverage service establishments, and Food Protection Ordinance §4.01 requires a license for the current calendar year. Figures are the 2026 column of the Ramsey County 2026–2027 fee schedule for Environmental Health (Legistar file 2026-029, adopted by the County Board in Resolution B2026-018 on January 27, 2026), in effect through December 31, 2026; the adopted 2027 column lists different amounts. Contact Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health, Environmental Health, 2785 White Bear Ave. N, Suite 350, Maplewood, MN 55109, 651-266-1199.

Public Swimming Pool License

The county's Public Swimming Pools page states: "Ramsey County licenses and inspects all public swimming pools, except those in Saint Paul and Maplewood. This includes indoor and outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, diving pools, spas and water flumes." A fitness studio or gym with a public pool in a Ramsey County city other than Saint Paul or Maplewood needs this license; a studio without a pool has no pool license. Public Swimming Pool Ordinance §5.03 states that licenses "expire on the last day of April each year" and that applications "shall be filed with the Department prior to April 1 of each year." The schedule lists the same primary and secondary amounts for indoor and outdoor pools. Figures are the 2026 column of the Ramsey County 2026–2027 fee schedule for Environmental Health (Legistar file 2026-029, adopted by the County Board in Resolution B2026-018 on January 27, 2026), in effect through December 31, 2026; the adopted 2027 column lists different amounts. Contact Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health, Environmental Health, 2785 White Bear Ave. N, Suite 350, Maplewood, MN 55109, 651-266-1199.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Ramsey County
Phone
651-266-1199

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 & VendingRamsey County, Minnesota · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  2. Food Waste DiversionRamsey County, Minnesota · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  3. Hazardous Waste LicensingRamsey County, Minnesota · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  4. License Application for Seasonal Temporary Food Stand (1.21.2026)Ramsey County Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  5. License Application for Special Event Food Stand (1.21.2026)Ramsey County Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  6. Minnesota Statutes §157.15 — DefinitionsMinnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  7. Mobile Food Unit and Food Cart License Application (10.4.2024)Ramsey County Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  8. Public Swimming PoolsRamsey County, Minnesota · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  9. Ramsey County Fee Schedule 2026-2027 — Environmental Health and Clinical Services, as corrected (Legistar file 2026-029; adopted by Resolution B2026-018, January 27, 2026)Ramsey County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  10. Ramsey County Food Protection Ordinance (Resolution 2002-398, revised October 19, 2018)Ramsey County, Minnesota · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  11. Ramsey County Hazardous Waste Management Ordinance (Resolution 2008-082, February 19, 2008)Ramsey County, Minnesota · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  12. Ramsey County Public Swimming Pool Ordinance (effective January 27, 2023)Ramsey County, Minnesota · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13
  13. Resolution B2026-018 — Correction to 2026-27 Public Health Fee Schedule (January 27, 2026)Ramsey County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13

Other offices serving Ramsey County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

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Minnesota jurisdictions

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