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Cumberland County

Cumberland County Environmental Health

In short

Cumberland County Environmental Health issues 11 permits we publish for Cumberland County, last verified 2026-10-21. 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
Push Cart Plan ReviewCumberland County Environmental Health$150 per plan review ("Plan Review Push Carts", Exhibit B)one review per push cart, before the permit is issued2026-10-21
Temporary Food Establishment Permitonly if it applies to youCumberland County Environmental Health$75 per permit issued (G.S. 130A-248(d2)); listed as "Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) and Renewals" in Exhibit Bper permit issued for the event (G.S. 130A-248(d2))2026-10-21
Public Swimming Pool and Spa Operation Permitonly if it applies to youCumberland County Environmental Health$300 per operation permit: "Public swimming pool/seasonal" $300; "Public swimming pool/year round" $300 (Exhibit B)annual permit valid for one year from issuance; pools opening on or after April 1 receive a seasonal permit expiring October 31 of that year (county Public Swimming Pools & Spas page)2026-10-21
Public Swimming Pool Plan Reviewonly if it applies to youCumberland County Environmental Health$250 per plan review ("Public swimming pool plan review", Exhibit B); "Swimming pool call back fee" $75approval is void if construction is not initiated within one year from the date of approval (county Public Swimming Pools & Spas page)2026-10-21
Tattoo Permit (Permanent Location)only if it applies to youCumberland County Environmental Health$250 per permit ("Tattoo license - permanent location", Exhibit B); "Tattoo license - conventions" $75; "Tattoo Call Back Fee" $75per permit, at the fee in the FY2027 schedule2026-10-21
Child Care Sanitation Inspection and Plan ReviewCumberland County Environmental Health$50 per inspection ("In-Home Child Daycare Inspection", Exhibit B)centers are inspected twice each fiscal year; plan review comes before construction of a new center2026-10-21
Septic Tank Permit and Soil Evaluationonly if it applies to youCumberland County Environmental Health"Septic tank permit and soil evaluation/expansion permit" $600; repair permit $25; expansion with pool or room addition $230; inspection of existing septic tank for reuse or change of use $150; call back fee $100 (Exhibit B).per permit2026-10-21
New Well Permit, Inspection and Water Samplesonly if it applies to youCumberland County Environmental Health$400 per well ("New well permit, inspection & water samples", Exhibit B); well driller call back fee $75per well2026-10-21
Food Establishment and Food Stand Plan ReviewCumberland County Environmental Health$250 per plan review ("Plan Review Food Establishment and Food Stands", Exhibit B)one review per new food establishment or food stand2026-10-21
Food Establishment Remodel Plan Reviewonly if it applies to youCumberland County Environmental Health$200 per plan review ("Plan Review Remodels", Exhibit B)one review per remodel project, before the work2026-10-21
Mobile Food Unit Plan ReviewCumberland County Environmental Health$200 per plan review ("Plan Review Mobile Food Units", Exhibit B)one review per unit, before the food service permit is issued2026-10-21

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

Push Cart Plan Review

A food vendor operating a push cart in Cumberland County has the cart's plans reviewed by Cumberland County Environmental Health before it is permitted. The fee is $150 per the line "Plan Review Push Carts" in the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), below the $250 ceiling that G.S. 130A-248(f) places on a local health department's plan review fee. The county Food Establishments page describes the plan review and commissary arrangements for mobile food operations. The State permit to operate is a North Carolina state record. Contact Cumberland County Environmental Health, 910-433-3618, for the application.

Temporary Food Establishment Permit

A vendor selling potentially hazardous food at a fair, festival or other event in Cumberland County needs a temporary food establishment permit from Cumberland County Environmental Health. The $75 amount is set by statute: G.S. 130A-248(d2) provides that a local health department "shall charge each temporary food establishment … a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for each permit issued." The FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027) lists "Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) and Renewals" at the same $75. The county Food Establishments page states that vendors "must complete an application and return it to our office with the required fee at a minimum of 15 days prior to the date of operation", and that the event sponsor must also notify the department before the event and complete the department's forms.

Public Swimming Pool and Spa Operation Permit

A fitness studio, gym or club that operates a public swimming pool or spa in Cumberland County needs an operation permit from Cumberland County Environmental Health; a studio without a pool or spa has no pool permit. The county Public Swimming Pools & Spas page states that "All public pools and spas must have an operation permit issued by the Department in order to operate" and that "An annual operation permit is valid for one year from the date of issuance; pools that open on or after April 1 are issued a seasonal permit that expires on October 31 of that year." Per the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), the seasonal permit and the year-round permit are each $300 (the FY2026 schedule listed $200 and $225). Plan review for a new pool is a separate record.

Public Swimming Pool Plan Review

A fitness studio or club building or renovating a public swimming pool or spa in Cumberland County submits plans to Cumberland County Environmental Health before construction starts; a studio without a pool or spa has no pool plan review. The county Public Swimming Pools & Spas page states that the plans and specifications are to be prepared by a registered design professional and the pool built by a contractor licensed by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors, and that "If construction is not initiated within one year from the date of approval, the approval is void." The fee is $250 per the line "Public swimming pool plan review" in the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), which also lists a swimming pool call back fee of $75.

Tattoo Permit (Permanent Location)

A salon that offers tattooing in Cumberland County needs a tattooing permit from Cumberland County Environmental Health; a salon without tattooing services has no tattoo permit. The county Tattoo Practices page states that "Anyone wishing to practice as a tattoo artist must complete an application for a tattooing permit." Per the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), the line "Tattoo license - permanent location" is $250, "Tattoo license - conventions" is $75 and the "Tattoo Call Back Fee" is $75. The same county page states: "Body piercing is not regulated under NC Public Health laws or by Cumberland County ordinance." Cosmetology licensing is a North Carolina state record.

Child Care Sanitation Inspection and Plan Review

The county Child Care page states that "The Environmental Health section completes sanitation inspections on all child care centers in Cumberland County twice each fiscal year, and one time in each six-month period", and that the inspection reports are forwarded to the Division of Child Development, which licenses the centers. For a new building the same page states: "If you are constructing a new child care center, before initiating construction you must submit equipment specifications and the Plan Review Application to this office." Per the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), an "In-Home Child Daycare Inspection" is $50. No fee for center plan review is published in the FY2027 fee schedule. The State child care license is a North Carolina state record, and the Fire Marshal's day care inspection is recorded separately.

Septic Tank Permit and Soil Evaluation

A business on a lot without public sewer in Cumberland County needs a septic permit and soil evaluation from Cumberland County Environmental Health (Wells and Wastewater, Historic Courthouse basement, 130 Gillespie Street); a business connected to public sewer has no septic permit. Per the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), the "Septic tank permit and soil evaluation/expansion permit" is $600, a repair permit $25, an expansion with pool or room addition $230, an inspection of an existing septic tank for reuse or change of use $150, and a call back $100. The county Water & Sewage page states that "The permit can be released upon receipt of the proper zoning permit and any other of all applicable fees", that an applicant with zoning and Environmental Health permits may then apply to Building Inspections, and that the Environmental Health Specialist's water and sewer authorization goes to Building Inspections so that a final inspection and permanent power can be obtained.

New Well Permit, Inspection and Water Samples

A business on a lot without public water in Cumberland County that drills a new well obtains the well permit from Cumberland County Environmental Health (Wells and Wastewater, Historic Courthouse basement, 130 Gillespie Street); a business on a public water connection has no well permit. Per the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), a "New well permit, inspection & water samples" is $400, and a well driller call back fee is $75. The county Water & Sewage page describes the water and sewer authorization that Environmental Health forwards to Building Inspections before a final inspection and permanent power.

Food Establishment and Food Stand Plan Review

A new restaurant, coffee shop or food stand in Cumberland County submits its plans to Cumberland County Environmental Health before it can be permitted. The county Food Establishments page states that "All plans must be fully approved by this office before a county or city building permit can be issued" and that "Once all necessary information has been submitted, the Environmental Health preliminary plan review process will be complete within 30 days of application submittal." The fee is $250 per the line "Plan Review Food Establishment and Food Stands" in the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027). This is a county fee within the cap in G.S. 130A-248(f), under which a local health department "may charge a fee not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)" for plan review; under the same subsection, an establishment whose prototype franchised or chain plans are reviewed by the State at the $250 fee in G.S. 130A-248(e) is not liable for the local fee. The State food establishment permit itself is a North Carolina state record.

Food Establishment Remodel Plan Review

A restaurant or coffee shop in Cumberland County that remodels its food establishment has the remodel plans reviewed by Cumberland County Environmental Health. The fee is $200 per the line "Plan Review Remodels" in the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027). The county Food Establishments page states that "All plans must be fully approved by this office before a county or city building permit can be issued", so the review comes ahead of any building permit for the remodel. The amount is below the $250 ceiling that G.S. 130A-248(f) places on a local health department's plan review fee. Contact Cumberland County Environmental Health, 910-433-3618, before starting remodel work.

Mobile Food Unit Plan Review

A food truck or other mobile food unit operating in Cumberland County goes through plan review with Cumberland County Environmental Health. The county Food Establishments page states that "All mobile food units must go through a plan review process prior to issuance of food service permit" and that mobile food units must operate from an approved restaurant or commissary, which they use for food preparation such as washing, thawing, cooking, cooling and reheating and for utensil washing. The fee is $200 per the line "Plan Review Mobile Food Units" in the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), below the $250 ceiling in G.S. 130A-248(f). The State permit to operate the unit is a North Carolina state record.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Cumberland County
Phone
910-433-3618

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. Budget OrdinanceCumberland County Budget & Performance · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  2. Child CareCumberland County Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  3. County of Cumberland, NC Adopted Annual Budget FY2027 (Reference: Exhibit A - Fire Inspections; Environmental Health Fee Schedule; Exhibit C - Planning & Inspections Fees)County of Cumberland, North Carolina · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  4. Food EstablishmentsCumberland County Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  5. G.S. 130A-248 — food establishment permits: the $120 Department permit fee and its exclusions (d), the $25 late and $150 reinstatement fees (d1), the mandatory $75 temporary and limited food service fee (d2) and the $250 local plan review ceiling (f)North Carolina General Assembly · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-30
  6. Public Swimming Pools & SpasCumberland County Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  7. Tattoo PracticesCumberland County Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  8. Water & SewageCumberland County Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21

Other offices serving Cumberland County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

North Carolina jurisdictions

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