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Gaston County

Gaston County Environmental Health (Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Division)

In short

Gaston County Environmental Health (Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Division) issues 6 permits we publish for Gaston County, last verified 2026-10-27. 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 Service Plan Review (restaurant, mobile food unit or pushcart)only if it applies to youGaston County Environmental Health (Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Division)$250 per plan review; the county schedule labels the line 'Restaurant/Mobile Food Unit/Pushcart Plan Review' and marks it 'Fee set by State'one-time, per plan submission2026-10-27
Temporary / Limited Food Establishment Permitonly if it applies to youGaston County Environmental Health (Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Division)$75 per permit; the county schedule lists 'Limited/Temporary Food Establishment Permit' and marks it 'Fee set by State'per event; the Fairs, Festivals, and Fundraisers page defines temporary food establishments as events that 'operate for a period of 15 days or less'2026-10-27
Public Swimming Pool Operation Permit and Pool Plan Review (conditional — facility with a public pool or spa)only if it applies to youGaston County Environmental Health (Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Division)Public Swimming Pool Seasonal or Wading Pool Seasonal $250.00; Public Swimming Pool Annual or Wading Pool Annual $250.00; Pool Plan Review $500.00; Display Spas/Temporary Spas $100.00; Pool night lighting check/return visit $100.00 (FY 2027 Adopted Fee Schedule, page 140).yearly; the Public Swimming Pools page states: 'Each year, public swimming pools must renew their permits to operate'2026-10-27
Tattoo Artist Permit (conditional — premises where tattooing is offered)only if it applies to youGaston County Environmental Health (Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Division)$200 per artist (Tattoo Permit (Per Artist)); Pop-Up Tattoo Event $100.00renewal application due at least 30 days before the existing permit's expiration date (15A NCAC 18A .3202(g) and the county Tattoos page)2026-10-27
Child Care / Adult Day Care Sanitation Plan Review and InspectionsGaston County Environmental Health (Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Division)The FY 2027 Adopted Fee Schedule has no child care plan review line; contact Gaston County Environmental Health at 704-853-5200 for the current amount.recurring; the Child Care, Adult Day Care, & Group Homes page states that child care centers 'are inspected 2 times a year or as requested by the director or licensure'2026-10-27
On-site Wastewater (Septic) and Private Well Permits (conditional — premises not on public sewer or water)only if it applies to youGaston County Environmental Health (Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Division)Septic: Improvement Permit (Site Evaluation) $300.00; Construction Authorization $350.00; Improvement Permit And Authorization To Construct $650.00; Septic Repair Permit $75.00; Septic Expansion Permit or Relocation $250.00; Existing System Approval $200.00. Wells: Well Permit $450.00 plus State Required Water Test for New Wells $150.00 (FY 2027 Adopted Fee Schedule, page 140).one-time, per permit2026-10-27

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 Service Plan Review (restaurant, mobile food unit or pushcart)

A new restaurant or coffee shop in Gaston County, or an existing one changing its food service area, submits plans to Gaston County Environmental Health before construction starts. The Restaurants & Meat Markets page states: 'Plans for food service facilities, other than “franchise” or “chain” establishments, must be submitted to the local health department for approval prior to beginning construction of a new establishment or prior to making changes to the food service area of an existing establishment. Plans for “franchised” and “chain” establishments must be submitted to the state along with a state plan review application.' A food truck or pushcart submits a Mobile Food Unit or Push Cart Plan Review Application; the Food Trucks & Hot Dog Carts page states that mobile food units 'must operate in conjunction with a permitted establishment such as a restaurant, food stand, or commissary', that a commissary agreement is required, and that both mobile food units and push carts 'must report to Gaston County Environmental Health on a weekly basis on where they intend to be operating.' The plan review is $250.00, labeled in the schedule as 'Fee set by State'. The figure is as published in the FY 2027 Adopted Fee Schedule, the 'Fee Schedules' section of Gaston County's FY 2027 Adopted Budget (page 141), which the budget describes as listing 'the fees and charges adopted by the Board of Commissioners for County services'. The Board of Commissioners adopted the FY 2027 budget on May 12, 2026, and the schedule applies for fiscal year 2027, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. The Environmental Health Fee Schedule page, the Restaurants & Meat Markets page and the Food Trucks & Hot Dog Carts page show the same $250.00. Environmental Health: 704-853-5200.

Temporary / Limited Food Establishment Permit

A vendor selling food or drinks at a fair, festival, carnival or other special event in Gaston County needs a temporary food establishment (TFE) permit from Gaston County Environmental Health. The Fairs, Festivals, and Fundraisers page states: 'A TFE permit is required to sell food or drinks at these special events. To receive a TFE permit, an Event Organizer Application and Vendor Applications must be completed and submitted with Vendor Fees at least 15 days prior to the event for consideration.' It adds that 'applications received less than 15 days before an event are not guaranteed to be reviewed.' The permit is $75.00, labeled in the schedule as 'Fee set by State'. The figure is as published in the FY 2027 Adopted Fee Schedule, the 'Fee Schedules' section of Gaston County's FY 2027 Adopted Budget (page 141), which the budget describes as listing 'the fees and charges adopted by the Board of Commissioners for County services'. The Board of Commissioners adopted the FY 2027 budget on May 12, 2026, and the schedule applies for fiscal year 2027, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. The Environmental Health Fee Schedule page lists Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) and Limited Food Event (LFE) at $75.00 each. Environmental Health: 704-853-5200.

Public Swimming Pool Operation Permit and Pool Plan Review (conditional — facility with a public pool or spa)

A gym, fitness studio or child care center in Gaston County that operates a public swimming pool, spa or wading pool needs an operation permit from Gaston County Environmental Health: $250.00 for a seasonal or year-round pool, with $500.00 for plan review of a new or renovated pool. The Public Swimming Pools page states: 'Each year, public swimming pools must renew their permits to operate and be inspected by Environmental Health staff. Seasonal pools and spas are permitted and inspected once per year while year-round pools and spas are inspected twice per year.' Renewals use the Swimming Pool Operation Application, and new or renovated pools the Swimming Pool Plan Review Application. The figure is as published in the FY 2027 Adopted Fee Schedule, the 'Fee Schedules' section of Gaston County's FY 2027 Adopted Budget (page 140), which the budget describes as listing 'the fees and charges adopted by the Board of Commissioners for County services'. The Board of Commissioners adopted the FY 2027 budget on May 12, 2026, and the schedule applies for fiscal year 2027, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. The Plan Review figure rose from $350.00 in FY 2026 to $500.00 in FY 2027. A business without a pool or spa has no pool permit under this record. Environmental Health: 704-853-5200.

Tattoo Artist Permit (conditional — premises where tattooing is offered)

A salon or studio in Gaston County where tattooing is performed needs each tattoo artist to hold a permit from Gaston County Environmental Health: $200.00 per artist, and $100.00 for a pop-up tattoo event. The Tattoos page states: 'Tattooing permits shall be issued in the name of the individual tattoo artist, shall list the address of the tattoo establishment where the artist will practice, and shall not be transferable to another person or place of practice.' It also states that 'All initial applications and applications for renewal of an existing tattooing permit shall be submitted to the local health department at least 30 days prior to initial issuance of a tattooing permit or expiration date of an existing permit', which matches 15A NCAC 18A .3202(g), and that tattoo establishments 'are inspected once a year or more often if there are complaints.' The figure is as published in the FY 2027 Adopted Fee Schedule, the 'Fee Schedules' section of Gaston County's FY 2027 Adopted Budget (page 141), which the budget describes as listing 'the fees and charges adopted by the Board of Commissioners for County services'. The Board of Commissioners adopted the FY 2027 budget on May 12, 2026, and the schedule applies for fiscal year 2027, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. A salon that offers no tattooing is outside this permit. Environmental Health: 704-853-5200.

Child Care / Adult Day Care Sanitation Plan Review and Inspections

A child care center in Gaston County is inspected for sanitation by Gaston County Environmental Health, and the inspections start with a plan review application. The Child Care, Adult Day Care, & Group Homes page describes child care centers as 'businesses that provide supervision and care at least 4 hours per day for children from birth through school age' and states: 'These establishments are inspected 2 times a year or as requested by the director or licensure.' It adds: 'To allow Gaston County Environmental Health to conduct inspections at these establishments, a Plan Review Application for the corresponding establishment type must be submitted.' The page links a Child Care Plan Review Application and an Adult Day Care & Services Plan Review Application. The FY 2027 Adopted Fee Schedule, the county's adopted fee document, has no child care plan review line, so no amount is given here. The child care license itself is issued by the state and is carried at the state layer. Environmental Health: 704-853-5200.

On-site Wastewater (Septic) and Private Well Permits (conditional — premises not on public sewer or water)

A business site in Gaston County that is not served by a municipal sewer or water system needs septic and well permits from Gaston County Environmental Health. A new septic system starts with an Improvement Permit (site evaluation, $300.00) and a Construction Authorization ($350.00), or both together for $650.00; connecting to an existing system takes an Existing System Approval ($200.00); expanding or relocating a system is $250.00 and a repair permit is $75.00. A new well is $450.00 plus the $150.00 state-required water test. The figure is as published in the FY 2027 Adopted Fee Schedule, the 'Fee Schedules' section of Gaston County's FY 2027 Adopted Budget (page 140), which the budget describes as listing 'the fees and charges adopted by the Board of Commissioners for County services'. The Board of Commissioners adopted the FY 2027 budget on May 12, 2026, and the schedule applies for fiscal year 2027, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. The On-Site Wastewater and Wells page states: 'Municipal Wastewater: No permit required from Environmental Health for wastewater-related services' and 'Municipal Water: No permit required from Environmental Health for water-related services', so a site on public sewer and water is outside this record. Environmental Health: 704-853-5200.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Gaston County
Phone
704-853-5200

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. 15A NCAC 18A .3202 — PermitsNorth Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  2. Child Care, Adult Day Care, & Group HomesGaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  3. Current Year Budget (FY 2027)Gaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  4. Environmental HealthGaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  5. Fairs, Festivals, and FundraisersGaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  6. Fee Schedule (Environmental Health)Gaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  7. Food Trucks & Hot Dog CartsGaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  8. FY 2027 Adopted Budget (PDF) — Fee Schedules, pages 126–142Gaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  9. On-Site Wastewater and WellsGaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  10. Public Swimming PoolsGaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  11. Restaurants & Meat MarketsGaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  12. School Lunchrooms & Concession Stands (LFSE)Gaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  13. TattoosGaston County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27

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