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Lorain County

Lorain County Public Health

In short

Lorain County Public Health issues 10 permits we publish for Lorain County, last verified 2026-10-20. 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 Operation / Retail Food Establishment LicenseLorain County Public HealthCombined LCPH + state fee, printed as Health Department fee + State fee = Total. Commercial under 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $170 + $28 = $198; risk 2 $190 + $28 = $218; risk 3 $360 + $28 = $388; risk 4 $454 + $28 = $482. Commercial over 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $242 + $28 = $270; risk 2 $256 + $28 = $284; risk 3 $890 + $28 = $918; risk 4 $944 + $28 = $972. Non-commercial under 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $85 + $14 = $99; risk 2 $95 + $14 = $109; risk 3 $180 + $14 = $194; risk 4 $227 + $14 = $241. Non-commercial over 25,000 sq ft: risk 1 $121 + $14 = $135; risk 2 $128 + $14 = $142; risk 3 $445 + $14 = $459; risk 4 $472 + $14 = $486. Micro Market $170 + $28 = $198 (RFE, Risk 1). Late fee: 25% of the local (Health Department) fee. The $28 and $14 parts are the state fee.not stated on the LCPH food safety page or in its 2026 fee schedule; contact LCPH at 440-322-6367 for the license period and renewal date2026-10-20
Food Plan Reviewonly if it applies to youLorain County Public Health$100–$200 per plan submission — $100 for facilities under 25,000 sq ft, $200 for facilities 25,000 sq ft or greater; no state part is printed; the mobile application states "There is no plan review fee for mobile operations."per project; LCPH's application states that approved plans are valid for one year unless additional time is requested in writing2026-10-20
Mobile Food Service Operation / Mobile Retail Food Establishment LicenseLorain County Public Health$79–$130 per unit — combined LCPH + state fee: high risk $102 + $28 state = $130; low risk $51 + $28 state = $79not stated on the LCPH food safety page or in its 2026 fee schedule; contact LCPH at 440-322-6367 for the license period and renewal date2026-10-20
Temporary Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment Licenseonly if it applies to youLorain County Public Health$22.50–$45 per day of the event — $45.00 a day commercial, $22.50 a day non-commercial; the schedule prints the state fee as N/A, so the whole amount is the LCPH feeper event, charged by the day2026-10-20
Food Vending Machine Licenseonly if it applies to youLorain County Public Health$16.80 per license — combined LCPH + state fee: $10.80 LCPH + $6.00 state = $16.80not stated on the LCPH food safety page or in its 2026 fee schedule; contact LCPH at 440-322-6367 for the license period and renewal date2026-10-20
Public Swimming Pool / Spa / Special Use Pool Licenseonly if it applies to youLorain County Public HealthCombined LCPH + state fee: public swimming pool, spa or special use pool $410 + $80 state = $490; each additional pool, spa or special use pool at the same location $250 + $55 state = $305; bathing area $200 (state fee N/A). Late fee for pools, spas and special use pools: 25% of the license fee.not stated in the LCPH 2026 fee schedule or on its pools page; contact LCPH at 440-322-6367 for the license period and renewal date2026-10-20
Tattoo / Body Piercing (Body Art) Establishment Licenseonly if it applies to youLorain County Public Health$200–$430 per approval — tattooing services $430, body piercing services $430, combined body art services $430; time-limited tattooing services (temporaries) $200; no state part is printednot stated in the LCPH 2026 fee schedule or on its body art page; contact LCPH at 440-322-6367 for the approval period and renewal date2026-10-20
Semi-Public (Commercial) Sewage Treatment System Operation Permitonly if it applies to youLorain County Public HealthSemi-public sewage disposal (HB 110), LCPH fee only: annual permit — discharging system $320; soil absorption system $160; holding tank $125; closed or out-of-business facility $50. Installation inspection $250; abandonment inspection $150. A 25% late fee applies when the annual permit is not renewed on time, and a 25% late fee applies when work begins before a permit is issued.annual operation permit; the 2026 fee schedule applies a 25% late fee when the annual permit is not renewed on time2026-10-20
Small Flow On-Site Sewage Treatment System (SFOSTS) Permitsonly if it applies to youLorain County Public HealthCombined LCPH + state fee where a state fee is printed: new installation permit $525 + $74 state = $599; replacement installation permit $450 + $74 state = $524; alteration permit $350 + $35 state = $385. LCPH fee only: site review application $400; abandonment permit $100; annual operation permit $120 (3 years) or $40 (1 year). A 25% late fee is charged when work has begun before a permit is issued.installation, alteration, site review and abandonment permits are per project; the operation permit runs for 3 years ($120) or 1 year ($40)2026-10-20
Private Water System Permit (Non-Single Family)only if it applies to youLorain County Public HealthPrivate Water Systems (PWS) – Non-Single Family, printed as HD fee + ODH fee + ODNR fee = Total: construction of a PWS $175 + $74 + $20 = $269; construction of a test well $150 + $74 + $20 = $244; conversion of an existing well to a PWS $175 + $74 = $249; alteration of a PWS or test well $100 (LCPH only); sealing of a PWS (abandonment) $100 (LCPH only). The ODH and ODNR parts are state agency fees.per project — each construction, conversion, alteration or sealing is permitted separately2026-10-20

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 Operation / Retail Food Establishment License

Lorain County Public Health licenses and inspects, in its own words, 'over 1,600 restaurants, grocery stores, food trucks, vending machines, and anywhere else that sells you food.' Lorain County Public Health's About page states that LCPH 'provides public health services for cities, townships, and villages in Lorain County, Ohio. The exception is the City of Vermilion, which receives services from the Erie County Health Department.' A restaurant or shop in the City of Vermilion is therefore licensed by the Erie County Health Department, and the figures here do not apply there. The figures are taken from 'LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026', LCPH's adopted fee schedule, which prints 'Effective: 1/1/2026' and 'Revised: 1/21/2026', which LCPH's food safety page links as 'Food License Fees'. The schedule prints each fee in three columns, Health Department Fee, State Fee and Total Fee, and the record gives all three; the $28 (commercial) or $14 (non-commercial) part is the state fee. The 25,000 sq ft line splits each risk tier, and a micro market is priced as a retail food establishment at risk level 1. The schedule sets a late fee of 25% of the local fee, and LCPH's payment page states that 'a 25% administration fee will be applied to all payments made after the due date.' The 2027 schedule is in the Board of Health's reading process: the board's October 2026 agenda lists 'Proposed 2027 Food Service Fees – First Reading #2026-116' with no amounts printed, so the 2026 schedule remains the one LCPH links. LCPH's plan review application lists child care among the business types it covers, so a childcare center or gym that serves or sells food falls under these licensing rules as well.

Food Plan Review

Building, remodeling or changing the use of a kitchen, coffee bar, deli or food sales area in Lorain County outside the City of Vermilion takes a plan review by Lorain County Public Health before work starts. LCPH's Plan Review Application for Food Service Operations and Retail Food Establishments, updated 1/3/2025, says to 'Submit plans and payment prior to construction or remodel' and prints the fee as '$100 for facilities less than 25,000 sq. ft., $200 for facilities 25,000 sq. ft. or greater'; the same two figures appear under PLAN REVIEW in 'LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026', LCPH's adopted fee schedule, which prints 'Effective: 1/1/2026' and 'Revised: 1/21/2026'. The application states that LCPH 'will review the plans within 30 days of receiving complete plan review packet', that 'approved plans are valid for one year unless additional time is requested in writing', and that the operator must contact LCPH for a licensing inspection before operating. A food truck uses the separate Plan Review Application for Mobiles, which states 'There is no plan review fee for mobile operations.' Plan review sits alongside the food license, not in place of it.

Mobile Food Service Operation / Mobile Retail Food Establishment License

A food truck, trailer or cart based in Lorain County is licensed by Lorain County Public Health as a mobile food service operation or mobile retail food establishment. Lorain County Public Health's About page states that LCPH 'provides public health services for cities, townships, and villages in Lorain County, Ohio. The exception is the City of Vermilion, which receives services from the Erie County Health Department.' The fee is a combined LCPH and state figure, printed in 'LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026', LCPH's adopted fee schedule, which prints 'Effective: 1/1/2026' and 'Revised: 1/21/2026' as Mobile – High Risk $102.00 Health Department fee plus $28.00 State fee, total $130.00, and Mobile – Low Risk $51.00 plus $28.00, total $79.00. LCPH's food safety page publishes a mobile diagram form and a separate Plan Review Application for Mobiles, which states 'There is no plan review fee for mobile operations.' The schedule's late fee of 25% of the local fee applies to mobile licenses as to other food licenses. The 2027 food fees are in the Board of Health's reading process: its October 2026 agenda lists 'Proposed 2027 Food Service Fees – First Reading #2026-116' with no amounts printed, so the 2026 schedule remains the one LCPH links.

Temporary Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License

Serving food at a festival, fair, market or other short event in Lorain County outside the City of Vermilion takes a temporary license from Lorain County Public Health. The charge is by the day: 'LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026', LCPH's adopted fee schedule, which prints 'Effective: 1/1/2026' and 'Revised: 1/21/2026' prints 'Temporary Commercial $45.00/day' and 'Temporary Non-Commercial $22.50/day', with the State Fee column marked N/A, so there is no state part in these figures. LCPH's food safety page links a Temporary Food License Application and a sheet of Temporary Event Coordinator Responsibilities for event organizers. Because the fee is per day, a three-day event is charged three days of the fee. Lorain County Public Health's About page states that LCPH 'provides public health services for cities, townships, and villages in Lorain County, Ohio. The exception is the City of Vermilion, which receives services from the Erie County Health Department.'

Food Vending Machine License

Food vending machines are among the operations Lorain County Public Health lists as licensed and inspected on its food safety page, which also links a Plan Review Application for Vending. A shop, gym or repair-shop waiting room with food vending machines can fall in this category. The fee is a combined LCPH and state figure, printed in 'LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026', LCPH's adopted fee schedule, which prints 'Effective: 1/1/2026' and 'Revised: 1/21/2026' as Vending $10.80 Health Department fee plus $6.00 State fee, total $16.80. Lorain County Public Health's About page states that LCPH 'provides public health services for cities, townships, and villages in Lorain County, Ohio. The exception is the City of Vermilion, which receives services from the Erie County Health Department.' A micro market is priced separately, under the food service license record.

Public Swimming Pool / Spa / Special Use Pool License

A gym, fitness club or studio in Lorain County that runs a public swimming pool, spa or special use pool needs a license from Lorain County Public Health, which states on its pools page that it 'inspects and licenses public swimming pools' and that a public swimming pool is 'an indoor or outdoor structure that public citizens may use to swim, dive, or bathe.' The figures are combined LCPH and state amounts, printed in 'LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026', LCPH's adopted fee schedule, which prints 'Effective: 1/1/2026' and 'Revised: 1/21/2026' as $410.00 license fee plus $80.00 state fee, total $490.00, for the first pool, spa or special use pool, and $250.00 plus $55.00, total $305.00, for each additional one at the same location; a bathing area is $200.00 with no state fee. The schedule adds a late fee of 25% of the license fee. A studio without a pool or spa has no pool license to obtain. Lorain County Public Health's About page states that LCPH 'provides public health services for cities, townships, and villages in Lorain County, Ohio. The exception is the City of Vermilion, which receives services from the Erie County Health Department.'

Tattoo / Body Piercing (Body Art) Establishment License

A salon or studio in Lorain County that offers tattooing, body piercing or other body art needs approval from Lorain County Public Health, which states on its body art page that it 'inspects and licenses places that provide tattoos, piercing, and other types of body art.' 'LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026', LCPH's adopted fee schedule, which prints 'Effective: 1/1/2026' and 'Revised: 1/21/2026' prints the fees as Tattooing Services $430.00, Body Piercing Services $430.00, Combined Body Art Services $430.00 and Time-limited tattooing services (temporaries) $200.00. LCPH's Plan Review Application for New Body Art Establishments, updated 4/8/2026 and linked from the body art page, repeats the figure: 'After the final inspection, pay the approval certificate fee: Tattooing services only: $430'. That application asks for plans before construction or remodeling, says LCPH will review them within 30 days of a complete packet, and lists a zoning permit and certificate of occupancy among the documents required. A hair, nail or beauty salon that offers no tattooing or piercing is outside this record. Lorain County Public Health's About page states that LCPH 'provides public health services for cities, townships, and villages in Lorain County, Ohio. The exception is the City of Vermilion, which receives services from the Erie County Health Department.'

Semi-Public (Commercial) Sewage Treatment System Operation Permit

A restaurant, shop, childcare center, clinic or repair shop in Lorain County whose building is served by its own sewage system rather than a public sewer runs what LCPH calls a commercial sewage treatment system, and Lorain County Public Health 'inspects, monitors, and conducts enforcement (if needed) for approximately 700+ commercial sewage treatment systems in Lorain County,' per its commercial sewage page. That page defines the system as one that 'treats the sanitary sewage discharged from publicly or privately owned buildings or places of assemblage, entertainment, recreation, education, correction, hospitalization, housing, or employment', excluding systems over 25,000 gallons a day and industrial waste systems. The annual operation permit and inspection fees are printed under SEMI-PUBLIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL (HB 110) in 'LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026', LCPH's adopted fee schedule, which prints 'Effective: 1/1/2026' and 'Revised: 1/21/2026': $320.00 for a discharging system, $160.00 for a soil absorption system, $125.00 for a holding tank and $50.00 for a closed or out-of-business facility, plus $250.00 for an installation inspection and $150.00 for an abandonment inspection; the schedule prints no state part. A business on a public sewer is outside this record. Lorain County Public Health's About page states that LCPH 'provides public health services for cities, townships, and villages in Lorain County, Ohio. The exception is the City of Vermilion, which receives services from the Erie County Health Department.'

Small Flow On-Site Sewage Treatment System (SFOSTS) Permits

A small business building on an unsewered lot in Lorain County may need a small flow on-site sewage treatment system rather than a household one. ORC 3718.01(R) defines a small flow system as 'a system, other than a household sewage treatment system, that treats not more than one thousand gallons of sewage per day' and needs no NPDES or injection well permit, and ORC 3718.01(F) defines a household system as one that 'receives sewage from a single-family, two-family, or three-family dwelling', so a system serving a shop, office, salon or small restaurant is in the small flow category. The figures are printed under SMALL FLOW ON-SITE SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SFOSTS) in 'LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026', LCPH's adopted fee schedule, which prints 'Effective: 1/1/2026' and 'Revised: 1/21/2026', which states that new and replacement installation permits 'require a state fee of $74.00' and alteration permits 'require a state fee of $35.00'; those parts are included in the totals above. The schedule charges a 25% late fee when work has begun before a permit is issued. A business on a public sewer is outside this record. Lorain County Public Health's About page states that LCPH 'provides public health services for cities, townships, and villages in Lorain County, Ohio. The exception is the City of Vermilion, which receives services from the Erie County Health Department.'

Private Water System Permit (Non-Single Family)

A business in Lorain County that draws its drinking water from its own well, cistern or pond rather than a public main uses a private water system, which ORC 3701.344(A) defines as a system with 'fewer than fifteen service connections' that 'does not regularly serve an average of at least twenty-five individuals daily at least sixty days out of the year.' Lorain County Public Health 'inspects the construction and installation of private water systems,' per its wells page, which also links a list of registered private water system contractors. A business premises falls on the non-single-family lines of 'LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026', LCPH's adopted fee schedule, which prints 'Effective: 1/1/2026' and 'Revised: 1/21/2026', where each fee is printed in HD, ODH and ODNR columns: construction $269 in total, a test well $244, conversion of an existing well $249, and alteration or sealing $100 each. The $74 Ohio Department of Health and $20 Ohio Department of Natural Resources parts are state agency fees collected with the LCPH fee. A business on a public water supply is outside this record. Lorain County Public Health's About page states that LCPH 'provides public health services for cities, townships, and villages in Lorain County, Ohio. The exception is the City of Vermilion, which receives services from the Erie County Health Department.'

Contact

Jurisdiction
Lorain County
Phone
440-322-6367

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. About - Lorain County Public HealthLorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  2. Board of Health Meeting Agenda October 2026Lorain County Public Health Board of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  3. Commercial Sewage - Lorain County Public HealthLorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  4. Food Safety - Lorain County Public HealthLorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  5. LORAIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES 2026 (Created: 1/03/2023 Revised: 1/21/2026; Effective: 1/1/2026)Lorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  6. ORC 3701.344, Private water system definitionsOhio Legislative Service Commission · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  7. ORC 3718.01, Sewage treatment system definitionsOhio Legislative Service Commission · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  8. Pay - Lorain County Public HealthLorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  9. Plan Review Application for Food Service Operations and Retail Food Establishments (Updated 1/3/2025)Lorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  10. Plan Review Application for MobilesLorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  11. Plan Review Application for New Body Art Establishments (Updated 4/8/2026)Lorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  12. Pools & Spas - Lorain County Public HealthLorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  13. Sewage - Lorain County Public HealthLorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  14. Tattoos & Piercing (Body Art) - Lorain County Public HealthLorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20
  15. Wells & Private Water Systems - Lorain County Public HealthLorain County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-20

Other offices serving Lorain County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

Ohio jurisdictions

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