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Multnomah County

Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services

In short

Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services issues 8 permits we publish for Multnomah County, last verified 2026-10-09. 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
Mobile Food Unit (Food Cart and Food Truck) LicenseMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services2026 license fee: Class I, II or III mobile unit $760; Class IV mobile unit $920. A license applied for between 1 October and 31 December 2026 is $380 (Class I-III) or $460 (Class IV). Plan review $790 ($2,380 rush). Out-of-county mobile unit inspection $25.calendar year; the license expires on 31 December (MCC 21.612)2026-10-09
Food Cart Pod License (Site Owner or Lessee)only if it applies to youMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services2026 license fee: pod of 2-9 carts $540; pod of 10 or more carts $720. A license applied for between 1 October and 31 December 2026 is $270 or $360. Plan review $770; re-inspection $270; late fee $100.calendar year (Multnomah County Code 21.625-21.634; FY 2026 County Fee Schedule)2026-10-09
Restaurant (Food Service) LicenseMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services2026 license fee by seating: 0-15 seats $970; 16-50 seats $1,150; 51-150 seats $1,290; over 150 seats $1,545; limited service (prepackaged items only) $890; bed and breakfast food service $420. A license applied for between 1 October and 31 December 2026 is $485 / $575 / $645 / $770, or $445 for limited service. Plan review: new construction $1,265 ($3,780 rush); remodel $1,185 ($3,565 rush). Recheck $270; consultation $265 per hour; late or reinstatement fee $100.calendar year; the license expires on 31 December (MCC 21.612)2026-10-09
Tobacco Retail Licenseonly if it applies to youMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services$1,184 per retail location per year (FY 2027 County Fee Schedule, effective 1 July 2026)one calendar year from the date of issuance (MCC 21.561(D))2026-10-09
Commissary and Warehouse License (Servicing Mobile Food Units)only if it applies to youMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services2026 license fee: commissary servicing mobile units $720; warehouse $630. A license applied for between 1 October and 31 December 2026 is $360 (commissary) or $315 (warehouse).calendar year; the license expires on 31 December (MCC 21.612)2026-10-09
Temporary Restaurant (Food Event) Licenseonly if it applies to youMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services2026 fee: single event license (1-30 days) $210; intermittent license (30 days) $210; seasonal license (90 days) $210. Late fee $100 when payment arrives less than 2 business days (by noon) before the event. Operational plan review for a seasonal or intermittent license $140. Benevolent organization administrative fee $50 per year.single event up to 30 days; intermittent 30 days; seasonal 90 days2026-10-09
Public Pool and Spa Licenseonly if it applies to youMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services2026 license fee: first one or two pools or spas $1,170; each pool or spa over two at the same location $410; seasonal license for one or two pools or spas $600; each seasonal pool or spa over two at the same location $410. Recheck $270.calendar year (MCC 21.150); a seasonal license is good for 6 consecutive months2026-10-09
Child Care Facility Health and Sanitation InspectionMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services2026 inspection fee: child care center for 1-12 children $370; 13-20 children $390; 21 or more children $410; certified family home $385; before- and after-school program $370. Plan review $450.tied to the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care license cycle2026-10-09

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

Mobile Food Unit (Food Cart and Food Truck) License

Food carts, food trucks and other mobile food units operating in Multnomah County are licensed by county Environmental Health Services under Multnomah County Code Chapter 21. The county's Food Cart License page describes a plan review before a new unit operates, an inspection, and a license that is 'good for one calendar year', and states that most food carts need a commissary unless they have a 3-compartment sink. The fee figures are the 2026 figures in the FY 2026 County Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-043) and the EHS 2026 Base Fee Schedule (EHS-0001); the 2026 schedule is in effect through 31 December 2026. Resolution 2026-039, adopted 4 June 2026, sets $810 for Class I-III units, $980 for Class IV units and $845 for plan review from 1 January 2027. Coffee carts and drive-through beverage stands are mobile units under the same schedule. City zoning, fire and right-of-way permits apply in addition where the cart is sited.

Food Cart Pod License (Site Owner or Lessee)

The county's Food Cart Pod License page states that 'All food cart pods must be licensed and pass regular health inspections' and that this 'applies to anyone (owner or lessee) who allows 2 or more food carts to park continuously on a property in order to sell food or drinks.' The same page states that an individual food cart operator does not apply for this license, and that pod operators are responsible for safe drinking water, wastewater disposal and a spill control plan for the carts on the site. The fee figures are the 2026 figures in the FY 2026 County Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-043) and the EHS 2026 Base Fee Schedule (EHS-0001); the 2026 schedule is in effect through 31 December 2026. Resolution 2026-039, adopted 4 June 2026, sets $575 for 2-9 carts, $770 for 10 or more carts and $820 for plan review from 1 January 2027.

Restaurant (Food Service) License

Multnomah County Environmental Health Services licenses every restaurant and food establishment in the county, in Portland, Gresham, the other cities and the unincorporated area, under the state delegation in ORS 624.510 and Multnomah County Code Chapter 21. The county's Restaurant License page states that 'All restaurants and food establishments must be licensed and pass regular health inspections' and that a plan review and license are required before opening a new restaurant or remodelling one. The fee figures are the 2026 figures in the FY 2026 County Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-043, adopted 12 June 2025) and the EHS 2026 Base Fee Schedule (EHS-0001, rev. 02/17/26); health licenses run on the calendar year and the 2026 schedule is in effect through 31 December 2026. Resolution 2026-039, adopted 4 June 2026, sets the fees from 1 January 2027: 0-15 seats $1,035, 16-50 seats $1,225, 51-150 seats $1,375, over 150 seats $1,650, limited service $950, bed and breakfast $450, and plan review $1,350 for new construction and $1,265 for a remodel. City zoning, building and business tax requirements apply in addition to this license.

Tobacco Retail License

The county's Tobacco Retail License page states that 'Any business that does retail sales of tobacco, nicotine and vaping products in Multnomah County is required to get a license', naming convenience stores, bars, hotels, restaurants and music venues, and that a business in the county applies to the county and does not need a second license from the state. Each location needs its own license, which may not be transferred to a new owner or location and must be displayed where customers and staff can see it, according to the same page. The fee is $1,184 per location from 1 July 2026 under the FY 2027 County Fee Schedule adopted by Resolution 2026-039 (it was $683 before that date); the schedule also lists a $255 recheck, a late fee of 50% of the license fee and a $100 appeal. Penalties from 1 July 2026 are $1,500 plus training for a first violation, $2,500 plus a 30-day suspension for a second, and $4,000 plus a 90-day suspension for a third. Each licensed retailer receives at least one unannounced site visit a year, according to the county page.

Commissary and Warehouse License (Servicing Mobile Food Units)

The county's Food Cart License page states that if a cart must operate from a licensed commissary (commercial kitchen), the operator must apply for a commissary operator's license and pay the commissary license fee, and that food and equipment not stored in the cart or commissary 'must be stored in a licensed warehouse'. A cart owned by a restaurant, or one only dropping off and picking up dishes, still sends the county a commissary verification form, according to the same page. The fee figures are the 2026 figures in the FY 2026 County Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-043) and the EHS 2026 Base Fee Schedule (EHS-0001); the 2026 schedule is in effect through 31 December 2026. Resolution 2026-039, adopted 4 June 2026, sets $770 for a commissary servicing mobile units and $670 for a warehouse from 1 January 2027.

Temporary Restaurant (Food Event) License

The county's Temporary Food Event License page states that each person or organization selling or giving out food to the public at a special event 'is required by Oregon law to obtain a temporary restaurant license', and that 'Every food booth must apply for a separate license for every event where food is served', at farmers markets, festivals, concerts, fairs and flea markets among others. The page asks for a completed application at least 2 weeks before the event, requires a first-time applicant to take a 30-day license, and requires an operational plan review with intermittent and seasonal applications. The fee figures are the 2026 figures in the FY 2026 County Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-043), the EHS 2026 Base Fee Schedule (EHS-0001) and the county page; the 2026 schedule is in effect through 31 December 2026. Resolution 2026-039, adopted 4 June 2026, sets $225 for each license type from 1 January 2027, or $325 when the application or payment comes within 2 business days of the event, and $150 for the operational review.

Public Pool and Spa License

The county's Pool and Spa Licenses page states that 'All public swimming pools, spas and water attractions must be licensed and pass regular health inspections', that a plan review and license are needed before building or remodelling a public pool or spa, and that facilities are considered public if they are private clubs or fitness clubs, among others. A fitness studio without a pool or spa has no pool license to obtain. The page states that licenses are good for one calendar year, with a seasonal license good for 6 consecutive months. The fee figures are the 2026 figures in the FY 2026 County Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-043), the EHS 2026 Base Fee Schedule (EHS-0001) and the county page; the 2026 schedule is in effect through 31 December 2026. Resolution 2026-039, adopted 4 June 2026, sets the year-round fee at $1,245 for the first one or two pools or spas and $435 for each one over two from 1 January 2027.

Child Care Facility Health and Sanitation Inspection

The county's Child and Adult Care Facility Inspections page states that Multnomah County Environmental Health 'provides health, safety and sanitation inspections to child care centers, family homes and residential treatment centers in Multnomah County', that licenses are issued by Oregon's Department of Early Learning and Care, and that a provider applying for or renewing a license is notified that it needs an inspection from the county. The page directs providers to send a completed Child Care Inspection Request Form with the fee at least 30 days before the license expires. The fee figures are the 2026 figures in the FY 2026 County Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-043); the 2026 schedule is in effect through 31 December 2026. Resolution 2026-039, adopted 4 June 2026, sets the fees from 1 January 2027: centers $395 (1-12 children), $415 (13-20) and $435 (21 or more); certified family homes $410; before- and after-school programs $395.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Multnomah County
Phone
503-988-3400

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. Child and Adult Care Facility InspectionsMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-09
  2. Multnomah County — 2026 environmental health licence fee schedule, restaurants banded by seatingMultnomah County · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  3. Multnomah County Code Chapter 21, HealthMultnomah County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  4. Multnomah County FY 2026 Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-043, adopted 12 June 2025)Multnomah County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  5. Multnomah County FY 2027 Fee Schedule (adopted by Resolution 2026-039)Multnomah County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  6. Multnomah County Resolution 2026-039, adopting the FY 2027 fee schedule (adopted 4 June 2026)Multnomah County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  7. Multnomah County, 2027 Fee Changes for Health LicensesMultnomah County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  8. Multnomah County, Food Cart License pageMultnomah County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  9. Multnomah County, Food Cart Pod License pageMultnomah County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  10. Multnomah County, Pool and Spa Licenses pageMultnomah County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  11. Multnomah County, Restaurant License pageMultnomah County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  12. Multnomah County, Temporary Food Event License pageMultnomah County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  13. Multnomah County, Tobacco Retail License pageMultnomah County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09

Other offices serving Multnomah County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

Oregon jurisdictions

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