Arlington County
Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program
In short
Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program issues 5 permits we publish for Arlington 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
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Establishment License | Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program | $40 application or annual renewal fee (not prorated); an additional $50 late fee for renewal applications received after December 31. | Calendar year; renewal fee due in December, late fee after December 31 | 2026-10-27 |
| Food Establishment Plan Review and Pre-Operational Re-Inspectiononly if it applies to you | Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program | $40 plan and specification review fee on each submission; $100 re-inspection fee if the facility does not pass the pre-scheduled pre-operational inspection. | One-time, per construction, remodeling or conversion project | 2026-10-27 |
| Mobile Food Unit License | Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program | $40 license or annual renewal fee; a unit that is new, remodeling or changing owner also pays the $40 plan review fee ($80 total). An additional $50 late fee applies to renewals received after June 30. | July 1 to June 30; renewal fee due in June, late fee after June 30 | 2026-10-27 |
| Temporary Food Establishment Licenseonly if it applies to you | Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program | $40 per application, for an operator not otherwise licensed as a food establishment or mobile food unit, under County Code §9.2-10.B as amended by Ord. No. 26-08 | Per application; apply at least 10 business days before the event | 2026-10-27 |
| Water Recreation Facility License (Pool, Spa or Interactive Water Feature)only if it applies to you | Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program | Base fee: seasonal pool, spa or interactive water feature $300; year-round pool, spa or interactive water feature $500. In addition: each additional pool, spa or interactive water feature in a multi-pool facility $200; pre-operational re-inspection $100. | Calendar year; year-round facilities pay by December 31, seasonal facilities before the license is issued | 2026-10-27 |
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 Establishment License
County Code §9.2-10.A makes it unlawful to operate a food establishment without a valid license from the County Manager, and the Environmental Health Program's Food Establishment Plans page states that all food establishments that plan to sell prepared or packaged foods need a food establishment license from Arlington County. Under §9.2-10.B, as amended by Ord. No. 26-08 (adopted April 22, 2026, effective July 1, 2026), the application or annual renewal fee is $40, assessed on a calendar year and due in December or on initial application; neither fee is prorated, and an additional $50 is charged for renewals received after December 31. The Environmental Health page says the same: "Pay the $40 fee" and states that late renewals are charged a $50 late fee. §9.2-11 lets the County Manager exempt coffee and related beverage service from parts of the chapter, so a coffee shop should confirm its status with the program (2110 Washington Blvd., Suite 350; 703-228-7444, option 4).
Food Establishment Plan Review and Pre-Operational Re-Inspection
County Code §9.2-21.A requires plans and specifications to be submitted to the County Manager before a food establishment is constructed, remodeled or converted, and §9.2-21.B requires an inspection before the establishment begins operating. Under §9.2-21.C and D, as amended by Ord. No. 26-08 (effective July 1, 2026), the plan and specification review fee is $40 per submission and a re-inspection fee of $100 applies to a facility that does not pass the pre-scheduled pre-operational inspection. The Environmental Health Program's Food Establishment Plans page describes the $40 plan review fee, payable to Treasurer Arlington County, and its Food Establishment Licenses page describes a $100 re-inspection fee per inspection for each additional inspection required. For a mobile food unit, the plan review fee is part of the $80 new-unit total shown on the Mobile Unit Licenses page.
Mobile Food Unit License
A food truck based in or operating in Arlington County needs a Mobile Food Unit license from the Environmental Health Program. County Code §9.2-10.B, as amended by Ord. No. 26-08 (effective July 1, 2026), sets a $40 application or annual renewal fee for each Mobile Food Unit, due in June or on initial application, with an additional $50 for renewals received after June 30. The program's Mobile Unit Licenses page states that licenses "are valid from July 1 to June 30 of the next year" and lists "$40 for renewals" and "$80 for mobiles that are new, remodeling, or changing owner (includes $40 license fee and $40 plan review fee)". The same page notes a separate $175 fire inspection fee, which is the Fire Marshal's Mobile Food Unit operational permit recorded under the fire permits record. The Police vendor permit and the Commissioner of Revenue's vendor's tag are separate requirements.
Temporary Food Establishment License
County Code §9.2-10.B, as amended by Ord. No. 26-08 (effective July 1, 2026), assesses a $40 application or annual renewal fee on a person who operates a temporary food establishment at a local festival, fair or other special event and who is not otherwise licensed to operate a food establishment or mobile food unit under that section. The Environmental Health Program's Temporary Food Establishment Licenses page states that an operator without a valid Virginia Department of Health or Arlington County food establishment permit must submit a Temporary Food Establishment Application "and pay the $40 fee (if applicable, as noted on the application) at least 10 business days before the event." The page adds that a food truck without an Arlington permit must also pass a joint health and fire inspection at least 10 business days before the event, and that an event with food vendors needs a coordinator application.
Water Recreation Facility License (Pool, Spa or Interactive Water Feature)
A fitness studio or club that operates a pool, spa or interactive water feature in Arlington County needs an annual or seasonal water recreation facility license, issued in the owner's name for the calendar year under County Code §24.1-7. Under §24.1-24, as amended by Ord. No. 26-08 (effective July 1, 2026), the base fee is $300 for a seasonal pool, spa or interactive water feature and $500 for a year-round one, plus $200 for each additional pool, spa or interactive water feature in a multi-pool facility and $100 for a pre-operational re-inspection. Year-round facilities pay by December 31 and seasonal facilities pay before the owner's license is issued. The Environmental Health Program's Water Recreation Facility Licenses page lists the same $500, $300 and $200 figures and says the license must be renewed every year. A studio without a pool or spa has no obligation under this record.
Contact
- Jurisdiction
- Arlington County
- Phone
- 703-228-7444, option 4
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.
- Arlington County Code, Chapter 24.1 — Water Recreation Facilities (Code Updated April 2026)Arlington County Board · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
- Arlington County Code, Chapter 9.2 — Food and Food Handling (Code Updated April 2026)Arlington County Board · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
- Food Establishment LicensesArlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
- Food Establishment Plans & ConstructionArlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
- Mobile Unit LicensesArlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
- Tax & Fee Compendium – FY 2027 AdoptedArlington County Department of Management and Finance · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
- Temporary Food Establishment LicensesArlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
- Water Recreation Facility LicensesArlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
Other offices serving Arlington County
- Arlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax Division
- Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning Divisions
- Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division
- Arlington County Department of Human Services, Child Care Services Office
- Arlington County Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal
- Arlington County Police Department, Courts, Licensing & Compliance Office
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