Thurston County
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, Environmental Health Division
In short
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, Environmental Health Division issues 5 permits we publish for Thurston County, last verified 2026-10-06. 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 Plan Reviewonly if it applies to you | Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, Environmental Health Division | $275–$550 per review (2026 schedule): High/Medium risk $550; Low/Minimal risk $415; change of ownership $350; remodel, addition or menu expansion $275; plus the 5% technology fee | one-time per review | 2026-10-06 |
| Drinking Water Program — Well Site Review and Public Water System Permits (Sanitary Code Article III)only if it applies to you | Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, Environmental Health Division | 2026 Environmental Health schedule, Article III: well site review $610 plus $275 per hour after 2 hours; Group B public water system preliminary plan (design) review $1,140 plus $275 per hour after 4 hours; water system design resubmission $295; sanitary survey or public water system evaluation and report $1,220; public water supply annual permit $165; Certificate of Water Availability review $275; certified water sample pickup $175 per site visit; laboratory tests — total coliform (Colilert) presence/absence $32, membrane filter $40, Quanti-tray $40, nitrate $32, emergency after-hours testing $520 plus the sample fee; special requests under Article III $275; plus the 5% technology fee where applicable | per review; public water supply permit annual | 2026-10-06 |
| Food Establishment Permit (annual, by risk level and square footage) | Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, Environmental Health Division | $205–$2,290 a year by risk category and floor area (2026 schedule): Minimal $205 / $535; Low $390 / $945; Medium $575 / $1,085 / $1,620 / $2,055; High $670 / $1,200 / $1,885 / $2,290; plus the 5% technology fee | annual | 2026-10-06 |
| Temporary Food Establishment Permitonly if it applies to you | Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, Environmental Health Division | $100–$550 per permit by risk and duration (2026): Low $100 (1-21 days or recurring), $270 multiple events; Medium $140 (1-3 days), $235 (4-21 days or recurring), $415 multiple events; High $190 (1-3 days), $380 (4-21 days or recurring), $550 multiple events; late fees extra | per event (1-3 days, 4-21 days or recurring, or a multiple-event permit) | 2026-10-06 |
| Water Recreation Facility (Pool / Spa) Operating Permitonly if it applies to you | Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, Environmental Health Division | $580–$2,305 per pool (2026): seasonal (six months) certified $580, non-certified $1,150; year-round certified $1,155, non-certified $2,305; each additional pool $325-$930; plan analysis and other fees extra | seasonal (six months) or year-round | 2026-10-06 |
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 Plan Review
Environmental Health reviews food establishment plans before a restaurant or coffee shop opens, changes owner, remodels, adds space or expands its menu, county-wide. The Environmental Health 2026 Fee Schedule (Appendix A of Article I, effective January 1, 2026) prices the plan review at $550 for a High or Medium risk establishment and $415 for a Low or Minimal risk establishment; a change of ownership review is $350, and a remodel, addition or menu expansion review is $275. The schedule labels these by risk level and does not limit the $550 and $415 figures to new establishments. A 5% technology fee applies to applicable county permits under Resolutions 16560 and H-1-2026, and the schedule's fees adjust each January 1 by the April CPI-W, capped at 3.5%. The plan review is separate from the annual food establishment permit recorded above. Call Environmental Health at 360-867-2685.
Drinking Water Program — Well Site Review and Public Water System Permits (Sanitary Code Article III)
A business whose premises draw water from a well or a small public water system, rather than a city or utility connection, deals with Environmental Health's Drinking Water Program. Article III of the Sanitary Code states: 'This Article regulates water supplies located within Thurston County', so it is county-wide; its public water system section exempts sources serving only one or two single-family residential connections, which remain subject to siting and protection standards. Article III §10 charges fees as set in Article I, and the Environmental Health 2026 Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026) prices them: well site review $610 plus $275 an hour after two hours; Group B public water system design review $1,140 plus $275 an hour after four hours; a public water supply annual permit $165; a sanitary survey or system evaluation $1,220; a Certificate of Water Availability review $275; certified water sample pickup $175 per visit, with laboratory tests from $32 (total coliform or nitrate). The adopted Article III text is the version effective January 1, 2014. The county's Environmental Health page states that it is accepting public comments on revisions to the Article III Drinking Water Code; the figures here are the current adopted 2026 schedule. Call Environmental Health at 360-867-2685.
Food Establishment Permit (annual, by risk level and square footage)
Every restaurant, café and other permanent food establishment in Thurston County needs an annual food establishment permit from the Environmental Health Division of Public Health and Social Services. Article II of the Thurston County Sanitary Code states: 'These regulations apply to all food establishments located in Thurston County', so the permit applies in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and every other city and town as well as the unincorporated area. Per the Environmental Health 2026 Fee Schedule (Appendix A of Article I, effective January 1, 2026), the annual fee depends on menu risk category and floor area: Minimal risk $205 (0-3,000 sq ft) or $535 (over 3,000); Low risk $390 (0-3,000) or $945 (over 3,000); Medium risk $575 (0-1,000), $1,085 (1,001-2,000), $1,620 (2,001-3,000) or $2,055 (over 3,000); High risk $670 (0-1,000), $1,200 (1,001-2,000), $1,885 (2,001-3,000) or $2,290 (over 3,000). A 5% technology fee applies to applicable county permits under Resolutions 16560 and H-1-2026. The schedule's fees adjust each January 1 by the April Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-W, capped at 3.5%. Plan review is charged separately (recorded below). Each food worker also needs a food and beverage service worker's permit; the schedule prints its $10 fee as 'set by State Board of Health'. Alcohol is licensed by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Call Environmental Health at 360-867-2685.
Temporary Food Establishment Permit
A restaurant or coffee business serving food at a fair, festival, market or other event in Thurston County needs a temporary food establishment permit from Environmental Health, county-wide. Article II §10 requires the person responsible to apply at least two weeks before the event. Per the Environmental Health 2026 Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026): Low risk $100 for 1-21 days or recurring, $270 for a multiple-event permit; Medium risk $140 for 1-3 days, $235 for 4-21 days or recurring, $415 multiple events; High risk $190 for 1-3 days, $380 for 4-21 days or recurring, $550 multiple events. Late fees: Low risk $50 when the application arrives less than 14 days before the event; Medium and High risk $50 between 13 and 7 days before, $90 less than 7 days before and $110 less than 3 days before. The schedule prints a separate non-profit discount table that already includes the 5% technology fee: Low $79; Medium $110 (1-3 days) or $185 (4-21 days or recurring); High $150 (1-3 days) or $299 (4-21 days or recurring). Call Environmental Health at 360-867-2685.
Water Recreation Facility (Pool / Spa) Operating Permit
A gym or fitness studio with a swimming pool, spa or hot tub needs a water recreation facility permit from Environmental Health. Article VII §2 of the Sanitary Code applies 'within the boundaries of Thurston County, including all cities and towns therein', except pools for guests of a single-family dwelling or an owner-occupied duplex, therapeutic water facilities operated exclusively for physical therapy, and steam baths and saunas. Per the Environmental Health 2026 Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026): a seasonal (six-month) permit is $580 per certified pool and $1,150 per non-certified pool, plus $325 for each additional certified pool or $470 for each additional non-certified pool; a year-round permit is $1,155 per certified pool and $2,305 per non-certified pool, plus $635 or $930 for each additional pool. Plan analysis for a new facility (pre-opening inspections) is $1,100 plus $275 for each additional facility; a change-of-ownership assessment is $550; a remodel is $275; a field reinspection is $275; and the late fee is $130. A studio without a pool, spa or hot tub has no permit under this program. Call Environmental Health at 360-867-2685.
Contact
- Jurisdiction
- Thurston County
- Phone
- 360-867-2685
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.
- Environmental Health 2026 Fee Schedule — Appendix A of Article I, Thurston County Sanitary Code (effective January 1, 2026)Thurston County Public Health and Social Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
- Environmental Health Codes, Regulations and Hearing Requests (lists the 2026 Fee Schedule as effective 1/1/2026; division phone 360-867-2685)Thurston County Public Health and Social Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
- Public Comment: Revisions to Drinking Water Code for Thurston County, Article IIIThurston County Public Health and Social Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
- Thurston County Sanitary Code Article II, Food Service (§2 scope; §10 temporary food establishments; §13 fees)Thurston County Board of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
- Thurston County Sanitary Code Article III, Public and Private Water Supplies (effective January 1, 2014; §2.2 scope; §10 fees)Thurston County Board of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
- Thurston County Sanitary Code Article VII, Water Recreation Facilities (§2 scope and exemptions)Thurston County Board of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-06
Other offices serving Thurston County
The full permit list for this jurisdiction
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