Washington — statewide
Washington State Department of Health, Food Safety Program
In short
Washington State Department of Health, Food Safety Program issues 2 permits we publish for Washington — statewide, last verified 2026-09-03. 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 Permit | Washington State Department of Health, Food Safety Program | $240–$1,386 a year, set by the local health jurisdiction — there is no state fee | annual, on a cycle the local jurisdiction sets | 2026-09-03 |
| Food Worker Card | Washington State Department of Health, Food Safety Program | $10 per card | 2 years first time, 3 on renewal, 5 with extra food safety training | 2026-09-03 |
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 Permit
The state writes the retail food code and prices nothing — the whole chapter contains no dollar figure anywhere. The local board of health, acting through the local health officer, is the regulatory authority, and each of the thirty-five local health jurisdictions sets its own schedule capped at actual cost. They do not even band the same way: King County crosses establishment type with seat count and a three-level risk category, from $441 to $1,386; Spokane bands by complexity, $290 basic, $380 limited and $850 complex; Pierce County bands by seats from $1,080 up to $2,400 for a large buffet. King County's permit year runs from 1 April and prorates by quarter. Plan review is separately and substantially charged — a thousand dollars and upward in King County. A single Washington restaurant permit fee does not exist and any figure offered as one is invented.
Food Worker Card
Ten dollars, and unusually the card is issued locally but valid across the whole state — the exam is uniform and any legally issued card works everywhere in Washington. The term rewards staying current: two years for a first card, three on renewal, and five if you document additional food safety training within the previous two years. One warning worth repeating because the state itself repeats it: there is exactly one authorised online provider, foodworkercard.wa.gov, and other sites offering a similar card are not valid in Washington. You may renew up to sixty days early. This is a separate thing from the certified food protection manager requirement in the food code.
Contact
- Jurisdiction
- Washington — statewide
- Phone
- (360) 236-4700
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.
- Public Health — Seattle and King County, food and facilities programme fees 2026Public Health — Seattle and King County · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- RCW 70.05.060 — local boards of health set permit fee schedules, capped at actual costWashington State Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Spokane Regional Health District — food safety fees for 2026Spokane Regional Health District · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- WAC 246-215-01115 — the local board of health is the regulatory authority for a food establishmentWashington State Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- WAC 246-215-08300 — permit required to operate a food establishmentWashington State Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- WAC 246-217-025 — food worker card feeWashington State Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- WAC 246-217-035 — validity of the food worker cardWashington State Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
Other Washington statewide offices
- Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division
- Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
- Washington State Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service
- Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families
- Washington State Department of Health, Veterinary Board of Governors
- Washington State Department of Licensing, Cosmetology Program
- Washington State Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
Washington jurisdictions
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.