What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Cumberland County Nc?

Temporary Food Establishment Permit

A vendor selling potentially hazardous food at a fair, festival or other event in Cumberland County needs a temporary food establishment permit from Cumberland County Environmental Health. The $75 amount is set by statute: G.S. 130A-248(d2) provides that a local health department "shall charge each temporary food establishment … a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for each permit issued." The FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027) lists "Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) and Renewals" at the same $75. The county Food Establishments page states that vendors "must complete an application and return it to our office with the required fee at a minimum of 15 days prior to the date of operation", and that the event sponsor must also notify the department before the event and complete the department's forms.

Food Establishment and Food Stand Plan Review

A new restaurant, coffee shop or food stand in Cumberland County submits its plans to Cumberland County Environmental Health before it can be permitted. The county Food Establishments page states that "All plans must be fully approved by this office before a county or city building permit can be issued" and that "Once all necessary information has been submitted, the Environmental Health preliminary plan review process will be complete within 30 days of application submittal." The fee is $250 per the line "Plan Review Food Establishment and Food Stands" in the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027). This is a county fee within the cap in G.S. 130A-248(f), under which a local health department "may charge a fee not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)" for plan review; under the same subsection, an establishment whose prototype franchised or chain plans are reviewed by the State at the $250 fee in G.S. 130A-248(e) is not liable for the local fee. The State food establishment permit itself is a North Carolina state record.

Food Establishment Remodel Plan Review

A restaurant or coffee shop in Cumberland County that remodels its food establishment has the remodel plans reviewed by Cumberland County Environmental Health. The fee is $200 per the line "Plan Review Remodels" in the FY2027 Adopted Budget fee schedule (Exhibit B, Environmental Health Fee Schedule, printed p. 375), adopted by the Budget Ordinance on June 23, 2026 (Sec. II.e), in effect for FY2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027). The county Food Establishments page states that "All plans must be fully approved by this office before a county or city building permit can be issued", so the review comes ahead of any building permit for the remodel. The amount is below the $250 ceiling that G.S. 130A-248(f) places on a local health department's plan review fee. Contact Cumberland County Environmental Health, 910-433-3618, before starting remodel work.

Shared with other businesses in Cumberland County Nc

• Certified Food Protection Manager — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, No fee, not stated in North Carolina law — the certifying programme sets its own. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Food Establishment Permit — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, $120 a year, statewide, the permit does not expire; the fee is reassessed annually. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.