What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Clark County Wa?

Food Worker Card — In-Person Testing Fee

Clark County Public Health's food worker page states that anyone with a job preparing or serving food or beverages in Clark County is required to have a Washington State approved food worker card, and cites WAC 246-217. The card can be earned online through foodworkercard.wa.gov, which the page names as the only site approved for online testing in Washington State, with that site's own payment. The $10 recorded here is the county's charge for its in-person option: a 30-minute training video and test at Clark County Public Health, by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am to 12:00pm, paid by cash, debit or credit card. The $10 'Food Worker Card' fee is listed in the Food Safety Program 2026 Fee Schedule, the food section of the county's 2026 fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026. Bring photo identification to the test.

Multiple Event and Caterer Food Permits

A food booth that works scheduled events through the year, a pop-up, or a caterer needs an annual permit and a plan review from Clark County Public Health. Under the 2026 fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026, as published in the county's Environmental Public Health fee schedule and the Food Safety Program 2026 Fee Schedule, the multiple event permit costs $399 at Level 1, $979 at Level 2 and $1,764 at Level 3, or $357 for a vendor offering only free samples. The caterer permit costs $1,150 a year. Plan review for this group costs $872 for full operation and sales, or $614 for sampling only. The fee sheet defines a caterer as a person contracted to prepare food in an approved food establishment for final cooking or service at another location, and states that point of sale at a public event requires an additional permit. It requires an annual commissary agreement with a permitted kitchen for multiple event vendors, and for caterers unless they have their own permitted kitchen. A permanent food establishment may cater private events within its approved complexity level under its own annual permit.

Sign Permit (Planning Review and Building Sign Permit)

A business putting up a sign through the Clark County Permit Center pays two code-set fees. Clark County Code Table 6.110A.010, as amended through Ordinance 2025-10-05, prices the planning sign review in row Z at $368 plus a $53 issuance fee. Table 6.140.030-1, the building fee table as amended through Ordinance 2018-10-02, prices the building sign permit at $250 for one freestanding sign, $150 for a single fascia (wall) sign, and $250 for multiple signs applied for, issued, installed and inspected for one tenant under one permit, with a maximum of three inspections. Footnote 4 of Table 6.110A.010, attached to the Home Business row, reads 'No sign fee required', so the $368 planning sign fee is not charged for a home business sign. The county's Permit Center page states that Title 40 'contains all regulations relating to property development in unincorporated Clark County', and its Permit Center Locations page lists separate offices for Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, La Center, Ridgefield, Washougal and Yacolt; a business inside one of those cities contacts that city about its sign. Permit Center: 564.397.4078.

Shared with other businesses in Clark County Wa

• Food Establishment Annual Permit — Clark County Public Health, Environmental Public Health, By menu complexity and the business's gross revenue in the previous calendar year: Level 1 (low complexity) $470 ($0-$500K), $512 ($501K-$1M), $601 ($1M+); Level 2 (medium complexity) $1,128, $1,223, $1,401; Level 3 (high complexity) $2,357, $2,635, $2,908. HACCP permit add-on $767. Plan review is charged separately., annual. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Establishment Plan Review — Clark County Public Health, Environmental Public Health, New construction $1,350; remodel, modification or change of ownership: Level 1 $1,224, Level 2 $1,477, Level 3 $1,688., one-time per project. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Temporary Event Food Permit — Clark County Public Health, Environmental Public Health, 1-3 consecutive days: Level 1 $147, Level 2/3 $283; 4-21 consecutive days $519; late fee $157 when the application is submitted less than 14 days before the event., per event (up to 21 consecutive days). Also required for food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• On-Site Septic System Plan Review and Permit — Clark County Public Health, Environmental Public Health, Plan review and permit: conventional gravity system $632; alternative system $718; large system over 1,000 gallons per day $1,506; repair of a failure under 1,000 gallons per day $804 (site, plan and permit)., one-time per system installation or repair. Also required for coffee shops, childcare centres, veterinary clinics, salons and barbers and auto repair shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• On-Site Septic System Annual Operating Permit — Clark County Public Health, Environmental Public Health, $13.87 a year per property with an on-site septic system (2026 fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026), annual. Also required for coffee shops, childcare centres, veterinary clinics, salons and barbers and auto repair shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• 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. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• 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. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.