Public health
What is a food service establishment permit?
In short
A public health permit required before any business prepares, handles or serves food to the public. Issued locally, renewed annually in most jurisdictions, and usually conditional on a plan review and a pre-opening inspection.
What else is this permit called?
The same document is issued under different names depending on the jurisdiction. A food service establishment permit may appear locally as: food enterprise permit, health permit, food establishment license. If your city uses a name not listed here, it is worth checking the issuing agency rather than assuming it is a different requirement.
Who needs one?
A food service establishment permit is triggered by what a business does rather than by its legal form. The conditions that trigger it are: prepares food, serves public.
We publish 532 records of this type from 380 jurisdictions in 50 states. In 282 of them it applies to each business the record covers; in the other 98 it applies only in the circumstances the record sets out.
How much does a food service establishment permit cost?
Across the 338 records that publish a dollar figure or band, fees run from $9.62 to $35,750. The middle half fall between $150 and $525, and the median is $274. A further 156 set the fee by a formula or schedule rather than a single figure. Agencies publish these on different bases — per year, one time, per sign or banded by size — so the spread shows how far published fees range, not one like-for-like price. Each jurisdiction's page states the basis for its own fee.
The lowest and highest published food service establishment permit fees
Single dollar figures only, one per jurisdiction — its lowest where it publishes several. 76 jurisdictions publish one.
| Jurisdiction | Fee | Basis as published |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga County, OH | $9.62 | per year, per vending machine location as priced on the 2026 CCBH Food Protection Program Fee Schedule — a combined amount of $3.62 local plus $6.00 state |
| Lucas County, OH | $17.23 | a year, per vending machine location — $11.23 health district fee plus a $6.00 state amount, as broken out in the department's 2026 Food Program Fee Letter |
| Albuquerque, NM | $25 | flat, per event/location |
| Manchester, NH | $25 | per day of the event (Class IV); no fee for a qualifying non-profit not holding a liquor permit and not serving meals daily, a public/parochial school, or a government facility (Class V); a further $25.00 late fee applies if the application is received less than 14 days before the event |
| Bangor, ME | $34 | annual |
| Rochester, MN | $350 | a year for limited food preparation; $600 for full food preparation |
| Oklahoma | $425 | to open, plus a $425 plan review; renewal is $335 a year |
| King County, WA | $441 | a year (2026), espresso and blended drinks only, no other food preparation |
| Maricopa County, AZ | $524 | annual |
| Contra Costa County, CA | $947 | annual, Restaurant category RC1 (0-25 seats) — currently billed figure |
How long does a food service establishment permit last?
The term stated most often is “annual”, in 100 records. Terms differ by jurisdiction, and each record on a jurisdiction's page states its own.
Which businesses need it most often?
The number of jurisdictions whose food service establishment permit record names each type of business.
Where we hold food service establishment permit records
Jurisdictions with a published record of this type, by state.
- Texas68
- California21
- Alabama19
- Michigan11
- New York11
- Florida10
- Ohio10
- Pennsylvania10
- Washington10
- Illinois9
- Indiana9
- Missouri9
- Utah9
- Virginia9
- Georgia8
- Maryland8
- Minnesota8
- Oklahoma8
- Wisconsin8
- Arizona7
- Colorado7
- North Carolina7
- New Jersey7
- Iowa6
- Idaho6
- Nebraska6
- Oregon6
- Tennessee6
- Alaska4
- Connecticut4
- Delaware4
- Massachusetts4
- Maine4
- North Dakota4
- New Hampshire4
- Rhode Island4
- South Dakota4
- Vermont4
- West Virginia4
- Wyoming4
- Kentucky3
- Montana3
- New Mexico3
- Nevada3
- Hawaii2
- Arkansas1
- Kansas1
- Louisiana1
- Mississippi1
- South Carolina1
Where to find local food service establishment permit requirements
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.