Local permits & fees

Allen County, IN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health (now Allen County Department of Health), Food & Consumer Protection Division (countywide authority) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Retail Food Service Establishment permit (annual, by number of food employees)
1-5 employees $130; 6-9 employees $175; 10-40 employees $205; 41+ employees $230

Fee amounts codified in Fort Wayne City Code § 113.26 and mirrored in Allen County Code Title 10, Article 14 (Dept. of Health Fee Ordinance); the countywide health department administers the harmonized schedule. Late renewal = 125% of annual fee. Food & Beverage Ordinance (Title 10, Article 2) amended March 14, 2025.

Plan review — required

Plan review + initial inspection application fee, by building floor area: under 3,000 sq ft $90; 3,001-30,000 sq ft $175; 30,001-40,000 sq ft $260; 40,001-60,000 sq ft $345; 60,001+ sq ft $435. Change-of-ownership initial inspection of existing establishment: $60. (In addition to the permit fee.)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Service / Mobile Food Market Establishment permit
Gross weight under 1,000 lbs $130; over 1,000 lbs $200. Seasonal Mobile Ice Cream Market Establishment $90 per vehicle/year

Annual mobile permit application requires commissary/base-of-operations documentation.

Watch out for

  • Retail Food Market (grocery/market) permit is broken out separately by floor area: under 3,000 sq ft $105; 3,000-30,000 $210; 30,001-40,000 $305; 40,001-60,000 $410; 60,001+ $515.
  • Vending machine operators: 1-10 machines $10/machine; 11-25 $130; 26-50 $175; 51-100 $260; 101-200 $345; 201-300 $435; 301+ $500.
  • Temporary food service/market: $20 per 48 consecutive hours of operation.
  • Off-site temporary (1 yr) $210; on-site temporary (≤52 days/yr) $150; temporary fund-raising food market $30/yr.
  • Definitive countywide fee amounts live in Allen County Code Title 10, Article 14; values match the Fort Wayne § 113.26 figures cited here.
Sources: codelibrary.amlegal.com · www.allencounty.in.gov · allencountyhealth.com · allencountyhealth.com · observed 2026-08-07