Local permits & fees

Baldwin County, AL — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Bureau of Environmental Services - Baldwin County Health Department (state agency administering locally) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Permit to Operate a Food Service Establishment

null - ADPH requires a valid permit to operate a food establishment but does not publish an annual permanent food service establishment permit fee for Baldwin County; the only fees published for Baldwin are for temporary food service ($50 / $75) - source https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/baldwin/temporary-food-service-guidelines.html

AUTHORITY: Alabama is a state-administered system - ADPH (a state agency) operates the Baldwin County Health Department and issues food permits. Establishments are graded into Priority Categories 1-4 under ADPH Rules Chapter 420-3-22. No dollar amount for the permanent establishment permit is published online; applicants are directed to the county health department for the applicable fee.

Plan review — required

null - plan review/approval of construction and equipment is required before opening, but ADPH does not publish a plan-review dollar fee for Baldwin County - source https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/baldwin/environmental-services.html

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Service Establishment Permit

null - mobile food units require an ADPH permit and an approved commissary/base of operations, but a mobile-unit dollar fee is not published for Baldwin County - source https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/baldwin/environmental-services.html

Mobile units are permitted under the same ADPH food rules (Chapter 420-3-22). Fee not published; contact the Baldwin County Health Department.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

AUTHORITY: Alabama DPH is a state agency that administers county health departments directly; Baldwin County food permits are issued by the ADPH Baldwin County office.
The only Baldwin food fees published online are temporary food service: $50 (applied 14+ days before event) / $75 (less than 14 days before).
Permanent food service establishment and mobile-unit permit dollar amounts are NOT published online; ADPH directs applicants to contact the county health department.
Establishments are risk-graded into Priority Categories 1-4 under ADPH Rules for Food Service Sanitation (Chapter 420-3-22).

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Temporary / seasonal event	$50 (application submitted 14+ days before event) / $75 (submitted less than 14 days before) - source https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/baldwin/temporary-food-service-guidelines.html	The only Baldwin County food fees published online. Permanent establishment and mobile permit dollar amounts are not published; ADPH directs applicants to the county health department.

Alabama statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: www.alabamapublichealth.gov · www.alabamapublichealth.gov · www.alabamapublichealth.gov · adph.org · observed 2026-08-07