Local permits & fees

Bay County, MI — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Bay County Health Department (BCHD), Environmental Health Division · department site →

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

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Fixed Location Food Service Establishment License

Type 1 Restaurant (no prep / pre-packaged low-hazard): $379.00; Type 2 Restaurant (limited prep, <=10 menu items / fast food): $521.00; Type 3 Restaurant (full prep/table service/full kitchen): $497.00 (occ. 0-50), $550.00 (51-100), $613.00 (101-150), $727.00 (151+). All are column-A (on-time) fees and include the $30.00 MDA fee. (2026 fee schedule, revised 1/7/2026.)

Bay County (local health dept) licenses restaurants/food service; grocery, markets, and food processing are licensed by MDARD, not the county. Column B/C fees apply for late/day-of applications. Seasonal food (open <=9 months) $291.00; Not-for-profit $280.00; Schools $291.00.

Plan review — required

Type I Restaurant: $646.00; Type II & III Restaurant: $883.00; STFU & Mobiles (full service): $883.00; STFU & Mobiles (not full-service, e.g. popcorn/shaved ice): $646.00; out-of-county mobiles: $1,196.00. (New construction / licensed facilities, 2026.)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Service Establishment / Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU)

Mobile Food Service Establishment / Commissary License: $433.00; Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU): $201.00. (Column A on-time; includes MDA fees of $30 / $44 respectively; 2026.)

Vending machines are licensed by MDARD (1-800-292-3939), not Bay County.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

Michigan splits jurisdiction: local health dept (Bay County) licenses restaurants/food service; MDARD licenses grocery/retail markets, food processing, and vending.
Fees are bundled: each BCHD fee includes a Michigan Dept of Agriculture (MDA) surcharge ($30 food service / $44 STFU / $5 not-for-profit).
Late fees: <30 days late = BCHD fee + 50% + MDA fee; >31 days = BCHD fee + 100% + MDA fee.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen	$433.00 (Mobile Food Service Establishment / Commissary License, column A on-time; includes $30 MDA fee).	Commissary and mobile establishment share the same license line.
Bar / limited food service	$521.00 (Type 2 Restaurant: limited food prep / <=10 menu items, column A; includes $30 MDA fee).	Bars serving limited food fall under the Type 2 restaurant category.
Grocery / market with deli	null - Grocery stores and retail markets are licensed by MDARD (Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development, 1-800-292-3939), not Bay County.	Michigan jurisdiction split: local HD = food service; MDARD = grocery/retail/processing.
Bakery / food processing	null - Retail bakeries and food processors are licensed by MDARD, not the county.
Temporary / seasonal event	$126.00 (Temporary Food Service, For-Profit, 7+ days notice; column A; includes $9 MDA fee). Not-for-profit $82.00. Seasonal (open <=9 months) fixed food $291.00.	Column B (<7 days) and C (day-of) fees are higher; day-of for-profit $251.00.
Pushcart / mobile vending	$201.00 (Special Transitory Food Unit / STFU; includes $44 MDA fee) or $433.00 (Mobile Food Service Establishment/Commissary); column A on-time.	STFU = limited menu mobile unit; full mobile establishment is the higher fee.

Michigan 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.baycountymi.gov · www.baycountymi.gov · www.michigan.gov · observed 2026-08-07