Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Bayfield County food-facility health permits run about $157.32–$684 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $125–$650. Confirm the exact amount with Bayfield County Health Department before you budget.
Confirm the authority for your exact address. Some cities run their own health division, and building, planning, fire, sewer/grease and business-license approvals are separate even when Bayfield County Health Department issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Bayfield County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
72
food & drink establishments
327
industry jobs
$7M
annual payroll
$22,813
avg wage / worker
37 full-service restaurants
3 limited-service & fast food
23 bars & drinking places
8 snack & coffee bars
▼ 2.7% change in establishments since 2022 (74 → 72).
The average foodservice wage here is $2,473 above the Wisconsin average ($20,340); Wisconsin has about 13,939 food & drink establishments statewide.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 722, food services & drinking places) — establishments with paid employees. Some small-county payroll figures are withheld by Census for confidentiality.
Last verified: 2026-08-18 — we re-confirmed the serving authority, its contact, and that the fees below match the current published schedule. Fee schedules may carry an earlier effective date (shown per fee); local ordinances & amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date? Report an update →
Mobiles licensed under the same complexity categories as fixed establishments; separate 'Serving Meals, Mobile' and 'Not Serving Meals (mobile)' applications; Set-up/base fee applies; County accepts mobile/temp licenses from other WI counties but requires notification and fee
How to apply
See the department site above.
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
What it costs in permit fees to open here
The government permit & plan-review fees below total roughly $439.64–$2,018 for Bayfield County:
$157.32–$684 — food-facility permit
$125–$650 — plan review
$157.32–$684 — food-truck permit
That’s the paperwork only. Add buildout, equipment, deposits and licenses with the cost-to-open calculator. Fees change — confirm current amounts with the department.
How Bayfield County’s permit cost compares
At about $157/year, Bayfield County’s restaurant health permit is below the Wisconsin median ($159) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 66% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 9th-lowest of 18 Wisconsin counties by permit cost.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
Local food-service market
About 74 food & drinking establishments serve ~16,769 residents in Bayfield County — one per ~227 residents, denser than the Wisconsin average (one per ~430).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$157 annual health permit + $125 plan review.
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
Grease trap & FOG requirements
Under Wisconsin Plumbing Code (SPS 382), food establishments here must control fats, oils & grease (FOG) with a grease interceptor or trap, and typically register with the local sewer/wastewater authority. Grease interceptors are required under the Wisconsin plumbing code, with FOG limits set by the municipal sewer utility.
Hood fire suppression (Wisconsin adopts the IFC via SPS 314): commercial cooking under a Type I hood needs a wet-chemical suppression system to NFPA 96, permitted and inspected by the local fire marshal. Commercial kitchen hood suppression follows NFPA 96 as adopted through Wisconsin's fire and building codes, inspected by the local fire authority. See do I need a hood? and the hood CFM calculator.
Backflow prevention: Restaurants must install a testable backflow preventer (typically an RPZ) that is tested annually and reported to the local water utility. A certified backflow assembly (often an RPZ) on the water service, tested annually, is standard — confirm with your water utility.
Equipment your Bayfield County plan review will check
Health-department plan review looks for specific, code-compliant fixtures. Compare spec-filtered options, then confirm counts and sizes with your local requirements. See the full list in what equipment a commercial kitchen requires.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Bayfield County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
Confirm zoning and permitted use.
Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
Pay plan-review fees.
Respond to plan-check corrections.
Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
Receive approval before storing or preparing food.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a food permit in Bayfield County?
Complexity-based (incl; state admin fee): Prepackaged $157.32, Simple $324.90, Moderate $427.50, Complex $684.00 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Bayfield County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Pre-inspection fee (required for new/remodeled): Prepackaged $125, Simple $330, Moderate $485, Complex $650
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Bayfield County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobiles licensed under the same complexity categories as fixed establishments; separate 'Serving Meals, Mobile' and 'Not Serving Meals (mobile)' applications; Set-up/base fee applies; County accepts mobile/temp licenses from other WI counties but requires notification and fee
Who issues food permits in Bayfield County?
Food permits here are issued by Bayfield County Health Department. See the department site for current details.
Are city building and fire approvals separate?
Yes — building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals are always separate from the health permit and are often handled by different offices.