Local permits & fees

Beaufort County, SC — Commercial Kitchen Permits

South Carolina Dept. of Agriculture (SCDA), Retail Food Safety & Compliance - state-administered statewide since 7/1/2024 (transferred from SC DHEC) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Retail Food Establishment Permit (Regulation 61-25)
$100 initial permit fee plus an annual inspection fee based on prior-year gross food sales ($0-250,000 = $100; then +$50 per $250,000 up to $1,750,001+ = $450); total on a new permit is never less than $200

Statewide uniform schedule administered by SCDA. Gross food sales exclude alcohol and general merchandise. Late penalties: +$50 (30-59 days past due), +$100 (60+ days). Sources: https://agriculture.sc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AnnualInspectionFees2025.pdf ; https://agriculture.sc.gov/divisions/consumer-protection/retail-food-safety/retail-food-establishment-fees/

Plan review — required

null - SCDA does not publish a separate plan review fee; plan review/facility review is part of the new-permit process ($100 initial permit fee)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Establishment (Regulation 61-25 Chapter 9)
$100 initial permit fee plus the same gross-sales annual inspection fee ($100-$450); minimum $200 total on a new permit

Mobile food establishments are permitted under the same statewide retail food schedule.

Watch out for

  • STATE gross-sales schedule: one uniform fee structure applies to restaurants, groceries, mobile units, commissaries, and retail food processors statewide.
  • Responsibility moved from SC DHEC to the SC Department of Agriculture effective July 1, 2024.
  • Full annual inspection fee tiers: $0-250k $100; $250,001-500k $150; $500,001-750k $200; $750,001-1M $250; $1,000,001-1.25M $300; $1,250,001-1.5M $350; $1,500,001-1.75M $400; $1,750,001+ $450.
  • Once the fee is paid a grade sticker (not a paper permit) is posted.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen$100 initial permit fee plus gross-sales annual inspection fee ($100-$450)Shared Use Operations/Commissary permitted under R.61-25 Chapter 9; same statewide schedule.
Bakery / food processing$100 initial permit fee plus gross-sales annual inspection fee ($100-$450)Retail food processors (bottling/canning for direct-to-consumer sale) permitted under the same statewide schedule.
Grocery / market with deli$100 initial permit fee plus gross-sales annual inspection fee ($100-$450)Grocery/convenience stores that prepare or package food on-site; fee based on gross food sales (excludes alcohol and general merchandise).
Temporary / seasonal eventnull - handled via Event Authorization (Form D-1717) for temporary food establishments, community festivals, and seasonal series; a separate fee is not published in the annual inspection scheduleSCDA Regulation 61-25 Chapter 9-8/9-9/9-11.
Pushcart / mobile vending$100 initial permit fee plus gross-sales annual inspection fee ($100-$450)Mobile food establishments permitted under R.61-25 Chapter 9-1; same statewide schedule.
Sources: agriculture.sc.gov · agriculture.sc.gov · agriculture.sc.gov · observed 2026-08-07