Locally administered by Buncombe County Environmental Health (Asheville) under the NC Food Code; NC uses plan-review fees rather than an annual permit fee. Environmental Health at 35 Woodfin St., Asheville (828-250-5016).
Buncombe County EH reviews and permits the unit; a commissary agreement and City of Asheville vending authorization also apply.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | null - no annual permit fee (NC); a caterer is a permitted food establishment subject to plan review. Buncombe did not publish a separate caterer line; confirm plan-review cost at 828-250-5016. | NC uses plan-review fees rather than an annual permit fee. |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | null - not separately priced; a commissary must itself be a permitted food establishment (no annual permit fee in NC) and is subject to plan review ($200 new). | No distinct commissary line on Buncombe's reinstated fee list. |
| Bakery / food processing | null - retail bakeries and food processing/retail food sales are regulated by the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), not county Environmental Health. | Authority is NCDA&CS; a bakery with on-site food service is permitted by Buncombe County EH (plan review; no annual fee). |
| Bar / limited food service | $75 - Limited Food Service Establishment permit (NC state-set fee) | The Limited Food Service Establishment permit is NC's one flat permit fee; a full bar serving meals is a food service establishment (plan review applies, no annual fee). |
| Grocery / market with deli | null - grocery/market retail food is regulated by NCDA&CS, not county EH; an in-store deli with seating is permitted by Buncombe County EH (plan review; no annual permit fee). | Split authority: retail food = NCDA&CS; deli food service = county EH. |
| Temporary / seasonal event | $75 - Temporary Food Establishment permit | Per Buncombe County Environmental Health; may be waived for qualifying nonprofits. |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | null - no annual permit fee (NC); mobile units require plan review plus an approved commissary. Buncombe reinstated plan-review fees 1/1/2025 but did not publish a separate mobile-unit line. Confirm at 828-250-5016. | Mobile units must return daily to an approved commissary. |