Local permits & fees

Butler County, OH — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Butler County General Health District, Environmental Health & Plumbing Services (county general health district; cities of Hamilton and Middletown each have their own city health department) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Service Operation (FSO) / Retail Food Establishment (RFE) license (annual, risk Level 1-4)
Commercial 24,999 sq ft or less: Level 1 $260, Level 2 $285, Level 3 $485, Level 4 $595. Commercial 25,000 sq ft or more: Level 1 $345, Level 2 $360, Level 3 $1,115, Level 4 $1,180 (each includes $28 Ohio state portion)

2026 licensing year, effective Dec 1, 2025; fees set per Ohio Admin. Code 3701-36-14; risk level assigned by highest-risk activity; mandatory 25% late penalty for renewing after deadline (ORC 3717). Ohio-standard Level 1 (lowest risk) through Level 4 (highest risk) structure.

Plan review — required

Level 1 $175, Level 2 $225, Level 3 $370, Level 4 $475; Micro Market Plan Review $175; Expedited Plan Review $1,750

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile FSO & RFE (mobile food service operation / retail food establishment)
High-Risk Mobile FSO & RFE $230; Low-Risk Mobile FSO & RFE $129 (each includes $28 state portion)

Mobile fee is risk-based (high vs low risk); low-risk is 50% of high-risk food portion.

Watch out for

  • Ohio state-standardized risk levels (Level 1 lowest through Level 4 highest); a fixed $28 state portion is added to every FSO/RFE license.
  • Temporary FSO/RFE license: $75 per event.
  • Vending FSO/RFE license: $27.75 per machine (incl. $6 state portion).
  • New water sample fee for FSO/RFE (private water): $90 base plus lab costs.
  • Butler County General Health District covers all of Butler County EXCEPT the cities of Hamilton and Middletown, which run their own city health departments (fees may differ there).
Sources: cms5.revize.com · health.bcohio.gov · health.bcohio.gov · observed 2026-08-07