Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Cabarrus Health Alliance, Environmental Health (Food & Lodging), the county public-health authority; operates under NC DHHS state rules. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the 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 Cabarrus Health Alliance, Environmental Health (Food & Lodging), the county public-health authority; operates under NC DHHS state rules. issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Cabarrus County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
467
food & drink establishments
10,152
industry jobs
$211M
annual payroll
$20,784
avg wage / worker
181 full-service restaurants
184 limited-service & fast food
9 bars & drinking places
61 snack & coffee bars
5 mobile food & trucks
▲ 2.4% change in establishments since 2022 (456 → 467).
The average foodservice wage here is $1,062 below the North Carolina average ($21,846); North Carolina has about 21,985 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: 2026-08-17 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Restaurant / food-facility permit
Food Service Establishment Permit (NC state-standard, county-issued)
North Carolina does not charge an annual food service establishment permit fee
the state-standardized permit is issued at no recurring charge
The county'
s only up-front cost is a one-time plan review (see plan_review)
NC uses a plan-review-fee model with no annual permit fee; Permit is issued after successful plan review and inspection
Sanitation score converts to a required grade card — A 90-100, B 80-89, C 70-79 (below 70 cannot operate) — posted at the establishment and available online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit / Pushcart permit (NC state-standard, county-issued)
$150 (one-time plan review)
no annual permit fee
Commissary/base required; Shared Use Kitchen application also $150
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 $300–$400 for Cabarrus County:
$150–$250 — plan review
$150 — 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.
Look up a restaurant’s inspection score
Check the health-inspection history and violation scores for any food establishment in Cabarrus County and North Carolina. County health departments conduct inspections while NCDHHS aggregates food establishment sanitation scores in a statewide data portal.
About 456 food & drinking establishments serve ~240,016 residents in Cabarrus County — one per ~526 residents, denser than the North Carolina average (one per ~598).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Grease trap & FOG requirements
Under 2018 North Carolina State Plumbing Code (IPC 2015 base), 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 North Carolina Plumbing Code, with FOG permits from the local sewer authority.
Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with Cabarrus Health Alliance, Environmental Health (Food & Lodging), the county public-health authority; operates under NC DHHS state rules. (contact above).
Fire suppression & backflow
Hood fire suppression (2018 North Carolina Fire Prevention Code (IFC 2015 base)): commercial cooking under a Type I hood needs a wet-chemical suppression system to NFPA 96, permitted and inspected by the local fire marshal. Kitchen hood suppression follows NFPA 96 under the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code, enforced by the local fire marshal. See do I need a hood? and the hood CFM calculator.
Backflow prevention: Annual RPZ backflow testing is required by the local water system's cross-connection control program. A certified backflow assembly (often an RPZ) on the water service, tested annually, is standard — confirm with your water utility.
Watch out for
No annual permit fee; NC charges only a one-time plan review fee
Fee schedule effective July 1, 2024
Temporary Food Event or Limited Food Service Permit is $75
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
$150
Shared Use Kitchen application (one-time); NC has no annual permit fee
Bar / limited food service
$75
Limited Food Service Permit (same permit/fee as Temporary Food Event)
Temporary / seasonal event
$75
Temporary Food Event or Limited Food Service Permit
Pushcart / mobile vending
$150
Mobile Food Unit / Pushcart plan review (one-time); no annual permit fee; Commissary required
Equipment your Cabarrus 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.
North Carolina does not charge an annual food service establishment permit fee; the state-standardized permit is issued at no recurring charge; The county's only up-front cost is a one-time plan review (see plan_review) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Cabarrus County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $250 (food service establishment); $250 lodging/institution; $150 remodel/additions to existing facility
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Cabarrus County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Commissary/base required; Shared Use Kitchen application also $150
Who issues food permits in Cabarrus County?
Food permits here are issued by Cabarrus Health Alliance, Environmental Health (Food & Lodging), the county public-health authority; operates under NC DHHS state rules.. 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.