Local permits & fees

Cass County, ND — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Fargo Cass Public Health (FCPH) - Environmental Health (local public health unit; licenses and inspects food establishments and mobile food units in Fargo, West Fargo & Cass County under NDCC 23-09 / FDA Food Code 2017) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment License (Tier based)
Food Tier 1 $200; Tier 2 $300; Tier 3 $400 (annual)

Tiers are assigned by risk/complexity. Amounts are from the FCPH Food License Application fee schedule; alcohol service adds $150 (with a physical bar) or $50 (no physical bar); soft-serve ice cream adds $100.

Plan review — required

$150 (plan review)

Turnaround: FCPH allows up to 30 calendar days for plan review

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit Vendor License
Tier 1 $100; Tier 2 $150; Tier 3 $200; plus a $25 commissary fee for mobile vendors without a brick-and-mortar establishment

Establishments providing catering or delivery service must also apply for the Mobile Food License. A licensed commissary is required if food prep is not completed in the self-contained unit.

Watch out for

  • FCPH is a local (not state) authority setting its own tiered fee schedule; it holds licensing/inspection authority for Fargo, West Fargo and Cass County.
  • Grocery, bakery or retail meat: Tier 1 $100 / Tier 2 $150 / Tier 3 $175. Schools/churches/group homes: $100 / $150 / $200.
  • Concession (year-round): Tier 1 $100 / Tier 2 $150 / Tier 3 $175. Concession (seasonal): Tier 1 $50 / Tier 2 $75 / Tier 3 $100.
  • Additional fees: commissary (mobile) $25; multiple-unit fee for group homes $25/unit; alcohol +$150 (bar) / +$50 (no bar); soft serve $100.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
CatererMobile Food License required for catering: Tier 1 $100 / Tier 2 $150 / Tier 3 $200 (+ $25 commissary fee if no brick-and-mortar)FCPH requires establishments providing catering (or delivery) service to apply for the Mobile Food License.
Commissary / central preparation kitchen$25 commissary fee for mobile food (vendors without a brick-and-mortar); a commissary itself is licensed as a Food Establishment (Tier 1 $200 / Tier 2 $300 / Tier 3 $400)Commissary fee applies to mobile vendors lacking a fixed location; the commissary facility is licensed on the food establishment tiers.
Bakery / food processingGrocery, bakery or retail meat: Tier 1 $100 / Tier 2 $150 / Tier 3 $175 (annual)Retail bakeries fall under the grocery/bakery/retail-meat tier on the FCPH schedule.
Bar / limited food serviceFood establishment tiers (Tier 1 $200 / Tier 2 $300 / Tier 3 $400); alcohol service +$150 (with physical bar) or +$50 (no physical bar)A bar serving food is licensed on the food establishment tiers plus the alcohol-service add-on.
Grocery / market with deliGrocery, bakery or retail meat: Tier 1 $100 / Tier 2 $150 / Tier 3 $175 (annual)Grocery/market permitted on the grocery/bakery/retail-meat tier; a deli/food-prep area may add a food establishment tier.
Temporary / seasonal eventConcession (Seasonal): Tier 1 $50 / Tier 2 $75 / Tier 3 $100. Concession (Year Round): Tier 1 $100 / Tier 2 $150 / Tier 3 $175FCPH prices event/concession operations on seasonal vs year-round concession tiers.
Pushcart / mobile vendingMobile food unit Vendor: Tier 1 $100 / Tier 2 $150 / Tier 3 $200 (+ $25 commissary fee if no brick-and-mortar)Mobile/pushcart licensed on the mobile food unit vendor tiers; commissary required if prep is not done in the self-contained unit.
Sources: fargond.gov · download.fargond.gov · observed 2026-08-07