Confirmed 2026-08-10 from Catawba County FY2026/27 Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2026), Environmental Health / Food & Lodging section. NC food establishment permits are issued by the local health department under state rules with no annual permit/renewal fee; the only up-front cost is the one-time plan review fee.
Plan Review for Push Mobile Food Unit and Push Cart Only = $150.00; full mobile food units go through the $250.00 Food & Lodging plan review. Mobile units must operate from a permitted commissary. Separately, Catawba County Emergency Services (Fire) charges a $100.00 Mobile Food Preparation Vehicle (food truck) fire inspection (operational).
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary / seasonal event | $75.00 | Temporary Food Establishment permit for an event (single event, maximum 21 days). Confirmed in FY2026/27 fee schedule. |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | null - no annual permit fee (NC model); one-time plan review of $150.00 for a push mobile food unit or push cart. | Plan Review for Push Mobile Food Unit and Push Cart Only = $150.00. |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | null - no annual permit fee (NC model); a full commissary/mobile food unit goes through the $250.00 Food & Lodging plan review; ownership/commissary-change review = $75.00. | Mobile units must operate from a permitted commissary; ownership or commissary change review is a $75.00 site-visit fee. |