Statewide SCDA permit (no separate Charleston County restaurant permit). Inspection-fee tiers scale with gross sales; verify current tiers in SCDA AnnualInspectionFees2025 schedule. Payments online carry a 2.75% processing fee.
Turnaround: Submit 30+ days before opening; plan review and pre-opening inspection coordinated by SCDA regional staff
Requires the Retail Food Establishment Application (Form D-1769) plus a Mobile Food Establishment Supplemental; menu, equipment list, vehicle floor plan, water/wastewater specs, and signed commissary agreement required.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| caterer (catering operation) | $100 initial + $100-$450/yr (min total $200) | SCDA (statewide, Reg. 61-25) permits as a Retail Food Establishment; no separate caterer license. Annual inspection fee tiered by prior-year gross food sales: $100 (<=$250k) up to $450 (>$1.75M). New/change-of-ownership: $100 initial + annual fee, total never less than $200. |
| commissary / central kitchen | $100 initial + $100-$450/yr (min total $200) | SCDA permits commissary as a Retail Food Establishment (explicitly named as the base of operations associated with mobile units); same gross-sales fee tiers. |
| market/grocery with deli | $100 initial + $100-$450/yr (min total $200) | SCDA Retail Food Establishment covering grocery stores, retail meat markets, fish/seafood markets, delis; annual fee tiered by gross food sales (excludes alcohol & general merchandise). |
| temporary/special-event | — | Temporary Food Establishment requires SCDA Application for Event Authorization (form D-1717); specific fee not published in the retail-food-safety fee materials reviewed. |