Local permits & fees

Contra Costa County, CA — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Contra Costa Health - Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Retail Food Facility (Restaurant) Health Permit
Annual (current fees, risk categories RC1/RC2/RC3), seat-based. 0-25 seats: RC1 $1,244 / RC2 $1,673 / RC3 $2,132. 26-49 seats: $1,341 / $1,838 / $2,290. 50-149 seats: $1,372 / $1,823 / $2,486. 150+ seats: RC1 $1,010 / RC2 $1,767 / RC3 $2,828. Cocktail lounge/bar $1,093; intermittent snack bar $1,037. Plus a non-refundable $87 application fee.

Fees are risk-based (RC1-RC3 by inspection frequency) and on a phased increase schedule (increase 1 through 12/31/2026, increase 2 from 1/1/2027, increase 3 from 1/1/2028); values shown are current fees. Verified from Contra Costa Health scheduled-fees page.

Plan review — required

Plan Review - Restaurants (by seats): 0-25 $3,539; 26-49 $4,107; 50-149 $4,197; 150+ $4,495. Cocktail lounge/bar $3,358; snack bar $2,748. Food facility minor remodel $2,733; single/two/three equipment change $1,724 / $2,007 / $2,748. Excess time beyond the fee billed at current hourly rate.

Turnaround: Allow 20 working days for food facility plan review.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Facility (MFF) / Compact Mobile Food Operation (CMFO) Permit
Annual (current fees): MFF Limited Food Prep $987; MFF Full Prep $1,097; MFF Prepackaged Non-PHF $799; MFF Prepackaged Ice Cream Vehicle (motorized) $641; MFF Whole Uncut Produce $701; MFF/CMFO Mobile Support Unit $720; CMFO prepackaged ice cream carts (non-motorized) $395-$414; CMFO prepackaged non-PHF (>25 sqft) $814 / PHF $890. Plan review: MFF Limited Prep $986; MFF Full Prep $1,208; CMFO Limited Prep $835. Plus $87 application fee.

Motorized 'MFF' vs non-motorized 'CMFO' distinction. Commissary permits separate (MFF commissary $731; plan review MFF commissary $3,926).

Watch out for

  • Retail food and plan-review fees are on a 3-step phased increase (through 2028); the amounts captured are the 'current fees' column.
  • Failing to submit plans / obtain inspections / pay fees, or building in violation, incurs triple the applicable fee as a penalty (Ord. Code 414-4.1019).

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
caterer$1,277Catering Operation Self Owned $1,277; Catering Operation $1,270 (first/full permit-fee column)
commissary/central kitchen$1,195Production Kitchen - First Permit $1,195; Production Kitchen - Additional Permit (Restaurant/Caterer) $984; MFF - Commissary $731; MFF - Limited/Registered Commissary $701; Host Facility $1,572
bakery$1,202Bakery tiered by risk class (RC1/RC2) and sq ft: <2,000 $1,202/$1,409; 2,001-4,000 $1,270/$1,955; 4,001-6,000 $1,541/$2,294; 6,001+ $3,065/$3,423
bar/tavern$1,093'Cocktail Lounge / Bar' $1,093
market/grocery with deli$1,161Retail Food Markets by risk class (RC1/RC2) and sq ft: <2,000 $1,161/$1,522; 2,001-4,000 $1,229/$1,413; 4,001-6,000 $1,390/$2,497; 6,001+ $1,522/$2,249. Incidental Retail Food Market $1,089; Remote Food Storage $995
temporary/seasonal/special-event$273Temporary Event Food Prep per booth by booth count: 1-2 $273, 3-7 $179, 8+ $151. Sampling/Demo $128/$87/$75; Prepackaged/Beverage $64/$45/$38; Event Coordinator App $87. Seasonal Fixed Facility $1,703; Intermittent Snack Bar $1,037; Swap Meet/Flea Market $753 (<20,000 sq ft) / $1,129 (20,001+); Cert-Ag Vendor-Farmers Market $772/$1,054/$1,223 by booth count
pushcart/limited operation$414CMFO Prepackaged Ice Cream Carts (non-motorized) $414 (1-4) / $403 (5-10) / $395 (11+); Intermittent Snack Bar $1,037; Food Demonstrator $2,418
Sources: www.cchealth.org · www.cchealth.org · www.cchealth.org · observed 2026-08-06