Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Cowlitz County food-facility health permits run about $315–$810 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $315–$1,260. Confirm the exact amount with Cowlitz County Health & Human Services 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 Cowlitz County Health & Human Services issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Cowlitz County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
204
food & drink establishments
3,184
industry jobs
$77M
annual payroll
$24,291
avg wage / worker
73 full-service restaurants
68 limited-service & fast food
15 bars & drinking places
39 snack & coffee bars
▲ 4.1% change in establishments since 2022 (196 → 204).
The average foodservice wage here is $6,381 below the Washington average ($30,672); Washington has about 17,386 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: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
No separate mobile-unit line on the fee schedule; mobiles permitted under the annual Food Service Permit size tiers; Offsite Catering Service Permit $200
How to apply
See the department site above.
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 $630–$2,070 for Cowlitz County:
$315–$810 — food-facility permit
$315–$1,260 — plan review
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.
How Cowlitz County’s permit cost compares
At about $315/year, Cowlitz County’s restaurant health permit is above the Washington median ($292) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 93% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 19th-lowest of 30 Washington counties by permit cost.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
Local food-service market
About 196 food & drinking establishments serve ~112,864 residents in Cowlitz County — one per ~576 residents, sparser than the Washington average (one per ~521).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$315 annual health permit + $315 plan review.
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
Grease trap & FOG requirements
Under UPC, food establishments here must control fats, oils & grease (FOG) with a grease interceptor or trap, and typically register with the local sewer/wastewater authority. A grease interceptor sized to the state plumbing code is required, with a municipal sewer-authority FOG discharge permit.
Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with Cowlitz County Health & Human Services (contact above).
Fire suppression & backflow
Hood fire suppression (IFC): commercial cooking under a Type I hood needs a wet-chemical suppression system to NFPA 96, permitted and inspected by the local fire marshal. Type I hood fire suppression must meet NFPA 96 and the state fire code enforced by the local fire authority. See do I need a hood? and the hood CFM calculator.
Backflow prevention: An approved backflow preventer with a certified annual test is required by the local water purveyor. A certified backflow assembly (often an RPZ) on the water service, tested annually, is standard — confirm with your water utility.
Equipment your Cowlitz 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Cowlitz County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
Confirm zoning and permitted use.
Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
Pay plan-review fees.
Respond to plan-check corrections.
Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
Receive approval before storing or preparing food.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a food permit in Cowlitz County?
Minimum $315; Small $485; Medium $645; Large $810 (annual) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Cowlitz County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Food Plan Review: Minimum $315; Limited $400; Complex $630; Multiple Permits $1,260
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Cowlitz County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. No separate mobile-unit line on the fee schedule; mobiles permitted under the annual Food Service Permit size tiers; Offsite Catering Service Permit $200
Who issues food permits in Cowlitz County?
Food permits here are issued by Cowlitz County Health & Human Services. 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.