foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Cumberland County, ME — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Maine DHHS, Maine CDC - Health Inspection Program (Division of Environmental & Community Health) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Eating Place License
$220/yr (Tier 1: 0-29 seats); $265/yr (Tier 2: 30-75 seats); $300/yr (Tier 3: more than 75 seats); Takeout $220; Limited Menu $205

State-administered by the Maine CDC Health Inspection Program (fee schedule revised 02-02-2026). Cumberland County (Portland) has no county health department. Note: municipalities delegated by the state (Table 2) license eating places at a flat $100 regardless of size.

Plan review — required

null - no separate plan-review fee line appears on the HIP fee schedule (rev 02-02-2026); a complete application must be submitted before opening. Confirm plan-review requirement/cost with HIP licensing (207-287-5671, [email protected]).

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Eating Place - Mobile License
$270/yr (Eating Place - Mobile / Mobile Stick Built); $100/yr (Eating Place - Mobile Base Kitchen)

Per the HIP fee schedule (rev 02-02-2026). A mobile base kitchen (commissary) is licensed separately at $100. Delegated municipalities charge a flat $100 for a mobile eating place.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • State-administered - Maine CDC licenses eating/lodging places statewide; retail food stores (groceries) are regulated by the Maine Dept of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, not the CDC HIP.
  • Catering license $270; Eating Place - Commissary $300; Eating & Catering combination $300.
  • Temporary eating place: $130 (1-4 days); $205 (5-14 days). Non-profit: no license required if fewer than 12 events/year.
  • Delegated municipalities issue their own licenses at a flat $100 (Table 2) - verify whether Portland/South Portland self-license.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Caterer$270/yr (Catering); Eating & Catering combination $300/yrPer the Maine CDC HIP fee schedule (rev 02-02-2026). Delegated municipalities charge a flat $100.
Commissary / central preparation kitchen$300/yr (Eating Place - Commissary); $100/yr (Eating Place - Mobile Base Kitchen)Maine breaks out both a full commissary ($300) and a mobile base kitchen ($100).
Bakery / food processingnull - not a distinct Maine CDC eating-place category; a retail bakery is licensed as an eating place (by seats/takeout), while wholesale food manufacturing is regulated by the Maine Dept of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry. Confirm applicable license.Maine CDC HIP does eating/lodging; food manufacturing is a separate DACF program.
Bar / limited food service$205/yr (Eating Place - Limited Menu)A bar with limited food is licensed as a Limited Menu eating place; a full-menu bar uses the seating tiers ($220/$265/$300).
Grocery / market with delinull - retail food stores (grocery/market) in Maine are licensed by the Dept of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, not the Maine CDC HIP; an in-store deli/prep area may trigger a Maine CDC eating-place license. Confirm store license with DACF.Grocery/retail food = DACF jurisdiction in Maine.
Temporary / seasonal event$130 (Eating Place - Temporary, 1-4 days); $205 (5-14 days)Non-profits need no license if fewer than 12 events/year.
Pushcart / mobile vending$270/yr (Eating Place - Mobile / Mobile Stick Built); $100/yr (Mobile Base Kitchen)Delegated municipalities charge a flat $100 for a mobile eating place.
Maine statewide rules
Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.
What equipment you need
Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.
Permits & plan review, explained
The stack of approvals before you open.
Sources: www.maine.gov · www.maine.gov · www.maine.gov · www.maine.gov · observed 2026-08-07