Local permits & fees

Dakota County, MN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services - Metro District Office. MDH licenses and inspects food establishments directly in Dakota County; the county has NO delegation agreement, so it is not a local licensing authority. Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture (MDA). · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food and Beverage establishment license (MDH), risk Category 1-3
Annual total = Base fee (food & beverage) $300 + Statewide Hospitality fee $50 + Technology fee $5 + category license fee: Category 1 $185, Category 2 $430, Category 3 $670. Example totals: Category 1 = $540; Category 2 = $785; Category 3 = $1,025

MDH fee schedule effective July 1, 2025. Category 3 = high risk (e.g., extensive prep / large volume). MDH bills base fee + hospitality + technology fee on top of the per-category license fee. Dakota County has no MDH/MDA delegation, so the state licenses directly.

Plan review — required

MDH food establishment plan review (eff. July 1, 2025): Category 1 $550 new / $450 remodel; Category 2 $750 new / $500 remodel; Category 3 $800 new / $550 remodel. Mobile Food Unit $700 new / $400 remodel; Food Cart, Seasonal Temporary Food Stand and Seasonal Permanent Food Stand $500 new / $400 remodel; Additional Food Service $400 new / $400 remodel; HACCP $600 new. Special Event Food Stand: no plan review required.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit license (MDH)
License fee $150 (plus base fee $300 + statewide hospitality $50 + technology fee $5). Plan review $700 new / $400 remodel.

MDH fee schedule effective July 1, 2025. Food Cart is a separate MDH license type at $150 (plan review $500 new / $400 remodel). MDH-issued statewide.

Watch out for

  • Authority is STATE (MDH), not the county - Dakota County has no MDH/MDA delegation agreement, so restaurants are licensed by the MDH Metro District Office (651-201-4500).
  • $50 statewide hospitality fee is required annually from every food/beverage/lodging establishment in Minnesota, plus a $300 base fee and $5 technology fee.
  • Additional MDH license line items (eff. July 1, 2025): Food Cart $150; Seasonal Temporary Food Stand $150; Seasonal Permanent Food Stand $150; Special Event Food Stand $75; Additional Food Service $250; HACCP $225; Additional Inspection Fee (K-12 schools) $350.
  • Grocery stores / retail food markets and food processors are licensed by the MN Dept. of Agriculture (MDA) with fees based on gross annual food sales (non-refundable $50 application), not by MDH.
Sources: www.health.state.mn.us · www.health.state.mn.us · www.health.state.mn.us · www.co.dakota.mn.us · www.mda.state.mn.us · observed 2026-08-10