Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Delaware County food-facility health permits run about $28–$1,668 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $300–$1,000. Confirm the exact amount with Delaware Public Health District 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 Delaware Public Health District issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Delaware County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
492
food & drink establishments
10,684
industry jobs
$243M
annual payroll
$22,736
avg wage / worker
175 full-service restaurants
206 limited-service & fast food
18 bars & drinking places
63 snack & coffee bars
8 mobile food & trucks
— 0.0% change in establishments since 2022 (492 → 492).
The average foodservice wage here is $2,108 above the Ohio average ($20,628); Ohio has about 24,162 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Restaurant / food-facility permit
Food Service Operation License
$314
$812 (Commercial, <
25,000 sq ft, Risk I-IV, total incl
$28 state fee)
$443
$1,668 (>
25,000 sq ft)
2026 EH fee schedule; Commercial totals <25,000 sq ft: Risk I $314, II $352, III $646, IV $812 (local fee $286/$324/$618/$784 + $28 state); Commercial >25,000 sq ft: Risk I $443, II $466, III $1,576, IV $1,668. Non-commercial rates roughly half
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile FSO
$168 low risk / $308 high risk (total incl
$28 state)
Low Risk Mobile local $140+$28; High Risk Mobile local $280+$28. Vending $20.50
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 $356–$2,976 for Delaware County:
$28–$1,668 — food-facility permit
$300–$1,000 — plan review
$28–$308 — food-truck permit
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 Delaware County’s permit cost compares
At about $28/year, Delaware County’s restaurant health permit is about the Ohio median ($28) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 3% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 8th-lowest of 54 Ohio 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 492 food & drinking establishments serve ~231,636 residents in Delaware County — one per ~471 residents, denser than the Ohio average (one per ~574).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$28 annual health permit + $300 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 Ohio Plumbing Code (based on 2021 IPC), food establishments here must control fats, oils & grease (FOG) with a grease interceptor or trap, and typically register with the local sewer/wastewater authority. Grease interceptors are required under the Ohio Plumbing Code, with FOG discharge limits enforced by the local sewer authority.
Hood fire suppression (Ohio Fire Code (based on 2021 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. Commercial kitchen hood suppression follows NFPA 96 as adopted in the Ohio Fire Code and is inspected by the local fire authority. See do I need a hood? and the hood CFM calculator.
Backflow prevention: Restaurants must install a testable backflow preventer (typically an RPZ) that is tested annually and reported to the local water utility. A certified backflow assembly (often an RPZ) on the water service, tested annually, is standard — confirm with your water utility.
Equipment your Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware County?
$314; $812 (Commercial, <25,000 sq ft, Risk I-IV, total incl; $28 state fee); $443; $1,668 (>25,000 sq ft) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Delaware County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $500 (<25,000 sq ft) / $900 (>25,000 sq ft) new; remodel $300 / $600; expedited +$1,000
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Delaware County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Low Risk Mobile local $140+$28; High Risk Mobile local $280+$28. Vending $20.50
Who issues food permits in Delaware County?
Food permits here are issued by Delaware Public Health District. 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.