Local permits & fees

Douglas County, NE — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Douglas County Health Department - Food Safety & Compliance, Omaha · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment Permit (annual, under the Nebraska Pure Food Act)
Fee not published online — contact the department.

Fixed food-establishment permit fee not published in an accessible form (department site blocks automated access). An 'Initial Permit Fee' covers application processing, plan review, liquor/occupancy referral inspections, and pre-opening inspections. New establishments also pay a one-time NDA (Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture) fee for a State ID. Contact DCHD directly for the fee table.

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit / Pushcart Permit
100

UNVERIFIED exact figure from secondary sources: ~$100 per motor vehicle/trailer/cart/piece of equipment, plus an additional ~$100 if operating primarily within the Downtown Omaha Business Improvement District. A separate City of Omaha (Park Omaha) Mobile Food Vendor Permit is also required to vend on streets/right-of-way.

Watch out for

  • Two-permit reality for food trucks in Omaha: DCHD Mobile Food Unit permit (health) + Park Omaha Mobile Food Vendor Permit (city right-of-way).
  • State ID (via NDA) is tied to the owner and commissary address; changing commissary or ownership re-triggers the NDA fee.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
catererInitial permit fee $200 + annual $583 (annual prorated by quarter: 100% Jan-Mar / 75% Apr-Jun / 50% Jul-Sep / 25% Oct-Dec). 'Caterer in Addition to a Licensed Facility' annual $219.A caterer transports ready-to-eat food from a permitted establishment to the customer; must be associated with a licensed Food & Drink establishment or a licensed commissary. Fees are the 2025 schedule.
commissary/central kitchenInitial permit fee $200 + annual $583 (prorated by quarter as above)Commissary = a food establishment where food/containers/supplies are kept, handled, prepared, packaged or stored for use by mobile units, pushcarts or caterers.
bar/tavernDrink Only: initial $100 + annual $249 (prorated by quarter). Mobile Drink Only Vendor: initial $100 + annual $249.'Drink Only' = establishment dispensing beverages or non-TCS foods requiring limited handling.
market/grocery with deliRetail Food Permit: per checkout - initial $50 + annual $168; 5-10 checkouts - initial $250 + annual $838; 10+ checkouts - initial $500 + annual $1,678 (annual prorated by quarter). A grocery/market that also prepares/handles exposed food needs an additional Food & Drink permit.Base Retail Food Permit covers individually packaged foods/beverages with no on-site food prep; a deli counter (exposed/prepared food) requires an added permit. Fees are the 2025 schedule.
pushcart/limited operationIce Cream Push Carts: 1-10 carts $189; 11+ carts $284 (flat, not prorated). Separate Facility $124 annual.'Separate Facility' = a separate food/drink prep facility operated within/as an accessory to an approved establishment by the same person.
temporary/seasonal/special-eventAnnual Non-TCS Temporary Food Establishment $249. For coordinated special events: event sponsor Umbrella Fee $440 plus $74 per individual booth vendor (per Temporary Events page).Temporary food operations must originate from a permitted commissary; special-event coordinators and vendors file separate applications. Umbrella/booth figures are from the department's Temporary Events page; the $249 annual non-TCS figure is from the Permit Types fee list.
Sources: www.douglascountyhealth.com · www.douglascountyhealth.com · www.parkomaha.com · nda.nebraska.gov · observed 2026-08-10