Local permits & fees

Erie County, NY — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH), Division of Environmental Health Services · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Permit to Operate a Food Service Establishment

Food Service Establishment: 0-50 seats $147; over 50 seats $282. Taverns (no food prep): 0-50 seats $79; over 50 seats $147. Food Commissary: prep & storage $282, storage only $79. Caterers $282.

Per the ECDOH Environmental Health fee schedule (document last dated 03/04/2013 - it is the schedule the county still publishes/links, but amounts may be outdated; confirm current pricing at 716-961-6800). Annual renewal; apply at least 21 days before operation for previously permitted facilities. Proof of NYS Workers' Comp and Disability Benefits insurance required.

Plan review — required

Plan Review - Food Service: $147

Turnaround: Submit a Plan Review Application before construction or extensive remodel; ECDOH reviews and approves prior to construction. Pre-operational inspection contact up to ~10 days; permit issued within ~3 business days of approval.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Permit to Operate a Mobile Food Service Unit / Pushcart (NYS Sanitary Code Subpart 14-4)

ECDOH health permit: Mobile Foodservice Units, Pushcarts $147 (per the 2013-dated county fee schedule; may be outdated).

SEPARATE city permit: to operate within the City of Buffalo a Mobile Food Vehicle permit is also required from the City of Buffalo at $800 initial / $500 annual renewal, with $1,000,000 per-occurrence liability insurance. The $800/$500 figures are the CITY of Buffalo permit, not the ECDOH county health permit ($147). Mobile units regulated under NYS Sanitary Code Subpart 14-4.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

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Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
bar/tavern	$79.00	'Taverns - No Food Prep', 0-50 seats; taverns with food prep or larger fall under seat-tiered Food Service Establishment fees ($147 / $282).
commissary/central kitchen	Food Prep & Storage $282.00; Food Storage Only $79.00	'Food Commissaries'.
caterer	$282.00	Caterers permit.
food processing/wholesale	$25.00	'Frozen Dessert' (only manufacturer-type category listed).
pushcart/limited operation	$147.00	'Mobile Foodservice Units, Pushcarts' (pushcarts billed same as mobile units).
temporary/seasonal/special-event	Applied 5+ days ahead: 1-3 days $106 / 4-7 days $120 / over 7 days $150. Applied <5 days ahead: 1-3 days $146 / 4-7 days $160 / over 7 days $190.	Temporary Foodservice Permits. Cumulative fee for a single operator at a single event/location capped at $1,000.

New York 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: www3.erie.gov · www3.erie.gov · www3.erie.gov · www.buffalony.gov · observed 2026-08-07