Local permits & fees

Fairfax County, VA — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Fairfax County Health Department, Environmental Health Services - Food Safety Section · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment Permit (annual)
$80.00 application fee stated on Fairfax's new-establishment page (appears to bundle the statewide $40 permit + $40 plan review fees)

Virginia food regulations administered locally by Fairfax EH. Pre-occupancy inspection required (call 703-246-2201, by appointment); Certified Food Manager must be present. Permit mailed ~5-7 days after passing inspection.

Plan review — required

$40.00 plan review fee (statewide VDH) before opening a new/remodeled facility; Fairfax's page lists the $80 combined application fee at submission

Turnaround: null - specific plan review turnaround not published; schedule pre-occupancy inspection at least 3 days in advance

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit Permit
$80 application fee to apply for a Food Establishment Permit for a food truck (per Fairfax); statewide $40 plan review + $40 permit structure applies

Requires roster of all workers with Certified Food Manager cards and a food-truck inspection. County zoning separately regulates where trucks may operate.

Watch out for

  • Applications for Food Establishment, Mobile Food Unit, and Change of Ownership are filed through the PLUS Citizen Portal.
  • Fairfax's stated $80 application fee is higher than the base statewide $40 permit fee and appears to combine permit + plan review; confirm the current breakdown with EH at 703-246-2201.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Caterer$80Fairfax County Health Dept charges a single flat $80 food establishment permit application fee; caterers permitted as food establishments via the PLUS Citizen Portal.
Commissary / central kitchen$80Permitted as a food establishment; flat $80 permit application fee.
Bakery$80Permitted as a food establishment; flat $80 permit application fee.
Market / grocery with deli$80In-store food preparation/deli permitted as a food establishment; flat $80 permit application fee.
Temporary / special eventTemporary Food Establishment (TFE) permits handled separately for events; specific TFE fee not published on the new-food-establishment permits page ($80 fee shown is for food establishment / mobile food unit / change-of-ownership applications).
Sources: www.fairfaxcounty.gov · www.fairfaxcounty.gov · www.vdh.virginia.gov · observed 2026-08-07