Local permits & fees

Gallatin County, MT — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Gallatin City-County Health Department - Environmental Health Services (Healthy Gallatin) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Retail Food Establishment - annual state license + county review
Annual state license (MDPHHS, per MCA 50-50-205): $85 small (1-2 employees) / $115 large (3+ employees). One-time county application review $252 (up to 750 sq ft) + pre-operational inspection $126 (750 sq ft example totals $378 to GCCHD)

Two-part system: the recurring license is a State of Montana (DPHHS) fee collected at the pre-operational inspection; the plan/application review and pre-op inspection are paid to Gallatin City-County Health Dept. County application review scales by size: up to 750 sq ft or mobile $252, 751-2,500 sq ft $336, >2,500 sq ft $420 (values from the published schedule; some source-table alignment ambiguity). Published fee schedule dated effective Oct 27, 2018.

Plan review — required

County application review $252 (up to 750 sq ft) + pre-operational inspection $126; scales to $336 (751-2,500 sq ft) and $420 (>2,500 sq ft)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Retail Food Establishment license
Annual state license: $85 (0-5 employees) / $115 (6+ employees). County application review 'Up to 750 sq ft or Mobile Unit' $252 + pre-op inspection $126

Mobile units licensed the same as retail food establishments under MCA 50-50-205; must operate from a licensed commissary.

Watch out for

  • Recurring food license is a State of Montana (DPHHS) fee; Gallatin City-County collects only the review and inspection fees.
  • New/remodel plan review is now submitted to the State of Montana Environmental Health & Food Safety Section per the county food-service page.
  • Only published fee schedule online is dated effective Oct 27, 2018; figures may be dated - confirm current amounts with EHS (406-582-3120).
  • Cottage Food Operation registration $40; Temporary Food Service Event permit $85 (1-2 employees) / $115 (3+).

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Caterernull - 'Caterer or Manufacturer using licensed commissary kitchen' is reviewed under the Food Establishment application review (base $252) but no distinct caterer dollar figure is broken outCaterers operate from a licensed commissary; state annual license still applies via MDPHHS.
Commissary / central preparation kitchen$84 (Commissary Change minor application review) + pre-operational inspectionApplies to an already-licensed caterer/mobile/wholesale moving to a different licensed facility; new commissaries go through full food-establishment review.
Temporary / seasonal event$85 (small, 1-2 employees) / $115 (large, 3+ employees)Temporary Food Service Event permit payable to Gallatin City-County Health Dept. Cottage Food Operation registration $40.
Sources: www.healthygallatin.org · www.healthygallatin.org · observed 2026-08-07