foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Gaston County, NC — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Gaston County Department of Health & Human Services, Environmental Health Division (Food & Lodging) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment Permit (issued after plan review + inspection)
No local annual permit fee - Gaston County Environmental Health does not charge an annual food establishment permit/renewal fee; the only local charge is the one-time $250 plan review fee. NOTE: NC bills a separate small ANNUAL state food & lodging fee via NCDHHS under N.C.G.S. 130A-248(d) (paid to the state, not the county) - source https://www.gastongov.com/DocumentCenter/View/807/Food-Service-Plan-Review-Application-PDF

AUTHORITY: North Carolina uses a state Food Code enforced by county environmental health. The LOCAL cost is captured in the $250 plan review fee. Separately, NCDHHS bills facilities an annual state food & lodging fee (G.S. 130A-248(d)); this is a state charge, not a Gaston County fee.

Plan review — required

$250 (Food Service Plan Review Fee), payable to Gaston County Environmental Health - source https://www.gastongov.com/DocumentCenter/View/807/Food-Service-Plan-Review-Application-PDF

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit / Pushcart (plan review required; no annual permit fee)
null - mobile food units and pushcarts require a plan review in Gaston County, but a mobile-specific dollar fee is not separately published; NC charges no annual mobile permit fee. The general food service plan review fee is $250 - source https://www.gastongov.com/DocumentCenter/View/807/Food-Service-Plan-Review-Application-PDF

NC mobile food units and pushcarts operate from an approved commissary/base and are permitted after plan review. No annual operating fee under NC's model.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • KEY: North Carolina's plan-review-fee model - there is NO annual food establishment permit or renewal fee; the local health department charges only a one-time plan review fee.
  • Gaston County food service plan review fee is $250 (check payable to Gaston County Environmental Health).
  • Chain/franchised facilities must also get NCDHHS Facility Plan Review Unit approval before construction.
  • Plan approval by the county is required before any city/county building permit is issued.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Pushcart / mobile vendingnull - mobile food units and pushcarts require plan review and an approved commissary; NC charges no annual permit fee and Gaston does not separately publish a mobile-unit fee beyond the $250 food service plan review - source https://www.gastongov.com/DocumentCenter/View/807/Food-Service-Plan-Review-Application-PDFNorth Carolina's model has no annual permit/renewal fee; the one-time plan review is the only local charge. Caterers, bakeries, bars and grocery delis are all permitted the same way (plan review + inspection, no annual fee), so they are not separately priced categories.
North Carolina 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: www.gastongov.com · www.gastongov.com · ehs.dph.ncdhhs.gov · observed 2026-08-10