Local permits & fees

Hamilton County, TN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department - Environmental Health · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Service Establishment Permit
$210/yr (50 or fewer seats); $360/yr (51 or more seats)

CONFIRMED: Fees are set by Tennessee state law (TN Code 68-14-713) by seating capacity and applied by county/regional health departments; identical statewide. Permit year runs July 1 - June 30. Verified against an official TN county health department (Shelby County Health Dept FAQ) publishing the same state schedule; Hamilton County's own site does not post the dollar figures. Regulatory contact 423-209-8110.

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit permit
Fee not published online — contact the department.

Hamilton County Environmental Health reviews the truck, menu, commissary, water/wastewater system and food handling. A permitted commissary (itself a licensed food service establishment) is required. Mobile unit fee is state-set but not published on the dept site or any authoritative page located as of 2026-08-10; not found. City handles business-tax licensing; fire officials may inspect propane/hoods.

Watch out for

  • Restaurant permit fees are set by Tennessee state statute (TN Code 68-14-713) by seating: $210 for 50 or fewer seats, $360 for 51 or more.
  • Permit year runs July 1 - June 30.
  • Application page lists three permit types: Brick & Mortar, Mobile Food Unit, and Farmers Market Food Unit (FMFU).
  • Mobile units, pushcarts and caterers must operate from an approved permitted commissary.
  • Regulatory contact: Chattanooga/Hamilton County 423-209-8110.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
market/farmers marketDept application page lists a Farmers Market Food Unit (FMFU) permit type in addition to Brick & Mortar and Mobile Unit. Fees are set by the State of Tennessee and are not published/retrievable on the dept site as of 2026-08-10. No separate caterer/commissary/bakery/deli/seasonal/pushcart/food-processing/bar fee categories are published; caterers and mobile units follow the state schedule and must use an approved commissary.
Sources: health.hamiltontn.org · shelbycountytn.gov · health.hamiltontn.org · observed 2026-08-10