Local permits & fees

Hennepin County, MN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Hennepin County Public Health — Epidemiology & Environmental Health (479 Prairie Center Dr, Eden Prairie) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food establishment license (facility category / risk based, 2/1-1/31 license year)
Full-menu restaurant (High Small Facility, <175 seats/<500 meals): Primary $807, Additional $404. Full-menu (High Large Facility, >175 seats/>500 meals): Primary $1,040, Additional $518. Lower tiers: Low Limited $100, Low $215, Medium Limited $405, Medium Small $612 (primary).

Fees are per-facility, set by category (food type, handling, risk, size) assigned by a plan reviewer; 'Additional' = extra facilities at the same address. Verified from Hennepin County 2026 Food, Beverage & Lodging License Fees PDF.

Plan review — required

$100 (plan review); on-site consult $175; office consult $74

Turnaround: Up to 30 calendar days from a complete application

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit license (food trucks/trailers)
First Unit $612, Additional $305 (license period 4/1-3/31). Reciprocity license $223/unit for units already licensed by MDH or by Bloomington/Brooklyn Park/Edina/Minneapolis/Minnetonka/Richfield.

Seasonal Temporary Food Stand $405 first/$202 add'l; Special Event high-risk $102 first day / $11 each add'l day.

Watch out for

  • Hennepin County grants reciprocity licenses ($223) to mobile units already licensed by MDH or by six named cities incl. Minneapolis — a truck operating across multiple Hennepin cities can otherwise stack several city licenses.
  • License categories (and thus fees) are assigned by a county plan reviewer, not self-selected; the same address can carry multiple licensed 'facilities.'

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
caterer$807 (High Small Facility) / $1,040 (High Large Facility)Primary-facility annual fee; 'Caterer' listed in High Small (<175 seats/<500 meals) and High Large tiers
commissary/central kitchen$807 / $1,040'Commissary kitchen' listed in High Small and High Large facility tiers
bakery$215-$807Bakery sales-only $215 (Low); bake-off no-decor non-PHF $405 (Medium Limited); decorating non-PHF $612 (Medium Small); potentially-hazardous fillings/decorations $807 (High Small)
market/grocery with deli$405-$1,040Small grocery $405; large grocery $612; Deli / Combo deli-meat market $807 (High Small) / $1,040 (High Large)
bar/tavern$612'Bar' listed under Medium Small Facility (open food)
temporary/seasonal/special-event$51-$204 (event) / $405 (seasonal stand)Special Event Food Stands (<=10 days): low-risk $51/high-risk $102 first day (+$11/day), sold-on-site $102-$204; Seasonal Temporary Food Stand $405 first stand
pushcart/limited operation$51-$612Low Limited Facility (portable bar/no prep) $100; delivery/transport carts $51 non-PHF / $106 PHF; Catering food vehicle $612; Mobile Food Unit $612 first unit
food processing/wholesaleWholesale food manufacturing regulated by MN Dept of Agriculture, not Hennepin County
Sources: www.hennepincounty.gov · www.hennepincounty.gov · www.hennepincounty.gov · observed 2026-08-06