Local permits & fees

Hillsborough County, NH — Commercial Kitchen Permits

New Hampshire DHHS, Division of Public Health Services - Food Protection Section · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Annual Food Service License
By class/seating: Class D $225 (0-24 seats); Class C $350 (25-99 seats); Class B $450 (100-198 seats); Class A $875 (199+ seats)

State-administered by the NH Food Protection Section for most of the state, including Hillsborough County. IMPORTANT: the cities of Manchester and Nashua self-license and self-inspect - establishments there apply to the city health department, not the state, and city fees differ.

Plan review — required

null - plan review is required for New, Change of Ownership and Change in License Class applications, but no plan-review dollar amount is published on the class fee schedule. Confirm with the Food Protection Section (603-271-4589).

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Unit food service license
$175 (Class E - mobile units which cook food); $150 (Class F - mobile units serving pre-packaged or non-potentially-hazardous unwrapped foods only)

Per the NH Food Protection Section fee schedule. Class assignment depends on whether the unit cooks/handles potentially hazardous food. In Manchester/Nashua the respective city health department licenses mobile units.

Watch out for

  • Manchester and Nashua (both in Hillsborough County) operate their own food programs and self-inspect - not covered by the state license.
  • Off-site caterers are Class C ($350); bars/lounges serving alcohol with a food prep area are Class C ($350), without a prep area Class G ($100).
  • Full class fee schedule: A $875, B $450, C $350, D $225, E $175, F $150, G $100, H $50 (level 1 homestead), O $100 (private/college/state-school cafeterias).
  • Payment is made to 'Treasurer, State of New Hampshire'; fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Caterer$350/yr (Class C - caterers serving food off site)Off-site catering is Class C on the NH Food Protection Section schedule. Manchester/Nashua self-license.
Commissary / central preparation kitchennull - not a distinct NH license class; a commissary is licensed under the class matching its food-prep activity and volume. Confirm with the Food Protection Section.No stand-alone commissary class on the NH schedule.
Bakery / food processing$225 (Class D - bakeries with 0-24 seats); $150 (Class F - bakeries not serving PHF with 0 seats); $350 (Class C - commercially process <100,000 units/yr); $875 (Class A - process 100,000+ units/yr)Class depends on seating, whether potentially-hazardous food is served, and processing volume.
Bar / limited food service$350 (Class C - bar/lounge serving alcohol WITH a food-prep area); $100 (Class G - bar/lounge serving alcohol, no food-prep area)Presence of a food-prep area drives the class.
Grocery / market with deli$450 (Class B - retail food store with more than 2 prep areas); $350 (Class C - 1-2 prep areas); $150 (Class F - no prep area)Retail food store class is driven by number of food-prep areas.
Temporary / seasonal eventnull - NH issues temporary event food licenses, but a temporary fee is not listed on the annual class fee schedule. Confirm with the Food Protection Section (603-271-4589).Temporary/event licensing is handled separately from the annual class schedule.
Pushcart / mobile vending$175 (Class E - mobile units which cook food); $150 (Class F - mobile units serving pre-packaged / non-PHF unwrapped foods)Manchester and Nashua license mobile units through their own city health departments.
Sources: www.dhhs.nh.gov · www.dhhs.nh.gov · www.dhhs.nh.gov · observed 2026-08-07