foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Honolulu County, HI — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) - Food Safety Branch (state-administered; the City & County of Honolulu / Honolulu County has no separate county food program - DOH permits all food establishments statewide under HAR Title 11 Chapter 50) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment Permit - Restaurant
Small (<=1,000 sq ft): Risk Category 1 $300 / Category 2 $200 / Category 3 $100. Large (>1,000 sq ft): Category 1 $400 / Category 2 $300 / Category 3 $200 (annual)

State-administered by the DOH Food Safety Branch under HAR 11-50-7 (fees are statewide, not set by Honolulu County). Risk category is based on the number of food operations performed: Category 1 = 6-8 operations (highest risk), Category 2 = 3-5, Category 3 = 0-2 (lowest).

Plan review — required

1,000 sq ft or less $200; over 1,000 sq ft $300; prepackaged-only: no fee

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Establishment Permit
Risk Category 1 $300 / Category 2 $200 / Category 3 $100 (annual); a Support Kitchen is priced on the same tiers ($300 / $200 / $100)

Statewide HAR 11-50-7 mobile fee. A support (commissary) kitchen is generally required and is separately permitted on the same risk-category tiers.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • Fees are statewide under HAR 11-50-7; Honolulu County does not set its own food-permit fees.
  • Special/temporary event permit: 1-5 days $50; 6-10 days $75; 11-20 days $100; 21-31 days $100 + $5 per day over 20. Value-added farm products $25; charitable organizations $0.
  • Catering: Risk Category 1 $400 / Category 2 $300 / Category 3 $200. Charitable/homeless feeding permits $0.
  • Applications are filed by island/branch office (Oahu Food Safety Branch, Halawa Valley St.); a Certified Food Safety/Handler credential is required.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
CatererRisk Category 1 $400 / Category 2 $300 / Category 3 $200 (annual)Distinct 'Catering' category on the HAR 11-50-7 statewide fee schedule.
Commissary / central preparation kitchenSupport Kitchen: Risk Category 1 $300 / Category 2 $200 / Category 3 $100 (annual)Commissary/central prep is priced as a 'Support Kitchen' under HAR 11-50-7.
Bakery / food processingFood Manufacturer small (<=1,000 sq ft): Cat 1 $300 / Cat 2 $200 / Cat 3 $100. Large (>1,000 sq ft): Cat 1 $400 / Cat 2 $300 / Cat 3 $200Bakeries/processors are permitted as 'Food Manufacturer' by size and risk category.
Bar / limited food serviceService Areas: limited food prep $100; no food prep $50 (annual)HAR 11-50-7 'Service Areas' tier covers limited/no food-prep operations such as a bar service area.
Grocery / market with deliMarket small (<=1,000 sq ft): Cat 1 $300 / Cat 2 $200 / Cat 3 $100. Large (>1,000 sq ft): Cat 1 $400 / Cat 2 $300 / Cat 3 $200Grocery/market permitted as 'Market' by size and risk category; a deli/food-prep area raises the risk category.
Temporary / seasonal eventSpecial event: 1-5 days $50; 6-10 days $75; 11-20 days $100; 21-31 days $100 + $5/day over 20. Value-added farm products $25; charitable organizations $0Special Event Food Establishment permit tiers under HAR 11-50-7.
Pushcart / mobile vendingMobile Food Establishment: Risk Category 1 $300 / Category 2 $200 / Category 3 $100 (annual)Mobile/pushcart permitted as a Mobile Food Establishment; a Support Kitchen (same tiers) is generally required.
Hawaii 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.law.cornell.edu · health.hawaii.gov · health.hawaii.gov · observed 2026-08-07