Local permits & fees

Ingham County, MI — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Ingham County Health Department (ICHD) - Environmental Health Division · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Fixed Food Service License (annual License/Renewal, by category)

$500.00 (Category 1 - Serving/Take-Out, Pizza only, Coffee/Donut/Ice Cream shop, School Kitchen K-12, Fraternal/Civic org, Bar with Limited or No PHF); $835.00 (Category 2 - Full Service without Alcohol, Fast Food, Pizza with Additional Menu, Catering Operations); $1,180.00 (Category 3 - Full Service with Alcohol, Fine Dining, Institutional, Cafeterias, Hospitals, Large Hotels). (2025-2026 schedule, effective until Sept 30, 2026.)

Locally administered by the Ingham County Health Department (Lansing) under contract with the State of Michigan. Food service categories are determined by the area inspector based on operations. Fees include the State of Michigan fee of $30.00 for Fixed/Seasonal/Mobile licenses. Grocery/retail food and food processing are MDARD (state) jurisdiction, not the county.

Plan review — required

Full Plan Review: $1,255.00 (Category 1), $1,745.00 (Category 2), $2,500.00 (Category 3). New Owner Evaluation: $665.00 (Cat 1), $935.00 (Cat 2), $1,365.00 (Cat 3). Minimal Plan Review: $800.00 (Cat 1), $980.00 (Cat 2), $1,500.00 (Cat 3). STFU/Mobile full plan review $640.00. Plan Review Re-evaluation/Re-submission $645.00.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) License / Mobile License

$152.00 (STFU License/Renewal) plus $90.00 per inspection (two inspections required per licensure year); $465.00 (Mobile License - transitory unit that reports to a commissary daily). Full plan review $640.00; STFU new-owner evaluation $575.00; Mobile new-owner evaluation $530.00. (STFU fee includes $44.00 state fee; Mobile includes $30.00 state fee.)

Michigan distinguishes Special Transitory Food Units (STFU - capable of traveling around the state) from Mobile units that must report to a commissary daily. A commissary/servicing base is required.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

Watch out for

Locally administered under state contract - ICHD issues FOOD SERVICE (restaurant) licenses; grocery/retail food and food processing are MDARD (state) jurisdiction.
Fixed license fee is 3-category: Category 1 $500, Category 2 $835 (full service w/o alcohol, catering), Category 3 $1,180 (full service w/ alcohol, fine dining, institutional).
Seasonal License (facility operating 9 months or less) $355.00; Late Fee $170.00 (after April 30).
STFU $152 + $90/inspection (two/yr); Mobile $465. Temporary Food License $100 (single location, max 14 days); Temporary Late (received <5 days before event) $250.
Plan review is category-based and substantial ($1,255-$2,500 full review). Fees include State of Michigan fees ($30 fixed/mobile, $44 STFU, $9 temporary). Schedule effective until Sept 30, 2026.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Caterer	$835 (Catering Operations fall in Category 2 - Full Service without Alcohol)	Catering Operations are explicitly named as a Category 2 fixed food service license ($835 License/Renewal).
Bakery / food processing	$500 (retail Coffee Shop / Donuts / Ice Cream fall in Category 1). Wholesale food processing/manufacturing is licensed by the Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), not the county.	Retail bakery/serving operations are Category 1 ($500); wholesale = MDARD state jurisdiction.
Bar / limited food service	$500 ('Bar With Limited or No Potentially Hazardous Foods (PHF)' falls in Category 1)	A bar with limited/no PHF is a Category 1 fixed license ($500); a full bar with a larger menu and alcohol moves to Category 2/3.
Grocery / market with deli	null - grocery/retail food markets are licensed by the Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), not Ingham County Health Department. An in-store deli/food-prep area may require a county food service license; confirm with EH (517-887-4311).	Retail food (grocery) = MDARD jurisdiction in Michigan.
Temporary / seasonal event	$100 (Temporary Food License, single location, max 14 consecutive days); $250 (Temporary Late - received <5 days before event). Seasonal License (facility operating 9 months or less) $355.	Ingham breaks out both a Temporary license and a Seasonal license (fixed facility <=9 months/year).
Pushcart / mobile vending	$152 (Special Transitory Food Unit / STFU License) + $90 per inspection (two per year); $465 (Mobile License - unit reporting to a commissary daily). Full plan review $640.	Michigan splits STFU (travels statewide) from Mobile units that report to a commissary daily; a commissary is required.

Michigan 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: health.ingham.org · docs.ingham.org · observed 2026-08-07