Local permits & fees

Johnson County, KS — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Kansas Department of Agriculture - Food Safety & Lodging (statewide restaurant/retail/mobile licensing); Johnson County Community Health Services - Environmental Health (temporary food event permits) · department site →

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

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Kansas Food Establishment License (issued by KDA)

Kansas Food Establishment License (issued by KDA): one-time application fee $200 (initial only) + annual license fee by facility SIZE - under 5,000 sq ft $250; 5,000 to <10,000 $300; 10,000 to <50,000 $500; 50,000+ $750. Typical small restaurant first year ~$450, renewal ~$250/yr - source https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch65/065_006_0088.html and https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/licenses/food-and-lodging-applications-and-licenses/license-information-food-safety

AUTHORITY: Restaurants in Johnson County are licensed by the STATE (Kansas Dept of Agriculture), not the county. KDA license fees are SIZE-BASED (square footage), NOT category-based; the Category I-IV designations govern inspection frequency, not the fee. Application fee $200 is paid on initial licensing only (statutory cap $350 per K.S.A. 65-688). Licenses run Apr 1-Mar 31 and are not prorated. School lunch program $415/yr; satellite school lunch $340/yr. (Prior record's category-based totals were incorrect and have been replaced with the size-based schedule.)

Plan review — required

null - plan review is administered by KDA as part of licensing; a separate itemized plan-review dollar fee is not published

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Kansas Food Establishment License - Mobile Unit (issued by KDA)

Kansas Food Establishment License - Mobile Unit (issued by KDA): same size-based schedule ($200 one-time application + annual license $250-$750 by size); most mobile units fall in the smallest tier (~$250/yr license) - source https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/licenses/food-and-lodging-applications-and-licenses/license-information-food-safety

Mobile units file the KDA Mobile Unit Log with the standard Food Establishment Application. Johnson County Community Health Services issues local TEMPORARY food event permits ($100 per unit).

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

KEY: Kansas licenses food establishments at the STATE level via KDA; the county health agency (Johnson County Community Health Services) handles temporary/event food permits, not annual restaurant licenses.
KDA fee = one-time $200 application (initial only) + annual license fee by SQUARE FOOTAGE: <5,000 sq ft $250; 5,000-<10,000 $300; 10,000-<50,000 $500; 50,000+ $750 (K.S.A. 65-688).
Category I-IV designations set inspection frequency, not fee amount. School lunch program $415/yr; satellite $340/yr.
Johnson County temporary food event permit is $100 per unit ($100 late fee if <14 days prior).

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Bakery / food processing	Licensed by KDA as a food establishment; annual license fee is SIZE-based ($250-$750 by square footage) + one-time $200 application - source https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/licenses/food-and-lodging-applications-and-licenses/license-information-food-safety	Licensed by the state (KDA), not the county. A separate KDA food processor license applies to wholesale/manufacturing operations.
Bar / limited food service	Licensed by KDA as a food establishment (drinking establishments included); annual license fee SIZE-based ($250-$750) + one-time $200 application - source https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/licenses/food-and-lodging-applications-and-licenses/license-information-food-safety	Licensed by the state (KDA). Fee is driven by facility square footage, not menu.
Temporary / seasonal event	$100 per unit (non-refundable); $100 late fee if received <14 days prior - source https://johnsoncountyhealth.org/temporary-food-permit/	Temporary food event permits are issued LOCALLY by Johnson County Community Health Services (Environmental Health), not by KDA.
Pushcart / mobile vending	Licensed by KDA as a mobile food unit; SIZE-based annual license ($250-$750) + one-time $200 application; most carts fall in the smallest tier (~$250/yr) - source https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/licenses/food-and-lodging-applications-and-licenses/license-information-food-safety	Mobile units file the KDA Mobile Unit Log with the standard Food Establishment Application.

Kansas 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.agriculture.ks.gov · ksrevisor.gov · johnsoncountyhealth.org · observed 2026-08-10