Local permits & fees

Kalamazoo County, MI — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services, Environmental Health Division (licenses food service establishments - restaurants). Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), not the county. 311 E. Alcott St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001; (269) 373-5210. · department site →

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

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Service Establishment License (fixed location, annual)

Fixed, for-profit and schools $640.00 ($610 local + $30 state); non-profit fixed $615.00 ($610 local + $5 state); seasonal $335.00 ($305 + $30), non-profit seasonal $310.00.

From Kalamazoo County EH Fee Schedule (2026). Total = local fee + state fee. Veterans licensed under 1921 PA 359 are exempt from a portion of the state fees. License year runs to April 30; late-application penalty $35/business day starting May 2.

Plan review — required

Plan Review $685.00; Partial Plan Review $325.00; Change of Ownership $255.00; Specialized Processing/HACCP Review $305.00 (2026). Penalty if construction begins before plan approval $1,370.00.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Service License / Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU)

Mobile Food Service License $320.00 ($290 local + $30 state); Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) $269.00 ($225 + $44), non-profit STFU $230.00; STFU inspection fee (1st or 2nd inspection) $90.00 (2026).

STFU is Michigan's statewide mobile unit that can operate across MI local health jurisdictions.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

Michigan Food Law: local health departments license restaurants (food service establishments); MDARD licenses grocery/retail food markets - so a market with a deli may hold an MDARD license, not a county one.
Temporary food $180.00 ($171 + $9), non-profit temporary $165.00 ($160 + $5).
Fee schedule is the '2026 EH Fee Schedule'; food fees stated as Local Fee + State Fee = Total.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Temporary / seasonal event	Temporary $180.00 ($171 local + $9 state), non-profit temporary $165.00 ($160 + $5); Seasonal $335.00 ($305 + $30), non-profit seasonal $310.00 (2026)	Local fee + state fee = total on the 2026 Kalamazoo County EH Fee Schedule.
Pushcart / mobile vending	Mobile Food Service License $320.00 ($290 + $30); Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) $269.00 ($225 + $44), non-profit STFU $230.00; STFU inspection fee $90.00 (2026)	STFU can operate across Michigan local health jurisdictions.
Grocery / market with deli	null - grocery/retail food markets in Michigan are licensed by MDARD (Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development), not Kalamazoo County.	Kalamazoo County licenses restaurants (food service establishments) only.

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: www.kalcounty.gov · www.kalcounty.gov · www.kalcounty.gov · observed 2026-08-07