Local permits & fees

Kanawha County, WV — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Kanawha-Charleston Health Department (KCHD) - Environmental Health / Food Program · department site →

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

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment Permit to Operate

null - KCHD's annual permit-to-operate fee was not retrievable at research time (the department's fee-schedule PDF host, kchdwv.org, was unreachable). KCHD's published plan-review fee (a prerequisite to the food permit) is $125 (0-25 seats / B&B), $225 (26-75 seats), $325 (76+ seats). Confirm the annual permit fee via KCHD Environmental Health (304-348-8050) or the ENV_HEALTH_FEES fee schedule.

Locally administered by the county health department (not state-administered). All food establishments must complete plan review before a permit is issued.

Plan review — required

$125 (Food 0-25 seats / Bed and Breakfast); $225 (Food 26-75 seats / Hotel 0-50 rooms); $325 (Food 76+ seats / Hotel 51+ rooms)

Turnaround: Submit plans and specifications at least 45 days prior to construction, conversion or remodeling

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit permit

null - KCHD issues the mobile food unit health permit; the exact annual fee was not retrievable (kchdwv.org unreachable). Secondary guides cite roughly $250-$450/yr for Charleston operators. The City of Charleston also issues a separate Street Vending permit. Confirm KCHD amount at 304-348-8050.

Two layers: KCHD health/food permit plus a City of Charleston street-vending permit for operating in the city.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

Watch out for

Locally administered - KCHD (108 Lee Street, East, Charleston) covers Kanawha County; not a state-run permit program.
Plan review is mandatory before any food permit is issued; plans due 45+ days before construction/remodel.
KCHD offers an online 'Pay My Invoice' portal for environmental-health fees.
City of Charleston separately requires a business license and, for vendors, a Street Vending permit.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Temporary / seasonal event	null - KCHD issues a Temporary Food Establishment permit (application on file), but the fee was not retrievable at research time because the department's fee-schedule host (kchdwv.org) was unreachable. Confirm with KCHD Environmental Health (304-348-8050).	KCHD publishes a Temporary Food Application; fee amount to be confirmed.
Pushcart / mobile vending	null - KCHD issues a Mobile Food Unit health permit; the exact annual fee was not retrievable (kchdwv.org unreachable). Secondary guides cite roughly $250-$450/yr for Charleston operators; the City of Charleston also issues a separate Street Vending permit. Confirm KCHD amount at 304-348-8050.	Two layers: KCHD health/food permit plus a City of Charleston street-vending permit.

West Virginia 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: kchd.wv.gov · kchd.wv.gov · kchdwv.org · www.kchdwv.org · observed 2026-08-07