Local permits & fees

Knox County, TN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Knox County Health Department - Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Service Establishment Permit
$210/yr (50 or fewer seats); $360/yr (51+ seats)

Fees are set by TN state law (Rule 1200-23) and based on seating capacity; the environmental specialist identifies the applicable fee at the preliminary inspection. Amounts are the statewide state schedule (confirmed via Shelby County TN); Knox-specific published figure not separately posted.

Plan review — required

$0 (no fee)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit permit (KCHD food permit) + City of Knoxville Mobile Food Unit permit
Fee not published online — contact the department.

Two layers: KCHD issues the health/food permit (state mobile fee schedule applies; a commissary is generally required), and the City of Knoxville issues a separate Mobile Food Unit permit under its 04/26/16 ordinance for operating in the city/parks. Neither exact current dollar amount was published in reviewed sources.

Watch out for

  • Plan review is free but required for new construction and remodels; it is separate from city/county building-department plan review.
  • Temporary food establishment permit is $30 each.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
temporary/special-event$30.00"Temporary Food Establishment" - fixed location tied to an organized event, more than 1 day and up to 14 consecutive days. Other categories (caterer, commissary, bakery, market/deli, food processing) use state-of-Tennessee fees not published on accessible dept pages.
Sources: www.knoxcounty.org · www.knoxcounty.org · www.knoxcounty.org · www.knoxvilletn.gov · observed 2026-08-07