foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

La Crosse County, WI — Commercial Kitchen Permits

La Crosse County Health Department, Environmental Health (agent of WI DATCP) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Retail Food Establishment License - Serving Meals (permit fee + pre-inspection fee)
$528 (Prepackaged), $875 (Simple), $1,086 (Moderate), $1,689 (Complex); Restaurant Inspection Only $100

La Crosse County is a licensing agent for the WI Dept of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Totals shown = permit fee + pre-inspection fee. All licenses expire June 30. Source: 2026 Food License Application (lacrossecounty.org).

Plan review — required

$355 (Plan Review Food); $250 (Plan Review Rush)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Retail Food Establishment License - Serving Meals
$195 (food base, no food prep/processing), $528 (Prepackaged), $875 (Simple), $1,086 (Moderate), $1,689 (Complex)

Mobile categories mirror fixed-establishment complexity tiers (permit fee + pre-inspection fee).

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • Reinspection Food Establishment: $175 (1st), $250 (2nd), $275 (3rd+)
  • Operating without a license: $749; Late fee: $250
  • All licenses expire June 30 each year
  • 300 4th Street North, 2nd Floor, La Crosse, WI 54601; 608-785-9771

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Bar / limited food service$220 (Tavern: $120 permit + $100 pre-inspection); Alcohol Beverage Tasting Facility $220County license category.
Grocery / market with deli$380 (Prepackaged), $563-$873 (Simple tiers), $1,085 (Moderate), $1,478-$1,878 (Complex tiers by employee count)Retail Not Serving Meals (NSM) categories; totals = permit fee + pre-inspection fee. Micro Market $144, Multi Market $169.
Temporary / seasonal event$115 (Transient Prepack TCS); $200 (Transient TCS Food); $165 (Transient Non TCS); $70 (Transient Inspection Only)Transient (temporary) food establishment licenses.
Pushcart / mobile vending$195 (base, no food prep) to $1,689 (Complex); NSM mobile $380-$1,878Mobile serving-meals and not-serving-meals categories mirror fixed-establishment complexity tiers.
Wisconsin 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: lacrossecounty.org · lacrossecounty.org · observed 2026-08-07