foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Lake County, FL — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Restaurants: Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide). Groceries/markets/food processing/bakeries: Florida Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety. Lake County does not issue its own food-establishment permits or fees. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Public Food Service Establishment License (DBPR)
Nonseating $242/yr; seating by capacity: 1-49 seats $262, 50-149 $273, 150-249 $294, 250-349 $315, 350-499 $336, 500+ $357 (annual). Plus $50 new-application/change-of-ownership fee.

CONFIRMED against the current DBPR Division of Hotels & Restaurants fee schedule (FAC 61C-1.008); identical in every FL county. Includes $10 Hospitality Education Program surcharge. Half-year rates available (e.g. 1-49 seats $136; nonseating $126).

Plan review — required

$0

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle (MFDV) license (DBPR)
$347/yr (half-year $178.50)

CONFIRMED on current DBPR fee schedule (also covers hot dog carts and temporary commercial kitchens). Commissary/base of operation required. Local municipal business/mobile-vendor rules may also apply.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • Restaurant licensing is 100% state-administered by DBPR; no county annual permit fee.
  • Grocery stores, markets, convenience stores, bakeries and food processors are permitted by FDACS (Rule 5K-4.020), not DBPR.
  • Caterers licensed by DBPR at $263/yr; vending machines $21/yr.
  • FDACS retail food fees were REDUCED by a rule amendment effective 2025-11-11 (e.g. grocery $540 to $465, supermarket $650 to $500, wholesale bakery $530 to $465); amounts below reflect the current amended schedule.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Caterer$263DBPR caterer license, annual (half-year $136.50). CONFIRMED on current DBPR fee schedule.
Bakery / food processingRetail bakery $355; retail bakery with food service $440; wholesale bakery $465FDACS (Rule 5K-4.020), amended effective 2025-11-11. Retail bakery unchanged at $355; retail bakery with food service reduced from $490 to $440; wholesale bakery reduced from $530 to $465. Verified from the current FAC 5K-4.020 rule text.
Grocery / market with deliGrocery store $465; convenience store $330; convenience store w/ limited food service $385; convenience store w/ significant food service $465; supermarket $500FDACS (Rule 5K-4.020), amended effective 2025-11-11. Grocery reduced from $540 to $465; supermarket from $650 to $500; convenience store w/ limited food service from $430 to $385; convenience store base unchanged at $330. Verified from the current FAC 5K-4.020 rule text.
Temporary / seasonal event$91DBPR temporary food service: 1-3 day event $91; 4-30 day event $105; annual temporary vendor $456. CONFIRMED on current DBPR fee schedule.
Pushcart / mobile vending$347DBPR Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle / hot dog cart license, annual (half-year $178.50). CONFIRMED on current DBPR fee schedule.
Vending$21DBPR vending machine license, annual (half-year $15.50). CONFIRMED on current DBPR fee schedule.
Florida 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: www2.myfloridalicense.com · www.fdacs.gov · flrules.org · www.law.cornell.edu · observed 2026-08-10