Licking County Health Department (LCHD), Environmental Health / Food Safety Program. Issues Ohio FSO and RFE licenses at Risk Levels I-IV. 675 Price Rd, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 349-6475. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Confirm the authority for your exact address. Some cities run their own health division, and building, planning, fire, sewer/grease and business-license approvals are separate even when Licking County Health Department (LCHD), Environmental Health / Food Safety Program. Issues Ohio FSO and RFE licenses at Risk Levels I-IV. 675 Price Rd, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 349-6475. issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Licking County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
342
food & drink establishments
5,685
industry jobs
$114M
annual payroll
$19,988
avg wage / worker
99 full-service restaurants
146 limited-service & fast food
28 bars & drinking places
38 snack & coffee bars
4 mobile food & trucks
▲ 2.7% change in establishments since 2022 (333 → 342).
The average foodservice wage here is $640 below the Ohio average ($20,628); Ohio has about 24,162 food & drink establishments statewide.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 722, food services & drinking places) — establishments with paid employees. Some small-county payroll figures are withheld by Census for confidentiality.
Last verified: 2026-08-17 — we re-confirmed the serving authority, its contact, and that the fees below match the current published schedule. Fee schedules may carry an earlier effective date (shown per fee); local ordinances & amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date? Report an update →
s annual FSO/RFE risk-level (I-IV) license fees are set yearly under the Ohio cost-methodology but are not posted on the LCHD website
the department directs applicants to call (740) 349-6475 for the current fee
No dollar figure published online as of 2026-08-07
LCHD confirms it licenses/inspects all FSOs (restaurants, school cafeterias) and RFEs (convenience stores, carryout, supermarkets) in the county at risk levels I-IV, but publishes only application forms, not a consolidated fee schedule
Plan review — required
the Plan Review Fee is entered per application (the '
Plan Review Fee: $______'
field on LCHD'
s Risk Food Plan Review Application is left blank/calculated)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Local food-service market
About 333 food & drinking establishments serve ~183,201 residents in Licking County — one per ~550 residents, denser than the Ohio average (one per ~574).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Grease trap & FOG requirements
Under Ohio Plumbing Code (based on 2021 IPC), food establishments here must control fats, oils & grease (FOG) with a grease interceptor or trap, and typically register with the local sewer/wastewater authority. Grease interceptors are required under the Ohio Plumbing Code, with FOG discharge limits enforced by the local sewer authority.
Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with Licking County Health Department (LCHD), Environmental Health / Food Safety Program. Issues Ohio FSO and RFE licenses at Risk Levels I-IV. 675 Price Rd, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 349-6475. (contact above).
Fire suppression & backflow
Hood fire suppression (Ohio Fire Code (based on 2021 IFC)): commercial cooking under a Type I hood needs a wet-chemical suppression system to NFPA 96, permitted and inspected by the local fire marshal. Commercial kitchen hood suppression follows NFPA 96 as adopted in the Ohio Fire Code and is inspected by the local fire authority. See do I need a hood? and the hood CFM calculator.
Backflow prevention: Restaurants must install a testable backflow preventer (typically an RPZ) that is tested annually and reported to the local water utility. A certified backflow assembly (often an RPZ) on the water service, tested annually, is standard — confirm with your water utility.
Watch out for
Temporary Food License (per event): $30 for tax-exempt non-profit [501(c)(3)] facilities; $60 for all other facilities; the only food license dollar figures LCHD publishes online (Temporary Food Application Packet)
Person In Charge (PIC) certification course is free; ServSafe Manager course $200, proctored ServSafe exam-only $50
Inspection records public portal: inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/lchd
Annual restaurant, plan-review, and mobile fees must be obtained by contacting LCHD directly; they are not on the website
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Grocery / market with deli
licensed as a Retail Food Establishment (RFE) at risk level I-IV; LCHD does not publish the RFE fee amounts online (call 740-349-6475)
LCHD inspects convenience stores, carryout, and supermarkets as RFEs
Temporary / seasonal event
$30.00 per event for tax-exempt non-profit [501(c)(3)] facilities; $60.00 per event for all other facilities
Only food license dollar figures LCHD publishes online (Temporary Food Application Packet)
Pushcart / mobile vending
Mobile FSO and the new Ohio low-risk mobile RFE (MRFE) licenses are not priced online; the low-risk license is stated to be half the high-risk cost but no dollar amounts are posted
LCHD uses Mobile Food License Layout and Mobile Plan Review forms
Equipment your Licking County plan review will check
Health-department plan review looks for specific, code-compliant fixtures. Compare spec-filtered options, then confirm counts and sizes with your local requirements. See the full list in what equipment a commercial kitchen requires.
LCHD's annual FSO/RFE risk-level (I-IV) license fees are set yearly under the Ohio cost-methodology but are not posted on the LCHD website; the department directs applicants to call (740) 349-6475 for the current fee; No dollar figure published online as of 2026-08-07 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Licking County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: the Plan Review Fee is entered per application (the 'Plan Review Fee: $______' field on LCHD's Risk Food Plan Review Application is left blank/calculated); no fixed schedule is published online
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Licking County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. A 2024 Ohio law created a new 'low risk' mobile food vendor (MRFE) license; LCHD uses a Mobile Food License Layout form and Mobile Plan Review Form
Who issues food permits in Licking County?
Food permits here are issued by Licking County Health Department (LCHD), Environmental Health / Food Safety Program. Issues Ohio FSO and RFE licenses at Risk Levels I-IV. 675 Price Rd, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 349-6475.. See the department site for current details.
Are city building and fire approvals separate?
Yes — building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals are always separate from the health permit and are often handled by different offices.