Livingston County, MI Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Livingston County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. In Michigan, restaurant (food service establishment) licenses are issued through the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) but administered locally by the county EH division, which conducts plan review and collects a county license fee PLUS a $30 state fee. Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county. · 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 Livingston County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. In Michigan, restaurant (food service establishment) licenses are issued through the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) but administered locally by the county EH division, which conducts plan review and collects a county license fee PLUS a $30 state fee. Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county. issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Livingston County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
311
food & drink establishments
6,187
industry jobs
$132M
annual payroll
$21,352
avg wage / worker
113 full-service restaurants
126 limited-service & fast food
10 bars & drinking places
38 snack & coffee bars
7 mobile food & trucks
▲ 6.5% change in establishments since 2022 (292 → 311).
The average foodservice wage here is $708 below the Michigan average ($22,060); Michigan has about 19,760 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Restaurant / food-facility permit
Fixed Food Service Establishment License
County license fee by seating capacity PLUS $30 state fee: 0-25 seats $650+$30
26-50 seats $780+$30
51-75 seats $910+$30
76+ seats $1,040+$30. School full-service $650+$30
school satellite $520+$30
Applications are processed through MDARD; the county sets the local license fee and adds the $30 state fee; Operating without a license carries a $520 penalty; Low-risk consultation (limited food) $130+$9
Michigan local health departments inspect under the Michigan Food Law/FDA Food Code (priority/core violations); no letter grade or score. Reports on MDARD's online Food Inspection Postings (MiSafe).
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Establishment License (STFU / Mobile)
Mobile Establishment $260 + $30 state fee
Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU/TFU) license $260 + $44 state fee
Mobile plan review $780 (new) / $390 (change of ownership)
Food trucks operating in Livingston County file an 'Intent to Operate in Livingston County' form; TFU inspection $90; TFU late fee $65
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
What it costs in permit fees to open here
The government permit & plan-review fees below total roughly $320–$3,380 for Livingston County:
$30–$1,040 — food-facility permit
$260–$1,560 — plan review
$30–$780 — food-truck permit
That’s the paperwork only. Add buildout, equipment, deposits and licenses with the cost-to-open calculator. Fees change — confirm current amounts with the department.
Look up a restaurant’s inspection score
Check the health-inspection history and violation scores for any food establishment in Livingston County and Michigan. MDARD's MiSafe portal lets the public search state food inspection reports, with reports available from April 2022 forward.
About 292 food & drinking establishments serve ~196,757 residents in Livingston County — one per ~674 residents, sparser than the Michigan average (one per ~501).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Grease trap & FOG requirements
Under Michigan 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 Michigan Plumbing Code, with FOG limits set by the local wastewater utility.
Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with Livingston County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. In Michigan, restaurant (food service establishment) licenses are issued through the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) but administered locally by the county EH division, which conducts plan review and collects a county license fee PLUS a $30 state fee. Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county. (contact above).
Fire suppression & backflow
Hood fire suppression (Michigan 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 Michigan Fire Code, enforced by the Bureau of Fire Services and local fire departments. 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
Livingston County EH: 2300 E Grand River Ave, Suite 102, Howell, MI 48843; (517) 546-9858; FoodTeam@livgov.com
All food service license fees are stated as 'county fee + $30 state fee'
Temporary food: $260+$9 (applied 5+ days before event) or $390+$9 (less than 5 days before)
Mobile Commissary license $260+$30
Retail grocery/markets are licensed by MDARD (state), not the county
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
$260 + $30 state fee
Mobile Commissary license
Grocery / market with deli
retail grocery/markets are licensed by MDARD (state), not Livingston County; see MDARD license type guide
County EH handles restaurants/food service; MDARD handles retail grocery
Temporary / seasonal event
$260 + $9 (applied 5+ days before event); $390 + $9 (less than 5 days before)
Temporary food establishment license (county fee + state fee); TFU inspection $90; TFU late fee $65
Pushcart / mobile vending
$260 + $30 state fee (Mobile Establishment); STFU/TFU license $260 + $44 state fee
Mobile plan review $780 new / $390 change of ownership; 'Intent to Operate in Livingston County' form required
Equipment your Livingston 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.
County license fee by seating capacity PLUS $30 state fee: 0-25 seats $650+$30; 26-50 seats $780+$30; 51-75 seats $910+$30; 76+ seats $1,040+$30. School full-service $650+$30; school satellite $520+$30 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Livingston County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Fixed; new/major remodel: $1,300 (0-100 seating) or $1,560 (101+ seating); change of ownership $260. Mobile & TFU; new $780; change of ownership $390. HACCP review $1,040; variance request $520
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Livingston County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Food trucks operating in Livingston County file an 'Intent to Operate in Livingston County' form; TFU inspection $90; TFU late fee $65
Who issues food permits in Livingston County?
Food permits here are issued by Livingston County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. In Michigan, restaurant (food service establishment) licenses are issued through the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) but administered locally by the county EH division, which conducts plan review and collects a county license fee PLUS a $30 state fee. Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county.. 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.