Local permits & fees

Madison County, AL — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Madison County Health Department - Environmental Health (Division of Food, Milk & Lodging), under Alabama Dept of Public Health (ADPH) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food/Lodging Establishment Permit (ADPH Rules Ch. 420-3-22)

null - ADPH requires a permit and 'appropriate fee,' but fees are set/collected locally and Madison County's food permit fee schedule is not published online; confirm with Madison County Environmental Health (256) 533-8726 / Food Safety (256) 532-3327. Secondary sources cite ~$200-$500/yr combined county+city (UNVERIFIED, not on an official source)

State standards under ADPH Chapter 420-3-22; permitting/fees administered at the county level.

Plan review — required

null - plan review required for new construction/remodel; dollar fee not published online, confirm with Madison County Environmental Health

Turnaround: Health permits reported to process in ~2-3 weeks (secondary source, UNVERIFIED)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit permit

null - not published on official sources; confirm with Madison County Environmental Health. A separate City of Huntsville business license also applies

A commissary/base of operation is generally required. ADPH delegates mobile-unit permitting to the county.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

Permits issued under ADPH Food Establishment Sanitation Rules Chapter 420-3-22.
Fees are set and collected by the county health department, not a statewide schedule.
A separate City of Huntsville business license is required in addition to the health permit.
Temporary food service establishment permits are required for events (amount not published for Madison County).

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
temporary/special-event	null - required for events but Madison County's amount is not published online; confirm with Madison County Environmental Health (256) 533-8726. (For reference, another ADPH county, Baldwin, charges $50 if filed 14+ days ahead / $75 if later - NOT confirmed for Madison)	ADPH-delegated; no statewide fee schedule published. No separate caterer/commissary/bakery/deli/bar/pushcart categories are published for Madison County.

Alabama 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: www.alabamapublichealth.gov · www.alabamapublichealth.gov · observed 2026-08-07