State-administered, not county. Restaurants and other public food service establishments are licensed by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels & Restaurants. Fees are identical in every Florida county. The Florida Department of Health - Manatee County does NOT license restaurants.
Prepared-food trucks/carts are DBPR MFDVs; carts selling only packaged/grocery items are FDACS. A commissary/base that reports the vehicle is required. Florida law (state preemption) limits additional local regulation of MFDVs.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | $263/yr ($136.50 half-year) - DBPR Caterer license | Caterers are licensed by DBPR H&R statewide; same amount in every Florida county. |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | null - not a separately priced DBPR category; a commissary is licensed as a nonseating Public Food Service Establishment ($242/yr) and serves as the base/report point for mobile food dispensing vehicles. | DBPR treats the commissary as a food service establishment (nonseating tier). |
| Bakery / food processing | Retail Bakery $355; Retail Bakery with food service $440; Wholesale Bakery $465 (FDACS Rule 5K-4.020) | Bakeries and food processing are permitted by FDACS Division of Food Safety, NOT DBPR; a bakery with sit-down service may also need a DBPR seating license. |
| Bar / limited food service | By seats (DBPR): Nonseating $242; 1-49 seats $262; 50-149 $273 (etc.) | A bar that serves food is a DBPR Public Food Service Establishment priced by seating; a bar serving only alcohol is licensed by DBPR Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco, not H&R. |
| Grocery / market with deli | Grocery Store $465; Supermarket $500 (FDACS Rule 5K-4.020); statutory cap $650 (Ch. 500.12, F.S.) | Groceries/markets are permitted by FDACS; an in-store deli/seating food-service area additionally requires a DBPR seating license. |
| Temporary / seasonal event | $91 (1-3 day event); $105 (4-30 day event); $456 annual temporary food service vendor (DBPR) | Temporary food service events are licensed by DBPR H&R (tied to the event/vendor). |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | $347/yr ($178.50 half-year) + $50 application - DBPR Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle / hot dog cart. Packaged-food-only carts: FDACS Mobile Vendor $300. | Prepared-food carts/trucks = DBPR MFDV; carts selling only packaged/grocery items = FDACS. |