foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Missoula County, MT — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Missoula City-County Health Department (Missoula Public Health) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Retail Food Establishment (RFE) License
$85 (2 or fewer employees at any one time) or $115 (more than 2 employees) per year

Annual RFE license fee is set by Montana state law (MCA 50-50-205); Missoula Public Health collects it and performs inspection. Fee is the same regardless of establishment type; local plan review fees are additional.

Plan review — required

$285 basic plan review; $145 modified (minor remodel, menu/equipment change, new operation in existing licensed facility, change of ownership, or HACCP/food-process review)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Retail Food Establishment License
$85 or $115 per year (same employee-count RFE license) plus applicable plan review ($285 basic / $145 modified)

Mobiles licensed as retail food establishments; plan review required before operating. Vending within Missoula city limits also requires a city Itinerant Vendor business license.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • Montana retail food establishment license is state-issued (DPHHS) with statewide fees ($85 / $115), collected and enforced locally by Missoula Public Health.
  • License fee is identical across establishment types (food service, tavern/bar, meat market, bakery, deli, catering, school cafeteria, etc.); differentiation is by employee count only.
  • County-set fees cover plan review, temporary-event permits and re-inspections ($215 food-safety re-inspection).
  • Licenses expire annually; itinerant vendors in the city expire Dec 31.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Temporary / seasonal event$65 single-day / $75 multi-day / $85 recurring (small, <=2 employees); $95 single-day / $105 multi-day / $115 recurring (large, >=3 employees); plus temporary plan review $35 (5+ days ahead) up to $105 (day of event)County-set Missoula Public Health temporary food service permit and plan-review fees.
Pushcart / mobile vending$85 or $115 per year (state RFE license by employee count) plus plan review ($285 basic / $145 modified)Mobiles licensed as retail food establishments; city itinerant vendor license also required to vend in Missoula city limits.
Montana 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: missoulapublichealth.org · missoulapublichealth.org · dphhs.mt.gov · observed 2026-08-07