NC restaurants are permitted by New Hanover County Environmental Health under state rules; there is no recurring annual permit fee. The graded sanitation inspection is provided at no separate annual charge; costs are the one-time plan review and (for limited operations) the state Limited Food Service permit.
Turnaround: Applications should be submitted at least 30 days prior to commencing operation
NC has no annual permit fee; the cost is the one-time plan review. Mobile units must return daily to an approved commissary; a Commissary Agreement is required with the application.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | null - no annual permit fee (NC); a caterer is a permitted food service establishment grouped with restaurants/food stands/mobile units on the plan-review schedule (Food Service Plan Review $250). | NC uses plan-review fees rather than an annual permit fee. |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | null - not separately priced; a commissary must itself be a permitted food establishment (no annual permit fee in NC) and is subject to plan review ($250). | No distinct commissary line on the New Hanover fee schedule. |
| Bakery / food processing | null - retail bakeries and retail food sales are regulated by the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), not county Environmental Health; a bakery with on-site food service is permitted by New Hanover County EH (plan review $250, no annual fee). | Authority is NCDA&CS for retail food sales. |
| Bar / limited food service | $75 - Limited Food Service Establishment annual permit (NC state-set flat fee). | The Limited Food Service Establishment permit is NC's flat annual fee; a full bar serving meals is a food service establishment (plan review $250, no annual fee). |
| Grocery / market with deli | null - grocery/market retail food is regulated by NCDA&CS, not county EH; an in-store deli with seating is permitted by New Hanover County EH (plan review $250, no annual permit fee). | Split authority: retail food = NCDA&CS; deli food service = county EH. |
| Temporary / seasonal event | $75 - Temporary Food Establishment permit. | Per the New Hanover County Environmental Health fee schedule (effective 07/01/2026). |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | Pushcart plan review $100; Mobile Food Unit plan review $250 (no annual permit fee in NC). Approved commissary required. | Mobile units must return daily to an approved commissary; a Commissary Agreement is required. |