Local permits & fees

Okaloosa County, FL — Commercial Kitchen Permits

State-administered: FL Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels & Restaurants (restaurants + mobile food dispensing vehicles); FL Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety (grocery/retail food stores). Temporary events are permitted locally by Florida DOH-Okaloosa County. · department site →

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

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Public Food Service Establishment license (DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants)

Nonseating $242/yr; 1-49 seats $262; 50-149 $273; 150-249 $294; 250-349 $315; 350-499 $336; 500+ $357 (annual, includes $10 Hospitality Education Program fee). Half-year rates: nonseating $126; 1-49 $136; 50-149 $141.50; 150-249 $152; 250-349 $162.50; 350-499 $173; 500+ $183.50. One-time $50 application fee for new/ownership change.

Statewide fees set by Rule 61C-1.008 F.A.C. under Fla. Stat. 509.251/509.302; identical in all 67 counties (county only affects the renewal cycle, not the amount). Fees verified on the official DBPR Food Service Fees page 2026-08-10. There is no separate Okaloosa County restaurant fee. Fort Walton Beach is in Okaloosa County.

Plan review — required

DBPR restaurant plan review: no charge. FDACS retail-food voluntary plan review: $55.10 ($25 application + $30.10 first hour).

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle (DBPR) / Mobile Vendor (FDACS)

DBPR Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle, hot dog cart or temporary kitchen: $347/yr ($178.50 half-year). FDACS Mobile Vendor (prepackaged/non-hazardous only): $300/yr.

DBPR handles mobile units that prepare potentially hazardous food; FDACS handles prepackaged-only mobile vendors. One free mobile permit for an owner with an active brick-and-mortar food permit.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

Watch out for

Administering authority is the STATE, not the county: restaurants/food trucks = DBPR; grocery/retail food = FDACS.
FDACS retail food annual permits (Rule 5K-4.020 F.A.C.): Grocery Store $465, Supermarket $500, Convenience Store $330 (w/limited food service $385, w/significant $465), Retail Bakery $355 (w/food service $440), Meat Market $385, Seafood Market $355.
DBPR temporary food service: 1-3 day event $91; 4-30 day event $105; annual temporary vendor $456.
Caterers licensed by DBPR: $263/yr.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Caterer	$263/yr	Licensed by DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide fee, Rule 61C-1.008 F.A.C.).
Bakery / food processing	Retail Bakery $355/yr; Retail Bakery with Food Service $440/yr; Wholesale Bakery $465/yr	FDACS retail food establishment permit, Rule 5K-4.020 F.A.C. (statewide).
Bar / limited food service	A bar serving food is a DBPR Public Food Service Establishment: nonseating $242/yr, or by seats (1-49 $262, 50-149 $273).	Alcohol-only bars are licensed by DBPR Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco; a bar preparing/serving food needs the DBPR food service license priced by seating.
Grocery / market with deli	Grocery Store $465/yr; Supermarket $500/yr; Convenience Store $330/yr (w/limited food service $385, w/significant food service $465); Meat Market $385; Seafood Market $355	FDACS retail food permits, Rule 5K-4.020 F.A.C. (statewide).
Temporary / seasonal event	DBPR temporary food service: 1-3 day event $91; 4-30 day event $105; annual temporary vendor $456. FDACS Semi-permanent Vendor $190/yr.	DBPR permits temporary food service operators; FDACS uses a semi-permanent vendor category. Public-event temporary food may also require a Florida DOH-Okaloosa County permit.
Pushcart / mobile vending	DBPR hot dog cart / mobile food dispensing vehicle $347/yr; FDACS Mobile Vendor (prepackaged only) $300/yr	DBPR covers carts preparing potentially hazardous food; FDACS covers prepackaged/non-hazardous mobile vendors.

Florida 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: www2.myfloridalicense.com · www.fdacs.gov · flrules.org · flrules.elaws.us · observed 2026-08-10