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foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Pacific County, WA Food Facility Permits

Restaurants and food trucks.

Pacific County Environmental Health (Department of Community Development) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Confirm the authority for your exact address. Some cities run their own health division, and building, planning, fire, sewer/grease and business-license approvals are separate even when Pacific County Environmental Health (Department of Community Development) issues the health permit.

The restaurant market in Pacific County

What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.

63
food & drink establishments
579
industry jobs
$15M
annual payroll
$26,672
avg wage / worker
  • 30 full-service restaurants
  • 8 limited-service & fast food
  • 3 bars & drinking places
  • 18 snack & coffee bars
  • 3 mobile food & trucks

▼ 1.6% change in establishments since 2022 (64 → 63).

The average foodservice wage here is $4,000 below the Washington average ($30,672); Washington has about 17,386 food & drink establishments statewide.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 722, food services & drinking places) — establishments with paid employees. Some small-county payroll figures are withheld by Census for confidentiality.

Last verified: 2026-08-18 — we re-confirmed the serving authority, its contact, and that the fees below match the current published schedule. Fee schedules may carry an earlier effective date (shown per fee); local ordinances & amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date? Report an update →

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Service Permit
Fee not published online — contact the department.

Pacific County food establishments are regulated by the Board of Health under Ordinance 6A (adopting WAC 246-215), with the Department of Community Development serving as permit center; Annual license fees are 'as specified in relevant subsections' set by BOH resolution; the fee amounts are not published in retrievable form online; A $15 add-on lets a licensed mobile unit add temporary service; late temporary fee $80

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Office1216 West Robert Bush Drive, South Bend, WA 98586

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit
Fee not published online — contact the department.

Mobile food units require an annual Food Establishment License; fee set by BOH resolution, not published in retrievable form

How to apply

See the department site above.

Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.

Local food-service market

About 64 food & drinking establishments serve ~24,200 residents in Pacific County — one per ~378 residents, denser than the Washington average (one per ~521).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

Grease trap & FOG requirements

Under UPC, food establishments here must control fats, oils & grease (FOG) with a grease interceptor or trap, and typically register with the local sewer/wastewater authority. A grease interceptor sized to the state plumbing code is required, with a municipal sewer-authority FOG discharge permit.

Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with Pacific County Environmental Health (Department of Community Development) (contact above).

Fire suppression & backflow

Hood fire suppression (IFC): commercial cooking under a Type I hood needs a wet-chemical suppression system to NFPA 96, permitted and inspected by the local fire marshal. Type I hood fire suppression must meet NFPA 96 and the state fire code enforced by the local fire authority. See do I need a hood? and the hood CFM calculator.

Backflow prevention: An approved backflow preventer with a certified annual test is required by the local water purveyor. A certified backflow assembly (often an RPZ) on the water service, tested annually, is standard — confirm with your water utility.

Equipment your Pacific County plan review will check

Health-department plan review looks for specific, code-compliant fixtures. Compare spec-filtered options, then confirm counts and sizes with your local requirements. See the full list in what equipment a commercial kitchen requires.

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Pacific County with its neighbors.

How to open: typical permitting sequence

This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.

  1. Confirm whether Pacific County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
  2. Confirm zoning and permitted use.
  3. Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
  4. Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
  5. Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
  6. Pay plan-review fees.
  7. Respond to plan-check corrections.
  8. Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
  9. Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
  10. Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
  11. Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
  12. Receive approval before storing or preparing food.

Frequently asked questions

Is plan review required in Pacific County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Pacific County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food units require an annual Food Establishment License; fee set by BOH resolution, not published in retrievable form

Who issues food permits in Pacific County?

Food permits here are issued by Pacific County Environmental Health (Department of Community Development). See the department site for current details.

Are city building and fire approvals separate?

Yes — building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals are always separate from the health permit and are often handled by different offices.
Sources: www.co.pacific.wa.us · www.co.pacific.wa.us · observed 2026-08-21