Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Pierce County food-facility health permits run about $817–$1,329 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $639–$1,139. Confirm the exact amount with Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD), Food & Community Safety 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 Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD), Food & Community Safety issues the health permit.
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
▲ 2.2% change in establishments since 2022 (1,667 → 1,703).
The average foodservice wage here is $2,029 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.
Permits expire Jan 31 each year; renewal invoices due Feb 1. Late fees escalate 25% (1-30 days) then +25% (31-60); 61+ days subject to closure; Other categories: Bakery $504, Low Risk (tavern/tasting room) $621, Buffet 125+ seats $1,799. UPDATE 2026-08-10: A 2026 Fee Schedule was adopted by the Board of Health on 12/3/2025 (effective Jan 1, 2026); Confirm current amounts on the 2026 schedule
Turnaround: Usually respond within ~10 days with approval or questions; longer during high-volume periods
Tacoma-Pierce requires a food-safety rating sign posted at all entrances/drive-thrus; ratings and reports online.
Same plan review process required; Must comply with WA Dept; of Labor & Industries requirements; limited-menu operation possible under variance; 2026 fee schedule adopted (eff; 2025 rates shown pending confirmation
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
The government permit & plan-review fees below total roughly $1,960–$2,972 for Pierce County:
That’s the paperwork only. Add buildout, equipment, deposits and licenses with the cost-to-open calculator. Fees change — confirm current amounts with the department.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
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 Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD), Food & Community Safety (contact above).
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.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| commissary/central kitchen | — | Commissary Kitchens permit category referenced; fee via Accela portal (not published on page) |
| temporary/seasonal/special-event | — | Temporary Events permit category referenced; fee not published |
| market/grocery with deli | — | Farmers Markets and Farm Stands permit categories referenced; fee not published |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Pierce County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →