Local permits & fees

Porter County, IN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Porter County Health Department, Food Service Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Annual Retail Food Establishment Permit
Full-service Retail Food Establishment, tiered by size: <3,000 sq ft $300.00; 3,000-<10,000 sq ft $400.00; 10,000-<15,000 sq ft $500.00; 15,000+ sq ft $600.00. Limited (prepackaged only) $150.00. Bed & Breakfast $250.00.

Compliance with Indiana Retail Food Establishment Sanitation Requirements (410 IAC 7-26). Partial-year (seasonal, 6 consecutive months) permit $150.00. Fees confirmed unchanged against the live permit-fees page on 2026-08-10.

Plan review — required

null - Plan review required for new construction, remodels, and mobile units; page states 'additional plan review inspection fees may apply' but no dollar amount is published (confirmed still unpublished 2026-08-10).

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit / Pushcart Permit
null - Mobile food units and pushcarts are permitted as Retail Food Establishments; the annual RFE permit fee (base $300.00) applies. No separate mobile-specific fee is published.

Requires proof of a licensed commissary / servicing location and a pre-operational inspection at PCHD (219-465-3525); food handler certificate attached if applicable.

Watch out for

  • Annual RFE permit is tiered by square footage ($300 to $600).
  • Temporary event vendor fee is per-day and escalates with less advance notice: $20/day (7+ days ahead, max $100), $30/day (3-7 days, max $150), $40/day (<=48 hours, max $200).
  • Mobile units are permitted under the same RFE framework rather than a distinct mobile license.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Grocery / market with deli$300.00-$600.00 (annual Retail Food Establishment permit, tiered by square footage: <3,000 sq ft $300; 3,000-<10,000 $400; 10,000-<15,000 $500; 15,000+ $600).A deli/prepared-food component makes it a full-service RFE rather than limited.
Bar / limited food service$150.00 (Limited / prepackaged-only permit) if no on-site prep; $300.00+ full RFE if preparing food.
Commissary / central preparation kitchennull - Proof of a licensed commissary/servicing location is required for mobile units; a commissary is itself licensed as a Retail Food Establishment ($300+ by size). No separate commissary fee published.
Temporary / seasonal event$20/$30/$40 per day by advance notice (max $100/$150/$200 per event). Partial-Year (seasonal, up to 6 consecutive months) permit $150.00.Expedited surcharge: +$10 (3-7 days ahead), +$20 (<=48 hours).
Pushcart / mobile vendingnull - Mobile food units and pushcarts are permitted as Retail Food Establishments; the base annual RFE fee ($300.00) applies. No separate mobile/pushcart fee published.Requires licensed commissary and pre-operational inspection.
Sources: www.in.gov · www.in.gov · www.in.gov · portercountyin.gov · observed 2026-08-10