Local permits & fees

Rutherford County, TN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Rutherford County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health, operating under the Tennessee Department of Health (Tennessee Food Safety Act). Permitting is STATE-administered; Rutherford is not one of TN's six locally-run metro health departments. · department site →

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

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Service Establishment Permit (TN Code 68-14-713)

Annual, by seating: 0-50 seats $210; 51+ seats $360 (statewide statutory fee). Delinquency penalty = one-half the permit fee if delinquent >30 days.

Statewide statutory schedule applies in all state-administered TN counties, including Rutherford. Seating tiers ($210 / $360) confirmed via Shelby County TN (gov) FAQ citing the state schedule; other amounts confirmed via TN Code 68-14-713. Auxiliary (limited) food service operations $100. Permit year runs July 1-June 30.

Plan review — required

null - TN Dept. of Health does not publish a separate plan-review fee; plan/menu review is part of the permitting process under Rule 1200-23-01.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile food service establishment (permitted as a food service establishment)

null - TN Code 68-14-713 does not separately enumerate mobile units; they are permitted as food service establishments, so the 0-50 seat tier ($210/yr) applies.

Mobile units require a commissary/base of operations. Local business licensing (Murfreesboro/Rutherford County) is separate.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

Fees are set by state statute (TN Code Ann. 68-14-713), not by the county.
Temporary food service establishment $30; school food service $80; child-care/congregate meal sites (0-50 seats) $50; farmers market food units $300 (all per TN Code 68-14-713).
Delinquency penalty: one-half the permit fee if delinquent more than 30 calendar days.
Six TN counties run their own health departments (Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Shelby, Sullivan); Rutherford is NOT among them, so state fees apply.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen	$100/yr (Auxiliary food service operation, TN Code 68-14-713)	TN's 'auxiliary food service operation' is the closest enumerated category to a limited/central-prep operation.
Bar / limited food service	$100/yr (Auxiliary food service operation, TN Code 68-14-713)	Limited food service operations are permitted as auxiliary food service operations; a full-service establishment uses the seating tiers ($210 / $360).
Temporary / seasonal event	$30 per temporary food service establishment; farmers market food units $300 (TN Code 68-14-713)	Statewide statutory fees.
Pushcart / mobile vending	null - mobile units are not separately enumerated in TN Code 68-14-713; permitted as a food service establishment (0-50 seat tier = $210/yr).	Requires a commissary/base of operations.

Tennessee 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: law.justia.com · shelbycountytn.gov · sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com · observed 2026-08-10