foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Saginaw County, MI — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Saginaw County Health Department, Environmental Health / Food Service Sanitation (licenses restaurants). Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county. 1600 N. Michigan Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602; (989) 758-3686. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Service Establishment License (fixed, annual, by seating)
Food service establishment (includes license surcharge): 0-50 seats $560.00; 51-75 seats $670.00; 76-100 seats $815.00; 101+ seats $1,025.00. Non-profit: 0-50 $270.00; 51-75 $325.00; 76-100 $398.00; 101+ $518.00.

From Saginaw County Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective 10/1/2025. Licenses expire April 30 each year.

Plan review — required

By seating: 0-50 seats $1,115.00; 51-75 $1,325.00; 76-100 $1,580.00; 101+ $2,035.00. STFU & Mobile $1,275.00; Limited $880.00 (eff. 10/1/2025).

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit / Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU)
Mobile Food Unit license $555.00 (includes license surcharge); STFU license $300.00, non-profit STFU $150.00, plus STFU inspection fee $90.00 (eff. 10/1/2025).

Seasonal food service (by seating) $445.00 (0-50) to $820.00 (101+).

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • Full published fee schedule (eff. 10/1/2025) covers for-profit, non-profit, and seasonal restaurants plus temporary, STFU, mobile, and plan review.
  • Temporary food license: 1-9 days $139.00, 10-14 days $169.00; non-profit 1-9 days $75.00, 10-14 days $90.00.
  • Michigan model: county licenses restaurants; MDARD licenses grocery/retail markets.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Temporary / seasonal eventTemporary 1-9 days $139.00, 10-14 days $169.00; non-profit 1-9 days $75.00, 10-14 days $90.00. Seasonal food service (by seating) $445.00 (0-50) / $525.00 (51-75) / $640.00 (76-100) / $820.00 (101+) (eff. 10/1/2025)From Saginaw County EH Fee Schedule.
Pushcart / mobile vendingMobile Food Unit $555.00 (incl. license surcharge); STFU $300.00, non-profit STFU $150.00, plus STFU inspection fee $90.00 (eff. 10/1/2025)STFU & Mobile plan review $1,275.00.
Bar / limited food serviceLimited plan review $880.00 (eff. 10/1/2025)'Limited' appears in the fee schedule as a plan-review category; a standalone limited-service annual license amount is not separately listed.
Grocery / market with delinull - grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not Saginaw County.Saginaw County licenses restaurants (food service establishments) only.
Michigan 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: www.saginawpublichealth.org · saginawpublichealth.org · observed 2026-08-07