Local permits & fees

Santa Fe County, NM — Commercial Kitchen Permits

New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Food Safety Program (food permitting in New Mexico is STATE-administered; there is no county health department that issues food permits) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment Permit (annual)
$200 annual permit fee for food establishments (also applies to mobile food establishments, servicing areas and food processing plants) per 7.6.2.8 NMAC, amended 7/25/2025, effective Oct 1, 2026 (prior fee was $100) - source https://www.env.nm.gov/foodprogram/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/07/Amended-7.6.2-NMAC-7.25.25.pdf

Statewide FLAT annual permit fee - not tiered by seating or size. Permit fee is waived for establishments that provide food to consumers at no charge. Late renewal fee $175; reinspection penalty fee $500; variance application fee $400.

Plan review — required

Food Establishment plan review application: $300 (0-1,000 sq ft) / $600 (1,001-2,000 sq ft) / $900 (2,001+ sq ft) of kitchen, storage and warewashing area. Food Processing Plant: $400 / $900 / $1,400 by the same tiers - source https://www.env.nm.gov/foodprogram/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/07/Amended-7.6.2-NMAC-7.25.25.pdf

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Establishment Permit
$200 annual permit fee (same flat fee as fixed food establishments) per 7.6.2.8 NMAC, amended, effective Oct 1, 2026 - source https://www.env.nm.gov/foodprogram/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/07/Amended-7.6.2-NMAC-7.25.25.pdf

Mobile units require an approved servicing area/commissary; self-contained units, non-self-contained units and push carts each have specific requirements under 7.6.2.9 NMAC.

Watch out for

  • New Mexico food permits are administered by the STATE (NMED Food Safety Program), not by Santa Fe County; the same rule (7.6.2 NMAC) and fees apply statewide.
  • A single flat $200 annual permit fee applies to food establishments and mobile units - it is not tiered by size or seating.
  • The 2025 rule amendment (effective Oct 1, 2026) raised the annual permit fee from $100 to $200, added tiered plan review fees ($300-$900 for establishments; $400-$1,400 for processing plants), and raised the late fee to $175 and the reinspection penalty to $500.
  • Temporary food establishments: $25 per single event; fees waived for non-TCS-only TFEs or those operating no more than two days in a calendar month.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Caterer$200 annual permit fee (catering operations are permitted as food establishments), effective Oct 1, 2026 - source https://www.env.nm.gov/foodprogram/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/07/Amended-7.6.2-NMAC-7.25.25.pdfNew Mexico charges a single flat $200 food establishment permit fee; catering operations that provide food directly to consumers are permitted as food establishments (7.6.2 NMAC).
Commissary / central preparation kitchen$200 annual permit fee (servicing areas/central preparation facilities are permitted as food establishments), effective Oct 1, 2026 - source https://www.env.nm.gov/foodprogram/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/07/Amended-7.6.2-NMAC-7.25.25.pdfThe $200 flat permit fee expressly covers food establishments, mobile food establishments, servicing areas and food processing plants (7.6.2.8 NMAC).
Bakery / food processingFood processing plant $200 annual permit fee; plan review application $400 (0-1,000 sq ft) / $900 (1,001-2,000) / $1,400 (2,001+) of processing/storage/warewashing area, effective Oct 1, 2026 - source https://www.env.nm.gov/foodprogram/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/07/Amended-7.6.2-NMAC-7.25.25.pdfFood processing plants pay the same $200 flat permit fee but a higher, square-footage-tiered plan review fee than food establishments. (Home-based food processing operations were previously $100; that separate fee was struck in the 2025 amendment.)
Temporary / seasonal event$25 permit fee per single event or celebration, effective Oct 1, 2026 - source https://www.env.nm.gov/foodprogram/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/07/Amended-7.6.2-NMAC-7.25.25.pdfFee waived for temporary food establishments serving only non-TCS food, operating no more than two days in a calendar month, or providing food at no charge (7.6.2.8 NMAC).
Pushcart / mobile vending$200 annual permit fee (mobile food establishments, including self-contained units, non-self-contained units and push carts), effective Oct 1, 2026 - source https://www.env.nm.gov/foodprogram/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/07/Amended-7.6.2-NMAC-7.25.25.pdfSame flat $200 fee as fixed establishments; mobile units require an approved servicing area/commissary (7.6.2.9 NMAC).
Sources: www.env.nm.gov · www.env.nm.gov · www.env.nm.gov · www.santafenewmexican.com · observed 2026-08-07