foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Scott County, MN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services - Metro District Office. Scott County is NOT a delegated licensing authority; restaurants and food/beverage service establishments in Scott County are licensed directly by MDH (per the MDH state-and-local contacts list, Scott County = MDH, Metro District). Retail grocery/markets are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Fee amounts are set by state statute (Minn. Stat. 157.16). · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food and Beverage Service Establishment License (MDH)
Per Minn. Stat. 157.16: $300 base fee PLUS the highest applicable category fee - Category 1 (low-risk) $185, Category 2 (medium-risk) $430, Category 3 (high-risk) $670 - PLUS a $50 statewide hospitality fee and a $5 technology fee per licensed activity. Example full-service restaurant (Cat 3): $300 + $670 + $50 + $5 = $1,025.

Statewide fees identical in every MDH-licensed jurisdiction. Establishments must pay the highest applicable category fee plus the base and additional fees. Grocery/markets are licensed separately by MDA.

Plan review — required

null - MDH plan-review / construction-review fee is not itemized in Minn. Stat. 157.16; a separate plan-review fee applies for new construction/remodeling. Contact MDH FPLS (651-201-4500) for the current amount.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit / Food Cart License (MDH)
$150 (food cart, mobile food unit, seasonal temporary food stand, or seasonal permanent food stand) per Minn. Stat. 157.16, PLUS $50 statewide hospitality fee and $5 technology fee.

Mobile units are licensed by MDH statewide; a base-of-operations/commissary is required.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • AUTHORITY: Scott County is licensed directly by MDH (Metro District Office) - it is NOT a delegated county for food/restaurant licensing.
  • Retail grocery / markets in Scott County are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), not MDH.
  • Special event food stand: $75 annually (Minn. Stat. 157.16).
  • Statewide hospitality fee: $50 per licensed activity, annually; technology fee $5 per licensed activity.
  • Base fee $300 applies to all except special event stands; highest applicable category fee (Cat 1 $185 / Cat 2 $430 / Cat 3 $670) is added.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Grocery / market with delinull - retail grocery/markets in Scott County are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) under a separate fee schedule, not by MDH.MDH licenses restaurants/food service; MDA licenses retail food (grocery).
Temporary / seasonal event$75 (special event food stand); $150 (seasonal temporary food stand or seasonal permanent food stand) - each plus $50 hospitality fee and $5 technology feePer Minn. Stat. 157.16; MDH-licensed statewide.
Pushcart / mobile vending$150 (food cart / mobile food unit) + $50 hospitality fee + $5 technology feePer Minn. Stat. 157.16; a base of operations/commissary is required.
Minnesota 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.health.state.mn.us · www.revisor.mn.gov · www.health.state.mn.us · www.health.state.mn.us · observed 2026-08-07