Local permits & fees

Sebastian County, AR — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program, administered through the Sebastian County local health unit (Fort Smith). State-administered flat-fee system; county does not set its own fee. · department site →

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

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Retail Food Establishment / Food Service Establishment Permit - ADH

$35.00 flat annual permit fee (statewide). Late fee equal to one-half the renewal fee if renewed more than 60 days after expiration.

Arkansas charges a single statewide flat $35 annual food service permit regardless of establishment size or type. First-year permit is issued with the application; the $35 recurs annually.

Plan review — required

1% of total estimated construction cost, minimum $50.00, maximum $500.00 (new or remodeled facilities)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Establishment Permit - ADH

$35.00 flat annual permit fee (same statewide food service permit; ADH does not publish a separate mobile-specific fee)

Mobile food units are food service establishments under ADH rules and carry the same flat $35 annual permit; a commissary is required. Confirm any local Fort Smith fire/zoning requirements separately.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

Watch out for

State-administered flat fee: $35/year for essentially all food service establishments.
Plan review is percentage-of-cost based (1%, $50 min / $500 max).
Temporary food establishment permits (14 consecutive days or less) exist but fee is not published statewide - contact the Sebastian County local health unit.
Late renewal penalty is half the renewal fee after 60 days past expiration.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Caterer	$35.00 (same statewide flat food service permit)	Arkansas applies one flat $35 annual food service permit to essentially all retail food operations regardless of category.
Bar / limited food service	$35.00 (same statewide flat food service permit)	Flat ADH food service permit; alcohol licensing is separate through Arkansas ABC.
Grocery / market with deli	$35.00 (same statewide flat food service permit)	Retail food stores/markets carry the same flat $35 ADH permit.
Temporary / seasonal event	null - temporary permit (14 consecutive days or less) exists but the fee is not published statewide; contact the Sebastian County local health unit	Application form EHP-93; fee set locally/administratively.

Arkansas 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: healthy.arkansas.gov · healthy.arkansas.gov · healthy.arkansas.gov · observed 2026-08-07