Local permits & fees

Seminole County, FL — Commercial Kitchen Permits

FL Dept of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) - Division of Hotels & Restaurants (restaurants/caterers/mobile); FL Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) - Division of Food Safety (grocery/markets/food processing) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Public Food Service Establishment License (DBPR Hotels & Restaurants)
Full year by seats: $242 nonseating; $262 (1-49 seats); $273 (50-149); $294 (150-249); $315 (250-349); $336 (350-499); $357 (500+). Plus $50 application (new or change of ownership) and $10 Hospitality Education Program fee

State-administered. Florida restaurants are licensed by DBPR (not the county health dept); fees are statewide by license classification and seat count. Half-year (prorated) fees are roughly half the annual amount; the $10 HEP fee is not prorated.

Plan review — not required

$0 (DBPR plan review provided at no charge)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle (DBPR)
$347/yr (half year $178.50)

Licensed by DBPR statewide (same as hot dog carts). Florida law (2020) preempts local governments from regulating mobile food vendor licensing/registration, so no separate Seminole County health license; a local business tax receipt may still apply. Mobile units selling ONLY prepackaged/non-hazardous food are permitted by FDACS instead.

Watch out for

  • DBPR divides Florida into 7 licensing districts; Seminole County falls in the Orlando-area district.
  • Groceries, convenience stores, retail meat/seafood markets, bakeries and food-processing are permitted by FDACS (Rule 5K-4.020), NOT DBPR.
  • A separate Seminole County/city local business tax receipt is required in addition to the state license.
  • DBPR offers free voluntary plan review before construction/remodel.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
caterer$263.00/yr full year ($136.50 half year)DBPR Hotels & Restaurants license class. Plus $50 application and $10 HEP fee.
grocery/market with delinull - permitted by FDACS (not DBPR) as a Retail Food Establishment under Rule 5K-4.020, F.A.C.; fee varies by food activities and is not published as a single flat figure. Confirm with FDACS Division of Food Safety (1-800-435-7352)Supermarkets, grocery/convenience stores, retail meat/seafood markets fall under FDACS.
bakery/food processingnull - FDACS-permitted (Retail Food Establishment or food processing, Rule 5K-4.020); amount varies by activity, confirm with FDACSRetail bakeries and food manufacturing/processing are regulated by FDACS, not DBPR.
temporary/special-event$91.00-$456.00 (DBPR Temporary Food Service event license; varies by event duration)DBPR Hotels & Restaurants temporary food service event vendor license.
pushcart/mobile vending$347.00/yr (DBPR Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle / hot dog cart)Same DBPR class as food trucks; Florida law preempts local licensing of mobile food vendors.
vending machine$21.00/yr ($15.50 half year)DBPR food vending machine license.
Sources: www2.myfloridalicense.com · www2.myfloridalicense.com · www.fdacs.gov · observed 2026-08-07