foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Shelby County, TN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Shelby County Health Department - Environmental Health & Food Safety Program · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Service Establishment Permit (annual)
Annual restaurant permit by seating: 50 seats or less $210/year; 51 seats or more $360/year; Bar permit $100/year (Shelby County Health Dept FAQ). These are stated as local Shelby County fees.

Fees captured from the Shelby County Health Dept / shelbycountytn.gov FAQ. Tennessee food service is administered by Shelby as a delegated county health department under TN state rule.

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit Permit
$360 total = $150 local fee + $210 state fee (from Shelby County Mobile Unit Guidance document).

Requires a notarized Commissary Agreement, a Wastewater Disposal Agreement, a floor plan showing equipment/sinks/toilets, and TN Dept of Revenue business registration. Grocery/gas-station food is regulated by the TN Dept of Agriculture instead.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • Mobile food unit fee is split into a $150 local + $210 state component ($360 total).
  • Restaurant permit fee is seat-based: $210 (<=50 seats) vs $360 (51+ seats), plus a $100 bar permit.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
temporary/seasonal/special-event—Temporary events permitted (max 14 consecutive days; no more than 2 permits per location/person per 6 months); apply 10 business days prior; fee not itemized
market/grocery with deli—Farmers' markets permitted (listed among issued permits); fee not published. Retail food service fees range $57.50-$622.50 by square footage
Tennessee 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.shelbytnhealth.com · www.shelbytnhealth.com · www.shelbytnhealth.com · www.shelbycountytn.gov · observed 2026-08-10