St. Clair County Health Department (Environmental Health Division) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
St. Clair County food-facility health permits run about $168–$613 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $100–$300. Confirm the exact amount with St. Clair County Health Department (Environmental Health Division) before you budget.
Confirm the authority for your exact address. Some cities run their own health division, and building, planning, fire, sewer/grease and business-license approvals are separate even when St. Clair County Health Department (Environmental Health Division) issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in St. Clair County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
508
food & drink establishments
9,359
industry jobs
$191M
annual payroll
$20,447
avg wage / worker
140 full-service restaurants
209 limited-service & fast food
90 bars & drinking places
27 snack & coffee bars
7 mobile food & trucks
▼ 1.6% change in establishments since 2022 (516 → 508).
The average foodservice wage here is $4,960 below the Illinois average ($25,407); Illinois has about 28,496 food & drink establishments statewide.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 722, food services & drinking places) — establishments with paid employees. Some small-county payroll figures are withheld by Census for confidentiality.
Last verified: 2026-08-18 — we re-confirmed the serving authority, its contact, and that the fees below match the current published schedule. Fee schedules may carry an earlier effective date (shown per fee); local ordinances & amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date? Report an update →
Restaurant / food-facility permit
Retail Food Establishment Permit (For-Profit)
2026 schedule by Category x Size; Category 1:
Large $613 / Medium $390 / Small $223. Category 2: Large $602 / Medium $362 / Small $194. Category 3: Large $573 / Medium $344 / Small $168
Risk Category I/II/III x size (Large/Medium/Small by employees); Fees increase 5% every even-numbered year; Effective Jan 1, 2025 ordinance (2026 rates shown); Concession/not-for-profit = 50% of category; Schools/food pantries no fee
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Establishment / Food Truck
Permitted as an annual retail food establishment permit at the applicable Category rate (mobile units inspected 2x/yr)
Non-plumbed mobile units may be permitted for temporary events only; Temporary event fees (2024): single/two-day $0; three-day $77.50; four-to-fourteen-day $185; Farmers/Flea Market $275 per location (rise 5% on even years)
How to apply
See the department site above.
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
What it costs in permit fees to open here
The government permit & plan-review fees below total roughly $268–$913 for St. Clair County:
$168–$613 — food-facility permit
$100–$300 — plan review
That’s the paperwork only. Add buildout, equipment, deposits and licenses with the cost-to-open calculator. Fees change — confirm current amounts with the department.
How St. Clair County’s permit cost compares
At about $168/year, St. Clair County’s restaurant health permit is above the Illinois median ($125) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 67% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 42nd-lowest of 62 Illinois counties by permit cost.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
Local food-service market
About 516 food & drinking establishments serve ~251,018 residents in St. Clair County — one per ~486 residents, sparser than the Illinois average (one per ~483).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$168 annual health permit + $100 plan review.
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
Grease trap & FOG requirements
Under Illinois Plumbing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 890, IDPH), food establishments here must control fats, oils & grease (FOG) with a grease interceptor or trap, and typically register with the local sewer/wastewater authority. Grease interceptors are required under the Illinois Plumbing Code, with FOG limits enforced by the local sewer district.
Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with St. Clair County Health Department (Environmental Health Division) (contact above).
Fire suppression & backflow
Hood fire suppression (NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (2015 ed.)): commercial cooking under a Type I hood needs a wet-chemical suppression system to NFPA 96, permitted and inspected by the local fire marshal. Commercial kitchen hood suppression follows NFPA 96, with the Illinois State Fire Marshal enforcing the Life Safety Code statewide and local fire departments inspecting. See do I need a hood? and the hood CFM calculator.
Backflow prevention: Restaurants must install a testable backflow preventer (typically an RPZ) that is tested annually and reported to the local water utility. A certified backflow assembly (often an RPZ) on the water service, tested annually, is standard — confirm with your water utility.
Equipment your St. Clair County plan review will check
Health-department plan review looks for specific, code-compliant fixtures. Compare spec-filtered options, then confirm counts and sizes with your local requirements. See the full list in what equipment a commercial kitchen requires.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether St. Clair County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
Confirm zoning and permitted use.
Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
Pay plan-review fees.
Respond to plan-check corrections.
Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
Receive approval before storing or preparing food.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a food permit in St. Clair County?
2026 schedule by Category x Size; Category 1: Large $613 / Medium $390 / Small $223. Category 2: Large $602 / Medium $362 / Small $194. Category 3: Large $573 / Medium $344 / Small $168 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in St. Clair County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Category I $300; Category II $200; Category III $100
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in St. Clair County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Non-plumbed mobile units may be permitted for temporary events only; Temporary event fees (2024): single/two-day $0; three-day $77.50; four-to-fourteen-day $185; Farmers/Flea Market $275 per location (rise 5% on even years)
Who issues food permits in St. Clair County?
Food permits here are issued by St. Clair County Health Department (Environmental Health Division). See the department site for current details.
Are city building and fire approvals separate?
Yes — building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals are always separate from the health permit and are often handled by different offices.