foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

St. Lucie County, FL — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Restaurants: Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide). Groceries/markets/food processing: Florida Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety. St. Lucie County does not issue its own food-establishment permits or fees. · 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)
Nonseating $242/yr; seating by capacity: 1-49 seats $262, 50-149 $273, 150-249 $294, 250-349 $315, 350-499 $336, 500+ $357 (annual). Half-year rates: nonseating $126; 1-49 $136; 50-149 $141.50; 150-249 $152; 250-349 $162.50; 350-499 $173; 500+ $183.50. Plus $50 new-application/change-of-ownership fee.

Statewide DBPR fee schedule under FAC 61C-1.008; identical in every FL county. Fees verified on the official DBPR Food Service Fees page 2026-08-10. Includes $10 Hospitality Education Program surcharge.

Plan review — required

$0

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

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

Statewide DBPR fee; commissary/base of operation required. Local municipal (Port St. Lucie) mobile-vendor rules may also apply.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • Restaurant licensing is 100% state-administered by DBPR; no county annual permit fee.
  • Grocery stores, markets, convenience stores and food processors are permitted by FDACS (Rule 5K-4.020), not DBPR.
  • Caterers licensed by DBPR at $263/yr; vending machines $21/yr.
  • FDACS retail food fees are under a proposed 2025 rule amendment that would reduce several categories.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Caterer$263DBPR caterer license, annual (half-year $136.50)
Bakery / food processing$355FDACS retail bakery (Rule 5K-4.020); retail bakery with food service $490; wholesale bakery $530. Proposed 2025 amendment would reduce these.
Grocery / market with deli$540FDACS (Rule 5K-4.020): grocery store $540; convenience store $330; convenience store w/ limited food service $430; supermarket $650. Proposed 2025 amendment would reduce grocery to $465, supermarket to $500, conv+food to $385.
Temporary / seasonal event$91DBPR temporary food service: 1-3 day event $91; 4-30 day event $105; annual temporary vendor $456
Pushcart / mobile vending$347DBPR Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle license, annual (half-year $178.50)
Vending$21DBPR vending machine license, annual (half-year $15.50)
Florida 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: www2.myfloridalicense.com · flrules.elaws.us · www.fdacs.gov · flrules.org · observed 2026-08-10