Local permits & fees

Stark County, OH — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Stark County Health Department (Stark County Combined General Health District) - Division of 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 Operation (FSO) / Retail Food Establishment (RFE) license - risk-based (Risk Level I-IV)
Commercial under 25,000 sq ft: $329.00 (Risk I), $362.60 (Risk II), $635.60 (Risk III), $788.90 (Risk IV). Commercial over 25,000 sq ft: $447.30 (Risk I), $467.50 (Risk II), $1,496.00 (Risk III), $1,582.20 (Risk IV). (2026 schedule, effective Feb 1; includes the $28.00 state fee.)

Locally administered by the Stark County Health Department (a combined general health district covering Canton and Stark County). Ohio licenses restaurants as Food Service Operations (FSO) and grocery/markets as Retail Food Establishments (RFE); both are priced identically on the county's risk-based (Risk Level I-IV) schedule. A full-service restaurant is typically Risk Level III or IV. Non-commercial (churches/schools) rates are lower. Late fee applies as of March 2nd.

Plan review — required

Commercial under 25,000 sq ft: $301.00 (Risk I), $334.60 (Risk II), $607.60 (Risk III), $760.90 (Risk IV). Commercial over 25,000 sq ft: $419.30/$439.50 (Risk I), $1,468.00/$1,554.20 (Risk II tiers). Plan review fee is $28 less than the license fee at each risk level.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food License (High Risk / Low Risk)
$293.00 (Mobile - High Risk); $160.50 (Mobile - Low Risk). (2026 schedule.)

Ohio operates a statewide Mobile FSO/RFE license framework; Stark County issues and inspects the local mobile license. A separate Mobile Plan Review Application applies for new units, and a commissary/servicing base is required.

Watch out for

  • Locally administered - Stark County Combined General Health District runs its own Environmental Health food program (Canton and Stark County).
  • License fee is a matrix of commercial vs. non-commercial x under/over 25,000 sq ft x Risk Level I-IV; each license fee = plan-review fee + the $28.00 State of Ohio fee.
  • Restaurant full-service commercial under 25,000 sq ft: Risk III $635.60, Risk IV $788.90 (2026).
  • Mobile - High Risk $293.00, Low Risk $160.50; Temporary (Commercial) $77.00, Temporary (Non-Commercial) $38.50; Vending $35.99.
  • Person-In-Charge Certification $25.00; ServSafe Manager course & exam $179.00. Fee schedule effective February 1, 2026.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Grocery / market with deliRetail Food Establishment (RFE) on the same risk-based schedule as restaurants: commercial under 25,000 sq ft $329.00 (Risk I), $362.60 (Risk II), $635.60 (Risk III), $788.90 (Risk IV); over 25,000 sq ft $447.30-$1,582.20 by risk. (2026)Ohio licenses grocery/markets as RFE; a store with a deli/prep area rises in risk level. Priced identically to FSO (restaurants).
Temporary / seasonal event$77.00 (Temporary - Commercial); $38.50 (Temporary - Non-Commercial)Flat temporary FSO/RFE license fees on the 2026 schedule.
Pushcart / mobile vending$293.00 (Mobile - High Risk); $160.50 (Mobile - Low Risk)Mobile FSO/RFE license priced by risk; a commissary/servicing base is required. (Vending machines are a separate $35.99 line.)
Sources: starkhealth.org · cms7files1.revize.com · cms7files1.revize.com · observed 2026-08-07