Local permits & fees

Stearns County, MN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Stearns County Environmental Services, Environmental Health Division (MDH-delegated agency) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food & Beverage Service Establishment License

null - Stearns County is a Minnesota Dept. of Health (MDH) delegated licensing agency and sets its own food & beverage establishment fee schedule; the county's restaurant fee amounts were not published on the pages reviewed. For reference, the MDH statewide schedule (eff. 7/1/2025) is base fee $300 + statewide hospitality fee $50 + technology fee $5, plus category license fee: Category 1 $185 / Category 2 $430 / Category 3 $670

Stearns County Environmental Services licenses and inspects food facilities countywide EXCEPT businesses inside the City of St. Cloud (St. Cloud administers its own). MDH licenses/inspects where not delegated.

Plan review — required

null - Stearns County plan review fee not published; MDH statewide plan review fees (eff. 7/1/2025) for reference: Category 1 $550 new/$450 remodel, Category 2 $750/$500, Category 3 $800/$550, Mobile Food Unit $700/$400

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit License

null - Stearns County mobile food unit fee not published on county site (delegated agency sets own fees); MDH statewide mobile food unit license fee for reference is listed on the MDH FPLS fee schedule

MN establishment types: mobile food unit, food cart, seasonal temporary/permanent food stand, special event food stand.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

Stearns County Special Event Food License fee is $75.00 (published on the county application); doubled to $150.00 if submitted <5 business days before the event.
Government agencies and religious organizations operating on their own property are exempt from the special event license fee.
Every MN licensed establishment pays the $50 statewide hospitality fee annually (MDH).
Authority: MDH delegation agreement; St. Cloud is a separate licensing jurisdiction within the county.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Temporary / seasonal event	$75.00	Stearns County Special Event Food License (published on county application); doubled to $150.00 if submitted <5 business days before the event. Government agencies and religious orgs on their own property are exempt.
Pushcart / mobile vending	null - Stearns County (MDH-delegated agency) mobile food unit / food cart fee not published on county pages reviewed	MN establishment types include mobile food unit, food cart, and seasonal food stands; St. Cloud licenses separately within the county.

Minnesota 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.stearnscountymn.gov · content.civicplus.com · www.health.state.mn.us · www.health.state.mn.us · www.health.state.mn.us · observed 2026-08-07