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.
Stearns County food-facility health permits run about $50–$300 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $400–$800. Confirm the exact amount with Stearns County Environmental Services, Environmental Health Division (MDH-delegated agency) 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 Stearns County Environmental Services, Environmental Health Division (MDH-delegated agency) issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Stearns County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
355
food & drink establishments
6,227
industry jobs
$117M
annual payroll
$18,820
avg wage / worker
112 full-service restaurants
129 limited-service & fast food
46 bars & drinking places
34 snack & coffee bars
4 mobile food & trucks
▲ 1.1% change in establishments since 2022 (351 → 355).
The average foodservice wage here is $4,480 below the Minnesota average ($23,300); Minnesota has about 10,937 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: 2026-08-17 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Food & Beverage Service Establishment License
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
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
MDH/MDA (and delegated programs) inspect under the Minnesota Food Code; no letter grade or score. Minnesota generally does not post results online — reports available on request.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit License
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
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 $405–$1,470 for Stearns County:
$5–$670 — food-facility permit
$400–$800 — 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 Stearns County’s permit cost compares
At about $50/year, Stearns County’s restaurant health permit is about the Minnesota median ($50) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 19% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 46th-lowest of 81 Minnesota 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 351 food & drinking establishments serve ~160,977 residents in Stearns County — one per ~459 residents, denser than the Minnesota average (one per ~519).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$50 annual health permit + $400 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 Minnesota Plumbing Code (Ch. 4714, based on 2018 UPC), 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 Minnesota Plumbing Code, with FOG limits set by the local sewer utility.
Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with Stearns County Environmental Services, Environmental Health Division (MDH-delegated agency) (contact above).
Fire suppression & backflow
Hood fire suppression (Minnesota State Fire Code (Ch. 7511, based on IFC)): 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 as adopted in the Minnesota State Fire Code and is inspected by the local fire authority. 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.
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
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
Equipment your Stearns 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.
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 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Stearns County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: 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
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Stearns County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. MN establishment types: mobile food unit, food cart, seasonal temporary/permanent food stand, special event food stand
Who issues food permits in Stearns County?
Food permits here are issued by Stearns County Environmental Services, Environmental Health Division (MDH-delegated agency). 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.