Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Stevens County food-facility health permits run about $149–$303 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $113. Confirm the exact amount with Northeast Tri County Health District 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 Northeast Tri County Health District issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Stevens County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
66
food & drink establishments
664
industry jobs
$15M
annual payroll
$23,313
avg wage / worker
22 full-service restaurants
19 limited-service & fast food
7 bars & drinking places
15 snack & coffee bars
— 0.0% change in establishments since 2022 (66 → 66).
The average foodservice wage here is $7,359 below the Washington average ($30,672); Washington has about 17,386 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Food Service Permit
$149/year (Simple)
$221 (Moderate)
$303 (Complex)
$221 (Catering)
Stevens County is served by the Northeast Tri County Health District (NETCHD, covering Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille); Annual food service establishment operating permit by risk category, fee schedule effective January 1, 2026: Simple $149, Moderate $221, Complex $303, Catering $221
Plan review — required
Hourly rate (1-hour minimum) for plan review
plus $113 pre-opening inspection per new/remodeled establishment
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit
$118/year (Mobile Unit)
Mobile food unit annual operating permit $118 (2026); plan review hourly + $113 pre-opening inspection apply
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 $380–$534 for Stevens County:
$149–$303 — food-facility permit
$113 — plan review
$118 — food-truck permit
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 Stevens County’s permit cost compares
At about $149/year, Stevens County’s restaurant health permit is below the Washington median ($292) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 61% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 5th-lowest of 30 Washington 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 66 food & drinking establishments serve ~48,837 residents in Stevens County — one per ~740 residents, sparser than the Washington average (one per ~521).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$149 annual health permit.
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 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. A grease interceptor sized to the state plumbing code is required, with a municipal sewer-authority FOG discharge permit.
Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with Northeast Tri County Health District (contact above).
Fire suppression & backflow
Hood fire suppression (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. Type I hood fire suppression must meet NFPA 96 and the state fire code enforced by the local fire authority. See do I need a hood? and the hood CFM calculator.
Backflow prevention: An approved backflow preventer with a certified annual test is required by the local water purveyor. A certified backflow assembly (often an RPZ) on the water service, tested annually, is standard — confirm with your water utility.
Equipment your Stevens 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 Stevens 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 Stevens County?
$149/year (Simple); $221 (Moderate); $303 (Complex); $221 (Catering) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Stevens County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Hourly rate (1-hour minimum) for plan review; plus $113 pre-opening inspection per new/remodeled establishment
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Stevens County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food unit annual operating permit $118 (2026); plan review hourly + $113 pre-opening inspection apply
Who issues food permits in Stevens County?
Food permits here are issued by Northeast Tri County Health District. 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.