Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Tazewell County food-facility health permits run about $75–$350 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $300–$400. Confirm the exact amount with Tazewell County Health Department 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 Tazewell County Health Department issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Tazewell County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
266
food & drink establishments
4,809
industry jobs
$99M
annual payroll
$20,519
avg wage / worker
87 full-service restaurants
102 limited-service & fast food
42 bars & drinking places
19 snack & coffee bars
3 mobile food & trucks
▼ 3.3% change in establishments since 2022 (275 → 266).
The average foodservice wage here is $4,888 below the Illinois average ($25,407); Illinois has about 28,496 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Mobile unit fee not separately published; Temporary food permit: $20/event (5+ working days notice); $30 (<5 days); $40 on-site/day of event; pre-pay option $18/event for multiple events
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 $375–$750 for Tazewell County:
$75–$350 — food-facility permit
$300–$400 — 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 Tazewell County’s permit cost compares
At about $75/year, Tazewell County’s restaurant health permit is below the Illinois median ($125) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 29% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 7th-lowest of 62 Illinois 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 275 food & drinking establishments serve ~129,541 residents in Tazewell County — one per ~471 residents, denser than the Illinois average (one per ~483).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$75 annual health permit + $300 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 Illinois Plumbing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 890, IDPH), 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 Illinois Plumbing Code, with FOG limits enforced by the local sewer district.
Hood fire suppression (NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (2015 ed.)): 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, with the Illinois State Fire Marshal enforcing the Life Safety Code statewide and local fire departments inspecting. 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.
Equipment your Tazewell 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 Tazewell 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 Tazewell County?
Category I $350; Category II $250; Category III $150 (seasonal: $175 / $125 / $75) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Tazewell County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: New construction $400 (all categories); remodel/change of owner $300 (all categories)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Tazewell County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile unit fee not separately published; Temporary food permit: $20/event (5+ working days notice); $30 (<5 days); $40 on-site/day of event; pre-pay option $18/event for multiple events
Who issues food permits in Tazewell County?
Food permits here are issued by Tazewell County Health Department. 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.