Local permits & fees

Union County, NC — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Union County Environmental Health - Food, Lodging & Institutions Program · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Restaurant / Food Establishment permit (NC Food Code, 15A NCAC 18A .2600)
$0 annual permit fee - North Carolina does NOT charge an annual food-establishment operating/permit fee; the state uses a one-time plan-review-fee model. The only up-front county charge is the Food Establishment Plan Review fee of $250.00.

NC food/lodging permits are issued at no annual cost after a passing inspection; the state prohibits routine annual permit fees for restaurants. Union County's Environmental Health fee schedule lists a $250 Food Establishment Plan Review fee (charged once for new construction/remodel), not a recurring permit fee.

Plan review — required

Food Establishment Plan Review $250.00; Mobile Food Unit/Pushcart Plan Review $150.00; Temporary/Limited Food Establishment application $75.00

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit / Pushcart permit (NC Food Code)
$150.00 one-time Mobile Food Unit/Pushcart Plan Review fee; no annual permit fee.

Mobile food units and pushcarts must be affiliated with a permitted commissary/base. The $150 plan-review fee is the only county charge; there is no recurring annual permit fee under NC's model.

Watch out for

  • Administering authority: county (Union County Environmental Health), operating under NC state rules (15A NCAC 18A .2600). Charlotte metro; county seat Monroe.
  • NC PLAN-REVIEW-FEE MODEL confirmed: no annual permit/operating fee for restaurants; revenue comes from one-time plan-review fees.
  • Other Environmental Health food fees: Certified Food Protection Manager class $115, proctored exam $50, permit record request $10, refund processing $25.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Bar / limited food service$0 annual permit fee; a Limited Food Service Establishment application/plan review is $75.00NC uses a plan-review-fee model with no recurring annual permit fee. 'Limited/temporary food establishment' application fee is $75.
Temporary / seasonal event$75.00 Temporary/Limited Food Establishment application; no annual permit feeUnion County Environmental Health fee schedule. One-time application charge only.
Pushcart / mobile vending$150.00 one-time Mobile Food Unit/Pushcart Plan Review; no annual permit feeMobile units/pushcarts must be tied to a permitted commissary/base. Plan review is the only county charge.
Sources: www.unioncountync.gov · www.unioncountync.gov · www.unioncountync.gov · observed 2026-08-07