Local permits & fees

Ventura County, CA — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Ventura County Environmental Health Division (Resource Management Agency) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Restaurant Permit to Operate (annual)
$802 (1-49 seats)

By seating (indoor + outdoor capacity >10 seats): 1-49 seats $802; 50-149 $1,183; 150+ $1,446. Bar without food prep tiered separately. Restricted Food Service Facility $687.

Plan review — required

Food Facility Plan Check: <1,999 sq ft $1,600 / 2,000+ sq ft $3,269 (prepackaged-only $1,117 / $2,316). Plan resubmittal $337.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Facility (MFF) Permit
$654 (Type 4: catering truck / mobile kitchen trailer)

Permit to Operate: Type 1 (produce/bread/prepackaged, no refrigeration) $271; Type 2 (ice cream/packaged/grocery) $384; Type 3 (hot dog/coffee/churro carts) $511; Type 4 (catering truck/mobile kitchen) $654; Mobile Support Unit $654. Separate plan check applies (Type 4 $1,022; Types 1-3/MSU lower).

Watch out for

  • No MFF plan check required for produce trucks, bread/baked-goods trucks, or other prepackaged foods not needing refrigeration (Type 1).
  • Permit tier is set by indoor seating plus outdoor capacity when outdoor seating exceeds 10 seats.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
caterer$238Catering Operation (PE 1778) $238. Community Services Program fees effective July 1, 2026.
commissary/shared/central kitchen$142-$1,005Commissary by units served: 1-2 (1617) $142; 3-10 $285; 11-24 $369; 25-39 $664; 40-59 $852; 60+ (1622) $1,005. Host Facility (1777) $351.
bakery$649Bakery 1-1,999 sq ft (PE 1603) $649; 2,000+ sq ft (1604) $677; Bakery Section within a food establishment (1605) $229.
bar/tavern$285-$537Bar by seating capacity: 1-24 (1606) $285; 25-49 $369; 50-99 $423; 100+ (1609) $537; Bar Section (1610) $238.
market/grocery with deli$566-$2,912Market by floor space: 1-499 sq ft (1635) $566 up to 40,000+ sq ft (1645) $2,912. Delicatessen Section (1623) $238; Meat Section (1646) $238; Liquor Store 1-499 sq ft (1630) $377.
temporary/seasonal/special-event$353Community Event Organizer 1-5 TFF single day (1731) $353 (multi-day $570); TFF-1 per event (1685) $159; Annual TFF-1 Permit (1694) $537; County Fair organizer (1674) $1,891.
pushcart/limited or low-risk operation$70Push Cart (PE 1614) $70; Adjunct Food Facility 1-999 sq ft (1601) $85; Vending Machine (1668) $47; Produce Stand 1-999 sq ft (1653) $369.
food processing/wholesale$539Food Warehouse (PE 1695) $539; Remote Storage Facility (1717) $238.
Sources: rmadocs.venturacounty.gov · rmadocs.venturacounty.gov · rma.venturacounty.gov · observed 2026-08-07