Virginia food establishment permitting is STATE-administered by VDH through local health districts (Virginia Beach is an independent city served by the VDH Virginia Beach Health District). The $40 permit fee is the statewide VDH schedule and applies in Virginia Beach; it is not set by the city. Note: VDH regulates restaurants/food service, while retail food stores (grocery) and food manufacturing/wholesale bakeries are regulated separately by the Virginia Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS).
Turnaround: Submit Foodservice Permit Application at least 30 days prior to opening; plan review precedes permit
Same statewide VDH fee as fixed establishments. A mobile unit that already holds a VDH health-department permit from ANY Virginia jurisdiction is recognized statewide and does not need an additional VDH permit. Commissary generally required.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| caterer | $40/yr (+ $40 plan review) | A caterer operates as a VDH food establishment; no separate caterer fee category - the flat statewide $40 permit + $40 plan review applies. |
| commissary / central preparation kitchen | $40/yr (+ $40 plan review) | Permitted as a VDH food establishment at the flat statewide $40 fee; not a separately priced category. |
| bakery / food processing | null - jurisdiction split: a retail bakery/food service falls under VDH ($40 permit), but wholesale/manufacturing bakeries and food processors are regulated by the Virginia Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS), not VDH. Confirm applicable VDACS fee. | Virginia divides oversight: VDH = restaurants/food service; VDACS = food manufacturing and retail food stores. |
| bar / limited food service | $40/yr (+ $40 plan review) | A bar serving food is a VDH food establishment at the flat $40 permit; not separately priced. |
| grocery / market with deli | null - retail food stores (grocery/market) in Virginia are licensed by VDACS, not VDH; a deli/food-prep area inside may trigger a VDH foodservice permit ($40). Confirm store fee with VDACS. | Grocery/retail food = VDACS jurisdiction in Virginia. |
| temporary / seasonal event | null - VDH issues a Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) permit; the standard statewide food fee schedule ($40 tier) applies but the exact TFE amount was not confirmed in reviewed sources. Confirm with Virginia Beach Health District. | TFE permits are separate from annual foodservice permits. |
| pushcart / mobile vending | $40/yr (+ $40 plan review) | Mobile food unit permitted by VDH at the flat statewide fee; a VDH permit from any VA jurisdiction is recognized statewide. |