Local permits & fees

Wake County, NC — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Wake County Environmental Health & Safety (Food, Lodging & Institutions / Plan Review) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Service Establishment Permit (issued after plan review + inspection)
$75 statutory permit fee per permit issued (set by NC GS 130A-248; local health departments charge $75 for each food establishment permit). NC does not levy a separate annual renewal fee - the permit remains valid until change of ownership/location. A secondary source citing '$25-$200 annually' was NOT confirmed on wake.gov - treat as unverified.

In NC the state sets the $75 permit fee; state-funded inspections mean there is no separate annual inspection charge. One certified food protection manager is required per establishment.

Plan review — required

$250 plan review fee for a new Primary Permitted Facility (from Wake County plan review application documents); Temporary Food Establishment permit $75 each. Full Wake fee schedule (referenced 2021 PDF) not fully machine-readable - other tier amounts unverified.

Turnaround: About 10 business days for mobile-unit/pushcart plan review once a complete application is submitted; plan review must be approved before construction/opening.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit / Pushcart Permit
Fee not published online — contact the department.

Requires an approved commissary visited daily (Wake County does not supply a commissary list). Plan review required (~10 business day response). Specific mobile-unit permit dollar amount not published on wake.gov in reviewed sources - null (the NC statutory $75 permit fee applies at issuance).

Watch out for

  • NC permit fee is state-set at $75 (GS 130A-248); there is no separate annual renewal fee and inspections are state-funded.
  • Plan review and permit applications/fees are submitted online via the Tyler/EnerGov Self-Service portal; permits do NOT transfer on sale of the business.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
temporary food establishment (TFE)$75 per permitPer event; applications/fees due >=15 calendar days before event
pushcartNC charges no annual permit fee for food establishments (only plan-review/TFE fees); menu limited to hot dogs/encased meats; commissary agreement required
commissary/central kitchenNo separate permit; restaurant/deli/catering facility may serve as commissary if approved; agreement required at application
limited food service establishmentNC establishment classification (15A NCAC 18A .2600); no annual permit fee under NC law
Sources: www.wake.gov · www.wake.gov · www.wake.gov · www.ncleg.gov · observed 2026-08-06