Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Washington County food-facility health permits run about $160–$830 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $130–$770. Confirm the exact amount with Washington Ozaukee Public 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 Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Washington County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
272
food & drink establishments
4,602
industry jobs
$84M
annual payroll
$18,210
avg wage / worker
93 full-service restaurants
95 limited-service & fast food
47 bars & drinking places
19 snack & coffee bars
4 mobile food & trucks
▼ 1.1% change in establishments since 2022 (275 → 272).
The average foodservice wage here is $2,130 below the Wisconsin average ($20,340); Wisconsin has about 13,939 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile / Transient (Retail Serving Meals & Mobile & Service Base)
Transient serving meals:
Annual $190, 1-week $105
Set-up fee (transient and mobile) $70
Mobiles included in the 'Retail Serving Meals & Mobile & Service Base' complexity categories
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 $360–$1,790 for Washington County:
$160–$830 — food-facility permit
$130–$770 — plan review
$70–$190 — food-truck permit
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 Washington County’s permit cost compares
At about $160/year, Washington County’s restaurant health permit is above the Wisconsin median ($159) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 67% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 12th-lowest of 18 Wisconsin 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 ~138,168 residents in Washington County — one per ~502 residents, sparser than the Wisconsin average (one per ~430).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$160 annual health permit + $130 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 Wisconsin Plumbing Code (SPS 382), 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 Wisconsin plumbing code, with FOG limits set by the municipal sewer utility.
Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department (contact above).
Fire suppression & backflow
Hood fire suppression (Wisconsin adopts the IFC via SPS 314): 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 as adopted through Wisconsin's fire and building codes, inspected by the local fire authority. 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County?
Annual license: Prepacked/Tavern $160, Simple $354, Moderate $508, Complex $830 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Washington County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Preinspection fee: Prepacked/Tavern $130, Simple $320, Moderate $470, Complex $770
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Washington County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobiles included in the 'Retail Serving Meals & Mobile & Service Base' complexity categories
Who issues food permits in Washington County?
Food permits here are issued by Washington Ozaukee Public 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.