Local permits & fees

Washoe County, NV — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) - Environmental Health Services, Food Protection (formerly Washoe County Health District, renamed Aug 31, 2023) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment Health Permit (annual, risk-based)
Annual permit by risk level (NNPH EHS Fee Schedule, current column effective 7/1/2025): Risk Level 1 - Food Establishment $327; Risk Level 2 $454; Risk Level 3 $1,291. School Kitchen Inspection (Risk 2) $908. First-year/new operators also pay a one-time Food Service Establishment Application / Change of Service Area / Change of Ownership fee of $683.

NNPH restructured food establishment permits into three risk levels (Risk Level 1 lowest through Risk Level 3 highest, based on food-handling complexity); a full-service restaurant is typically Risk Level 3. The prior FY22/23 named-permit categories (restaurant, bakery, bar, delicatessen, grocery store, snack bar) are superseded by this risk-level model. Verified from the NNPH EHS Fee Schedule PDF (two columns effective 7/1/2024 and 7/1/2025; the 7/1/2025 column is current).

Plan review — required

FOOD PLAN REVIEW (NNPH EHS Fee Schedule, current column effective 7/1/2025): new Food Service Establishment Construction plan review 'Base Fee' $582 plus a project-size fee - Project under 1,000 sq ft $554; 1,000-2,999 sq ft $936; 3,000 sq ft or greater $1,319. Remodel plan review 'Base Fee' $582 plus $809. (Amounts are the base fee plus the project-size fee as published; confirm the combined total with NNPH.)

Turnaround: null - specific turnaround not published on accessible pages

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile / Portable Unit Food Establishment Permit
Mobile and portable food units are permitted as food establishments under the risk-level annual fees (NNPH EHS Fee Schedule, eff. 7/1/2025): Risk Level 1 $327 / Risk Level 2 $454 / Risk Level 3 $1,291, plus the one-time $683 application fee for new units. The current schedule no longer lists separate named mobile-unit fees (the FY22/23 'Mobile Food Unit' and 'Portable Unit' line items are superseded); the risk level assigned depends on the unit's food operations - confirm the tier with NNPH.

Apply via the Mobile Food Supplemental Application through NNPH. A commissary/base of operation (servicing area) is required. A separate Temporary Food Establishment - Annual Itinerant permit covers vendors operating at 5+ special events per year (High Risk $1,492 / Low Risk $1,237, eff. 7/1/2025).

Watch out for

  • Washoe County Health District rebranded to Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) on Aug 31, 2023; it is the health authority for Reno, Sparks, and unincorporated Washoe County.
  • As of the FY26 (7/1/2025) EHS Fee Schedule, food establishment permits are priced by three risk levels rather than by named facility type; a one-time $683 application fee applies to new facilities and changes of ownership.
  • Temporary food event vendors and organizers pay tiered fees by duration/booth count; late applications incur 100-200% of the permit fee.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
CatererNo separate caterer permit line in the current (FY26) NNPH EHS Fee Schedule; a caterer is permitted as a food establishment by risk level (Risk Level 1 $327 / Risk Level 2 $454 / Risk Level 3 $1,291, eff. 7/1/2025), plus the one-time $683 application fee for new facilities.
Commissary / central kitchenNo separate commissary permit line in the current (FY26) NNPH EHS Fee Schedule; a commissary is permitted as a food establishment by risk level (see restaurant fees). Mobile/temporary units must operate from an approved commissary/servicing area per NNPH food regulations.
Temporary / special event$183-$1,074TEMPORARY FOOD EVENT PERMITS (eff. 7/1/2025). Event Organizer Permit: $565 (1 day, 5 or fewer booths) / $820 (2-5 days or 6-20 booths) / $1,074 (5-7+ days or 20+ booths). Vendor Permit to Operate - High Risk: $183 (1-3 day) / $310 (4-7 day) / $565 (8-14 day); Low Risk: $218 (1-7 day) / $346 (8-14 day). Temporary Food Establishment - Annual Itinerant: High Risk $1,492 / Low Risk $1,237. Annual Producer/Sampling Permit $346. Special Event Permit to Operate (5,000+ attendees) Base Rate $1,619 plus $264/hr. Late fees 100-200% of the permit fee. Event organizers must apply at least 14 days prior, vendors at least 7 days prior; apply online.
Cottage food / exemption from inspection$325Exemption from Inspection - Application (Exempt / Cottage Food / Farm to Fork) $325; Annual Certification $61 (eff. 7/1/2025). HACCP Plan initial review $1,340; Operational Plan initial review $702; Special Process Review hourly rate $264; Food Service Variance (permitted facility) $2,616.
Sources: www.nnph.org · www.nnph.org · www.nnph.org · www.nnph.org · www.nnph.org · observed 2026-08-10