Local permits & fees

Whatcom County, WA — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Whatcom County Health and Community Services, Environmental Health Division · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment Permit (by menu complexity: simple / moderate / complex)

null - Whatcom County does not publish food establishment annual permit dollar amounts online; the annual permit fee is set by the Whatcom County Council based on the cost of inspection service (menu complexity + seating) per WCC 24.03. Unified Fee Schedule codes: UFS 8461 simple menu / 8466 moderate menu / 8468 & 8470 complex menu. Contact 360-778-6000.

Permit fee varies by menu (simple/moderate/complex) and seating capacity; amounts are not listed on the county website ('contact our office to determine the cost').

Plan review — required

$422.10 (covers the first hour of plan review); additional review time billed at $152.25/hour. Change-of-ownership plan review $207.90 (no menu/equipment changes) or $422.10 (remodel or menu change) - source https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/2023/Mobile-Unit-Plan-Review-Packet-PDF

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit / Pushcart Permit

null - annual mobile-unit/pushcart permit dollar amount is not published online; the same plan review applies ($422.10 first hour + $152.25/hr). Contact 360-778-6000.

Mobile units and push carts require a plan review packet and an approved commissary/servicing area.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

Watch out for

Whatcom County does not publish food establishment annual permit fee amounts online; the County Council sets them based on cost of inspection service (WCC 24.03).
Permits are tiered by menu complexity - simple, moderate and complex menu (Unified Fee Schedule codes UFS 8461 / 8466 / 8468 / 8470).
A new online health permit platform (EPL Customer Service Portal) is being rolled out.
Published plan review fee is $422.10 for the first hour plus $152.25/hour thereafter.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Bar / limited food service	null - tavern permit (Unified Fee Schedule code UFS 1546) dollar amount is not published online; set by the Whatcom County Council. Contact 360-778-6000 - source https://www.whatcomcounty.us/1933/Unified-Fee-Schedule	Whatcom County breaks out taverns as a separate permit category but does not publish the fee amount.
Temporary / seasonal event	null - Temporary Food Establishment permit amount is not published online; contact 360-778-6000 - source https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3236/Food-Related-Permits	Temporary food establishment permits are issued for events/fairs; fee not listed on the county website.
Pushcart / mobile vending	null - annual mobile-unit/pushcart permit amount is not published online; plan review is $422.10 (first hour) + $152.25/hr - source https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/2023/Mobile-Unit-Plan-Review-Packet-PDF	Mobile units and push carts require a plan review packet and an approved commissary/servicing area.

Washington statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: www.whatcomcounty.us · www.whatcomcounty.us · www.codepublishing.com · www.whatcomcounty.us · observed 2026-08-07