Local permits & fees

Williamson County, TN — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Tennessee Department of Health, Environmental Health Program (state-administered; Williamson County Health Department) · department site →

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

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Service Establishment Permit

$210 per year (0-50 seats) / $360 per year (51+ seats) - source https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules_filings/12-33-25.pdf

AUTHORITY: Williamson County is STATE-ADMINISTERED - the Tennessee Dept of Health (not a county-run agency) inspects and permits food service establishments. Fees are set statewide by rule (T.C.A. 68-14-713) effective Jan 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 400, which moved fee-setting from statute to administrative rule. Permit year runs July 1-June 30.

Plan review — required

null - Tennessee requires plan review for new/extensively remodeled food service establishments, but a separate plan-review dollar fee is not itemized in the state permit fee rule (fees are the annual permit fees) - source https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules_filings/12-33-25.pdf

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Service Establishment Permit

null - mobile/food-truck units are permitted as food service establishments; the statewide fee rule lists food service establishment ($210 / $360 by seats), temporary ($30), school ($80), farmers market food unit ($300) and auxiliary ($100), but does not itemize a distinct mobile-unit line - source https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules_filings/12-33-25.pdf

Tennessee mobile food units operate from a commissary and are inspected by TDH; where they park may impose local requirements. Temporary event permit is $30.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

KEY: Tennessee food service permitting is STATE-administered by TDH in Williamson County (Williamson is not one of TN's ~6 self-administered metro/regional health departments).
Statewide fees set by rule (T.C.A. 68-14-713) effective Jan 1, 2026, per 2025 Public Chapter 400 which shifted fee-setting from statute to rule.
Fee schedule (emergency rule filed 12/5/2025, effective 12/19/2025): 0-50 seats $210 / 51+ seats $360; school $80; farmers market food unit $300; temporary $30; auxiliary $100; child care/congregate meals $50 (0-50) / $80 (51+).
Permit year: July 1 through June 30.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Temporary / seasonal event	$30 (Temporary food service establishment permit) - source https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules_filings/12-33-25.pdf	Statewide TDH fee (effective Jan 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 400).

Tennessee 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: publications.tnsosfiles.com · www.tn.gov · www.law.cornell.edu · observed 2026-08-10