Winnebago County Public Health, Environmental Health Division (DATCP agent) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the 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 Winnebago County Public Health, Environmental Health Division (DATCP agent) issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Winnebago County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
384
food & drink establishments
6,122
industry jobs
$117M
annual payroll
$19,114
avg wage / worker
117 full-service restaurants
118 limited-service & fast food
96 bars & drinking places
26 snack & coffee bars
▲ 1.9% change in establishments since 2022 (377 → 384).
The average foodservice wage here is $1,226 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: 2026-08-17 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Restaurant / food-facility permit
Retail Food Establishment License (restaurant)
Winnebago County acts as a DATCP agent and licenses restaurants/retail food establishments under Wis
Admin
Code ATCP 75 (categorized simple / moderate / complex by point value)
the county'
s combined annual license fee amounts are not published on its website (application says '
submit required application and fees'
)
Establishments assigned to simple (<=2.5 pts), moderate (>2.5-4.5 pts) or complex (>=4.5 pts) categories; prepackaged-only establishments have separate fees (ATCP 75 Table B); Licensing year runs July 1; June 30. Cities of Appleton and Menasha are licensed separately
Plan review — required
plan review required for new construction/remodeling (Construction/Remodeling Checklist provided)
Wisconsin DATCP/agent local health departments inspect under the Wisconsin Food Code (priority/core violations); no letter grade or score. Reports online via DATCP's inspection portal.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Retail Food Establishment License
mobile/base licensing under ATCP 75
specific annual fee not published on county site
Mobile operations require a service base/commissary; Transient (temporary) mobile vending fees ARE published; see notable and category file
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Local food-service market
About 377 food & drinking establishments serve ~171,735 residents in Winnebago County — one per ~456 residents, sparser than the Wisconsin average (one per ~430).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
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 Winnebago County Public Health, Environmental Health Division (DATCP agent) (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.
Authority: Wis; Stats; 97.30 & 254.61, ATCP 75, Winnebago County Ordinance 11.11; county is a DATCP agent
Annual (restaurant) license fee amounts are not posted online; only temporary/transient fees are published
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
$209.00 (for-profit, TCS)
2025/2026 Transient Retail Food Establishment fees: for-profit TCS (hot/cold food) $209.00; for-profit non-TCS/prepackaged $119.00; non-profit operating >3 days $112.00; non-profit 1-3 days = no permit needed ($0.00); internal-use temporary inspection fee $60.00. Licensing year July 1; June 30
Pushcart / mobile vending
mobile retail food establishment licensed under ATCP 75 (requires a service base); annual fee not published on county site
Transient/temporary mobile vending uses the Transient Retail fees above
Equipment your Winnebago 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 Winnebago 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 Winnebago County?
Winnebago County acts as a DATCP agent and licenses restaurants/retail food establishments under Wis; Admin; Code ATCP 75 (categorized simple / moderate / complex by point value); the county's combined annual license fee amounts are not published on its website (application says 'submit required application and fees') These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Winnebago County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: plan review required for new construction/remodeling (Construction/Remodeling Checklist provided); fee amount not published on county site
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Winnebago County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile operations require a service base/commissary; Transient (temporary) mobile vending fees ARE published; see notable and category file
Who issues food permits in Winnebago County?
Food permits here are issued by Winnebago County Public Health, Environmental Health Division (DATCP agent). 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.