Wood County Health Department, Environmental Health Division · 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 Wood County Health Department, Environmental Health Division issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Wood County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
320
food & drink establishments
7,112
industry jobs
$130M
annual payroll
$18,222
avg wage / worker
105 full-service restaurants
115 limited-service & fast food
28 bars & drinking places
40 snack & coffee bars
3 mobile food & trucks
▲ 4.2% change in establishments since 2022 (307 → 320).
The average foodservice wage here is $2,406 below the Ohio average ($20,628); Ohio has about 24,162 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Food Service Operation (FSO) / Retail Food Establishment (RFE) License
annual license fee is risk-level-based (Level 1, 2, 3, 4) per Ohio cost methodology (OAC 3717-1) but the dollar amounts are not published on the WCHD website
department instructs applicants to obtain the current fee schedule by contacting Environmental Health (419-354-2702)
Ohio distinguishes an FSO (food prepared/served in individual portions) from an RFE (retail sale of packaged/prepared food, e.g; grocery, gas station); Both are risk-classified Level 1-4; risk level determines the fee; License purchased after a pre-licensing inspection; Licensing year Mar 1; Feb 28/29
Plan review — required
Micromarket $100.00
Level 1 &
2 and upgrades $200.00
Level 3 &
4 $400.00
Large (25,000 sq
ft.) $500.00
Mobile Food Units
no plan review fee
Turnaround: Plans reviewed within 30 days of a complete submission; approval expires 1 year after issuance
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 $100–$500 for Wood County:
$100–$500 — plan review
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.
Local food-service market
About 307 food & drinking establishments serve ~132,650 residents in Wood County — one per ~432 residents, denser than the Ohio average (one per ~574).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Grease trap & FOG requirements
Under Ohio Plumbing Code (based on 2021 IPC), 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 Ohio Plumbing Code, with FOG discharge limits enforced by the local sewer authority.
Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with Wood County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (contact above).
Fire suppression & backflow
Hood fire suppression (Ohio Fire Code (based on 2021 IFC)): 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 in the Ohio Fire Code and is 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.
2026 Temporary Food License fee: $96.32 (effective 11/25/2025, cost subject to change); temp licenses valid max 5 consecutive days, one per location
Wood County residents may buy one temporary license to operate the full 10-day Wood County Fair; non-residents must pay for two
FSO/RFE dollar fees are not posted online; the county sets them annually by board resolution using the Ohio cost-analysis method
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
$96.32
2026 Temporary Food License (effective 11/25/2025, subject to change); valid max 5 consecutive days, one per location; Wood County residents may use one temp license for the full 10-day county fair; non-residents pay for two
Pushcart / mobile vending
Mobile Food License annual fee not published on WCHD site (no plan review fee for mobile units); contact Environmental Health 419-354-2702
Mobile units complete a Mobile Plan Review Application
Grocery / market with deli
licensed as an Ohio Retail Food Establishment (RFE); risk-level (Level 1-4) fee is not published online
RFE covers grocery/market/convenience retail food; risk level determines the fee
Equipment your Wood 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.
annual license fee is risk-level-based (Level 1, 2, 3, 4) per Ohio cost methodology (OAC 3717-1) but the dollar amounts are not published on the WCHD website; department instructs applicants to obtain the current fee schedule by contacting Environmental Health (419-354-2702) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Wood County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Micromarket $100.00; Level 1 & 2 and upgrades $200.00; Level 3 & 4 $400.00; Large (25,000 sq; ft.) $500.00; Mobile Food Units; no plan review fee
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Wood County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units complete a Mobile Plan Review Application; no plan review fee is charged for mobile units
Who issues food permits in Wood County?
Food permits here are issued by Wood County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. 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.