Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Food Establishment License food-facility health permits run about $160 annually. Plan review runs about $213–$426. Confirm the exact amount with Countryside Public Health 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 Countryside Public Health issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Food Establishment License
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
21
food & drink establishments
155
industry jobs
$2M
annual payroll
$15,858
avg wage / worker
5 full-service restaurants
7 limited-service & fast food
6 bars & drinking places
— 0.0% change in establishments since 2022 (21 → 21).
The average foodservice wage here is $7,442 below the Minnesota average ($23,300); Minnesota has about 10,937 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: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment License
Base Fee $160 (all establishments) plus category: Limited Food $64, Small Food $128, Medium Food $332, Large Food $577
Catering w/ Med or Large $100
Countryside Public Health is the delegated agency for Swift and Yellow Medicine counties; 2026 fee schedule; Special Event Food Stand $30. Penalty 25% of license fee
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit License
$73 (plus $160 base fee)
From 2026 Mobile Food Units/Food Carts/Seasonal application
How to apply
See the department site above.
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 $350–$1,163 for Food Establishment License:
$64–$577 — food-facility permit
$213–$426 — plan review
$73–$160 — food-truck permit
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.
How Food Establishment License’s permit cost compares
At about $160/year, Food Establishment License’s restaurant health permit is above the Minnesota median ($50) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 67% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 68th-lowest of 81 Minnesota counties by permit cost.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
Local food-service market
About 21 food & drinking establishments serve ~9,467 residents in Food Establishment License — one per ~451 residents, denser than the Minnesota average (one per ~519).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$160 annual health permit + $213 plan review.
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
Grease trap & FOG requirements
Under Minnesota Plumbing Code (Ch. 4714, based on 2018 UPC), 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 Minnesota Plumbing Code, with FOG limits set by the local sewer utility.
Hood fire suppression (Minnesota State Fire Code (Ch. 7511, based on 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 Minnesota State 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.
Equipment your Food Establishment License 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 Food Establishment License 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 Food Establishment License?
Base Fee $160 (all establishments) plus category: Limited Food $64, Small Food $128, Medium Food $332, Large Food $577; Catering w/ Med or Large $100 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Food Establishment License?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $426.00 full; $213.00 partial/small (remodel)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Food Establishment License?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. From 2026 Mobile Food Units/Food Carts/Seasonal application
Who issues food permits in Food Establishment License?
Food permits here are issued by Countryside Public Health. 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.