Yuma County Public Health Services District, Environmental Health Services 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 Yuma County Public Health Services District, Environmental Health Services Division issues the health permit.
The restaurant market in Yuma County
What the local foodservice landscape looks like — useful whether you’re opening here or sizing up the competition.
318
food & drink establishments
6,266
industry jobs
$140M
annual payroll
$22,391
avg wage / worker
93 full-service restaurants
138 limited-service & fast food
22 bars & drinking places
31 snack & coffee bars
13 mobile food & trucks
▼ 0.3% change in establishments since 2022 (319 → 318).
The average foodservice wage here is $2,821 below the Arizona average ($25,212); Arizona has about 13,666 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment Operating Permit
Yuma County food establishment permit fees are set by resolution of the Public Health Services District Board (per A.R.S
11-251.08 and County Health Ordinance 07-04)
The current fee-schedule resolution is only available as a scanned/access-restricted document and no fee amounts are published in any web-accessible form
contact Environmental Health Services at (928) 317-4584
Each operator/applicant must also have food workers obtain a Yuma County food worker certificate; Application forms carry a blank 'Permit Fee' office-use field with no printed amount
Plan review — required
a Plan Review Application is required for new/remodeled establishments but the plan review fee amount is not published online
the application is posted but lists no dollar figure
No A/B/C grade; Yuma posts ratings of Excellent/Satisfactory/Needs Improvement/Unacceptable (E/S/N/U) online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit permit (Type I / Type II / Type III)
Yuma classifies mobile food units as Type I, II or III, but the mobile-unit fee amounts are set by Board resolution and are not published in any web-accessible document
contact (928) 317-4584
Separate application packets exist for Mobile Food Unit Type I, II and III (English and Spanish)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Local food-service market
About 319 food & drinking establishments serve ~213,221 residents in Yuma County — one per ~668 residents, sparser than the Arizona average (one per ~597).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Grease trap & FOG requirements
food establishments here must control fats, oils & grease (FOG) with a grease interceptor or trap, and typically register with the local sewer/wastewater authority. A grease interceptor sized to the locally adopted plumbing code is required, with a municipal sewer-authority FOG discharge permit.
Size the interceptor with our grease-trap sizing calculator, compare units in the grease-trap catalog, and confirm the local FOG permit with Yuma County Public Health Services District, Environmental Health Services Division (contact above).
Fire suppression & backflow
Hood fire suppression: commercial cooking under a Type I hood needs a wet-chemical suppression system to NFPA 96, permitted and inspected by the local fire marshal. Type I hood fire suppression must meet NFPA 96 and the fire code adopted by the local fire authority. See do I need a hood? and the hood CFM calculator.
Backflow prevention: An approved backflow preventer with a certified annual test is required by the local water purveyor. A certified backflow assembly (often an RPZ) on the water service, tested annually, is standard — confirm with your water utility.
Watch out for
Yuma County Public Health Services District (a special health district) administers food-establishment permitting through its Environmental Health Services Division at 2200 W; 28th St., Suite 222, Yuma
Fees are adopted by Board resolution under A.R.S; 11-251.08; the posted resolution/fee schedule is a scanned or access-restricted document, so specific dollar amounts are not obtainable online
Mobile units are classified Type I / II / III (mirroring the Arizona model)
Food handler / food worker card is $10 (cash only) at the Environmental Health office
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Pushcart / mobile vending
Yuma classifies mobile food units as Type I, II or III, but the fee amounts are set by Public Health Services District Board resolution and are not published in any web-accessible document; contact (928) 317-4584
Separate Type I / II / III mobile food unit application packets exist (English and Spanish)
Temporary / seasonal event
itinerant / temporary event food permit fee is not published online (set by Board resolution); an Itinerant application and guide are posted but carry no fee amount
Yuma uses an 'Itinerant' permit class for temporary/mobile-type operations
Equipment your Yuma 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.
Yuma County food establishment permit fees are set by resolution of the Public Health Services District Board (per A.R.S; 11-251.08 and County Health Ordinance 07-04); The current fee-schedule resolution is only available as a scanned/access-restricted document and no fee amounts are published in any web-accessible form; contact Environmental Health Services at (928) 317-4584 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Yuma County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: a Plan Review Application is required for new/remodeled establishments but the plan review fee amount is not published online; the application is posted but lists no dollar figure
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Yuma County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Separate application packets exist for Mobile Food Unit Type I, II and III (English and Spanish)
Who issues food permits in Yuma County?
Food permits here are issued by Yuma County Public Health Services District, Environmental Health Services 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.