Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Central District Health (CDH) - Environmental Health, Food Program · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Ada County food-facility health permits run about $200–$250 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $100. Confirm the exact amount with Central District Health (CDH) - Environmental Health, Food Program 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 Central District Health (CDH) - Environmental Health, Food Program issues the health permit.
About 1,150 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 524,673. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Permanent Food Establishment License
$200/yr (standard)
$250/yr (2+ licenses on one premise, e.g
supermarkets)
Per CDH Food Fees page; CDH covers Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley Counties
Plan review — required
$100 (applies to all food establishment applications)
Turnaround: Submit at least 30 days before opening
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Ada County’s permit cost compares
At about $200/year, Ada County’s restaurant health permit is about the Idaho median ($200) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 77% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 2nd-lowest of 36 Idaho 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 1,150 food & drinking establishments serve ~524,673 residents in Ada County — one per ~456 residents, denser than the Idaho average (one per ~472).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$200 annual health permit + $100 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.
Watch out for
Applications submitted via Adobe Sign links; contact EHApps@cdh.idaho.gov
Temporary event food licenses: $35 (1 day), $45 (2-3 days), $80 (4+ days or multiple events)
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
temporary/seasonal/special-event
$35.00 (1 day); $45.00 (2-3 days, single event); $80.00 (4+ days or multiple events)
"Temporary Event Food Establishment License."
commissary/central kitchen
—
Not a standalone permit; appears only as a mobile-unit sub-classification (Mobile w/ licensed or no commissary $80.00; w/ unlicensed commissary $100.00); Caterers, bakeries, and grocery/market operations fall under the standard "Food Establishment License" ($200.00; $250.00 if >2 licenses on one premise) rather than separate categories
Equipment your Ada 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.
$200/yr (standard); $250/yr (2+ licenses on one premise, e.g; supermarkets) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Ada County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $100 (applies to all food establishment applications)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Ada County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Submit application with floor plan, menu, operational plan, and commissary agreement if used, at least 30 days before opening
Who issues food permits in Ada County?
Food permits here are issued by Central District Health (CDH) - Environmental Health, Food Program. 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.
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026