Adams County Health Department - Environmental Health (retail food license fees are set by the State of Colorado / CDPHE and are uniform statewide; locally administered) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Adams County food-facility health permits run about $481–$581 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $155. Confirm the exact amount with Adams County Health Department - Environmental Health (retail food license fees are set by the State of Colorado / CDPHE and are uniform statewide; locally administered) 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 Adams County Health Department - Environmental Health (retail food license fees are set by the State of Colorado / CDPHE and are uniform statewide; locally administered) issues the health permit.
About 826 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 533,365. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
State-set fee schedule under SB25-285; identical across Colorado local agencies; Fees rise again in 2027 and 2028. Limited food service establishments (bars/limited prep) are $338. 2026 fees apply to licenses issued on/after Sept 1, 2025
Colorado law (C.R.S. 25-4-1607.7) bars local letter grades; inspections result in Pass or Re-Inspection Required, posted online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Retail Food Establishment License
$481 (full service) / $338 (prepackaged only) for 2026
plus $155 mobile plan review
Statewide license reciprocity took effect Jan 1, 2026 under HB25-1295; a single local-agency license lets a mobile unit operate across most Colorado jurisdictions without re-permitting
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Adams County’s permit cost compares
At about $481/year, Adams County’s restaurant health permit is above the Colorado median ($338) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 98% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 59th-lowest of 64 Colorado 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 826 food & drinking establishments serve ~533,365 residents in Adams County — one per ~646 residents, sparser than the Colorado average (one per ~428).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$481 annual health permit + $155 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
Retail food license fees are set by Colorado statute (SB25-285), not the county; scheduled to increase again in 2027 and 2028
Statewide mobile-unit license reciprocity (HB25-1295) effective Jan 1, 2026
Plan review required before construction/remodel for nearly every new or significantly altered facility
Grocery/retail food store fees are by square footage (with higher rates if a deli is present)
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Bar / limited food service
$338/yr (Limited Food Service Establishment, 2026)
State CDPHE fee (SB25-285) for limited-prep establishments; uniform statewide
State CDPHE fee schedule; grocery fees are by square footage, higher when a deli/prepared-foods department is present
Pushcart / mobile vending
$481 (full service) / $338 (prepackaged only) per year (2026); plus $155 mobile plan review
Statewide reciprocity under HB25-1295 (effective Jan 1, 2026) lets one license operate across most Colorado jurisdictions
Equipment your Adams 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.
$481 (0-100 seats) / $538 (101-200 seats) / $581 (over 200 seats) for 2026 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Adams County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $155 (retail food plan review, 2026)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Adams County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Statewide license reciprocity took effect Jan 1, 2026 under HB25-1295; a single local-agency license lets a mobile unit operate across most Colorado jurisdictions without re-permitting
Who issues food permits in Adams County?
Food permits here are issued by Adams County Health Department - Environmental Health (retail food license fees are set by the State of Colorado / CDPHE and are uniform statewide; locally administered). 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