Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health (now Allen County Department of Health), Food & Consumer Protection Division (countywide authority) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Allen County food-facility health permits run about $130–$230 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $60–$435. Confirm the exact amount with Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health (now Allen County Department of Health), Food & Consumer Protection Division (countywide authority) 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 Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health (now Allen County Department of Health), Food & Consumer Protection Division (countywide authority) issues the health permit.
About 757 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 394,545. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Retail Food Service Establishment permit (annual, by number of food employees)
1-5 employees $130
6-9 employees $175
10-40 employees $205
41+ employees $230
Fee amounts codified in Fort Wayne City Code § 113.26 and mirrored in Allen County Code Title 10, Article 14 (Dept; of Health Fee Ordinance); the countywide health department administers the harmonized schedule; Late renewal = 125% of annual fee; Food & Beverage Ordinance (Title 10, Article 2) amended March 14, 2025
Plan review — required
Plan review + initial inspection application fee, by building floor area: under 3,000 sq ft $90
3,001-30,000 sq ft $175
30,001-40,000 sq ft $260
40,001-60,000 sq ft $345
60,001+ sq ft $435. Change-of-ownership initial inspection of existing establishment: $60. (In addition to the permit fee.)
Allen County (Fort Wayne) inspects under Indiana Retail Food code (410 IAC 7-24), critical/non-critical violations; no letter grade. Reports are public records available on request (no online database).
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Service / Mobile Food Market Establishment permit
Gross weight under 1,000 lbs $130
over 1,000 lbs $200. Seasonal Mobile Ice Cream Market Establishment $90 per vehicle/year
Annual mobile permit application requires commissary/base-of-operations documentation
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Allen County’s permit cost compares
At about $130/year, Allen County’s restaurant health permit is above the Indiana median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 60% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 42nd-lowest of 63 Indiana 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 757 food & drinking establishments serve ~394,545 residents in Allen County — one per ~521 residents, denser than the Indiana average (one per ~577).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$130 annual health permit + $60 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 Market (grocery/market) permit is broken out separately by floor area: under 3,000 sq ft $105; 3,000-30,000 $210; 30,001-40,000 $305; 40,001-60,000 $410; 60,001+ $515
Definitive countywide fee amounts live in Allen County Code Title 10, Article 14; values match the Fort Wayne § 113.26 figures cited here
Equipment your Allen 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.
1-5 employees $130; 6-9 employees $175; 10-40 employees $205; 41+ employees $230 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Allen County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Plan review + initial inspection application fee, by building floor area: under 3,000 sq ft $90; 3,001-30,000 sq ft $175; 30,001-40,000 sq ft $260; 40,001-60,000 sq ft $345; 60,001+ sq ft $435. Change-of-ownership initial inspection of existing establishment: $60. (In addition to the permit fee.)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Allen County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Annual mobile permit application requires commissary/base-of-operations documentation
Who issues food permits in Allen County?
Food permits here are issued by Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health (now Allen County Department of Health), Food & Consumer Protection Division (countywide authority). 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