Local permits & fees

Alpena County, MI Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Alpena County food-facility health permits run about $600 annually. Plan review runs about $419. Confirm the exact amount with District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) 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 District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) issues the health permit.

About 66 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 28,904. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)

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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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

Fixed Food Establishment License (Class A/B/C/I - Restaurant/Bar/Tavern)

$600

Total $600 ($570 DHD4 + $30 MDA) for fixed establishment restaurant/bar/tavern/school; Class E (limited/ice cream/coffee/take-out) $315. 2026 schedule approved 2/17/2026. DHD4 covers Alpena, Cheboygan, Montmorency, Presque Isle

Plan review — required

$419

Reach the department

Phone989-356-4507

OfficeDistrict Health Department No. 4, 100 Woods Circle, Suite 200, Alpena, MI 49707

Websitewww.dhd4.org →

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Service / Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU)

$300

Class F Mobile Food Service $300 total ($270 + $30 MDA); Class K STFU $224 for-profit total ($180 + $44) / $141 non-profit, plus $90 per inspection

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.

How Alpena County’s permit cost compares

At about $600/year, Alpena County’s restaurant health permit is above the Michigan median ($372) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 99% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 54th-lowest of 63 Michigan 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 66 food & drinking establishments serve ~28,904 residents in Alpena County — one per ~438 residents, denser than the Michigan average (one per ~501).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$600 annual health permit + $419 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.

Equipment your Alpena 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.

Compartment sinks

3-bay wash / rinse / sanitize — sized to your menu

Hand sinks

required in prep, cook & warewashing areas

Grease traps / interceptors

sized by drainage fixture units

Reach-in refrigeration

cold-holding at 41°F or below

Work tables & surfaces

NSF-listed, non-absorbent

Hoods & ventilation

over cooking equipment; make-up air

Dishwashers

high-temp or chemical sanitizing

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Alpena County with its neighbors.

Alcona County, MI

Restaurant permit: $420

Montmorency County, MI

Restaurant permit: $30

Oscoda County, MI

Restaurant permit: $420

Presque Isle County, MI

Restaurant permit: $30

How to open: typical permitting sequence

This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.

Confirm whether Alpena County 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 Alpena County?

$600 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Alpena County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $419

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Alpena County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Class F Mobile Food Service $300 total ($270 + $30 MDA); Class K STFU $224 for-profit total ($180 + $44) / $141 non-profit, plus $90 per inspection

Who issues food permits in Alpena County?

Food permits here are issued by District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4). 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.

Michigan statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: www.dhd4.org · www.dhd4.org · observed 2026-08-21