Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
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 Anoka County Community Health & Environmental Services - Environmental Health (MDH-delegated food licensing authority) issues the health permit.
About 530 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 372,441. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
DELEGATED AUTHORITY; Anoka County is a Minnesota Dept of Health (MDH) delegated licensing agency; it licenses and inspects food/beverage service establishments (restaurants) under the Anoka County Food & Lodging Ordinance #2019-5 (adopted April 23, 2019) and the Minnesota Food Code (Minn; Rules Chap; 4626); License year runs February 1; January 31. Grocery/markets and bakeries (retail food) are licensed by the Minnesota Dept of Agriculture (MDA), not the county
MDH/MDA (and delegated programs) inspect under the Minnesota Food Code; no letter grade or score. Minnesota generally does not post results online — reports available on request.
Class VII covers mobile food units, seasonal food stands and food carts; The $116.25-$465.00 annual range and the $90 temporary MFU fee are published on Anoka County's Temporary Food Stands / Food Trucks / Food Carts page; Units already licensed with another MN jurisdiction and that have completed plan review may qualify for the temporary MFU license; otherwise plan review/full licensing applies; A commissary/servicing base is required
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | Catering food service is a distinct license class (Class III) under Anoka County Ordinance #2019-5, but the dollar fee (set by size and class) is not published online; Confirm with Environmental Services (763-324-4260) | Anoka breaks out Class III (Catering food service) as its own license class; fee set by size/class, not published |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | Class IX (Limited food service) covers catered satellite operations in industrial settings where the commissary is on the premises, but no stand-alone commissary dollar fee is published; Confirm with Environmental Services (763-324-4260) | Commissary-on-premises catered operations fall under Class IX; fee set by size/class, not published online |
| Bakery / food processing | bakeries and food processing (retail food) are licensed by the Minnesota Dept of Agriculture (MDA), not Anoka County; Confirm the applicable license with MDA | Retail food (bakery/processing) = MDA jurisdiction in Minnesota |
| Bar / limited food service | Class I (Beverage service only) and Class IX (Limited food service, incl; concession stands with low-hazard menus) are distinct license classes under Ordinance #2019-5, but the dollar fees (by size/class) are not published online; Confirm with Environmental Services (763-324-4260) | Anoka breaks out Class I (beverage only) and Class IX (limited food service) |
| Grocery / market with deli | grocery/markets (retail food) are licensed by the Minnesota Dept of Agriculture (MDA), not Anoka County; Confirm with MDA | Retail food (grocery) = MDA jurisdiction in Minnesota |
| Temporary / seasonal event | null for the 10-day Special event / Temporary food stand (Class VI); Anoka County directs applicants to 'call Environmental Services for the appropriate fee' for 10-day temporary food stands; the dollar fee is not published online; A Temporary Mobile Food Unit license (21 days) is available at $90. Seasonal food stands are licensed under Class VII | Class VI covers special event/temporary food stands; the 10-day temporary food stand fee is not published (call 763-324-4260); The published $90 fee is the 21-day Temporary Mobile Food Unit license, not the Class VI stand |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | Annual Mobile Food Unit / food cart license (Class VII): $116.25 (3-month) to $465.00 (12-month); Temporary Mobile Food Unit license (21 days): $90, plus $45 if a pre-licensing inspection is required and $25 late fee if applied less than 14 days before the first event | Class VII covers mobile food units, seasonal food stands and food carts; a commissary/servicing base is required |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Anoka County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →