Apache County Public Health Services District - Division of Environmental Services · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Apache County food-facility health permits run about $200–$250 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $100–$400. Confirm the exact amount with Apache County Public Health Services District - Division of Environmental Services 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 Apache County Public Health Services District - Division of Environmental Services issues the health permit.
About 39 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 65,036. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Food Service Establishment Permit (Fixed)
$250 (Class A
excellent/satisfactory last inspection)
$200 (Class B
below satisfactory)
Fixed Food Service Establishment/Commissary permit, graded by last inspection score; From Board-adopted Environmental Fee Schedule (approved 3/6/2008; most recent published); Non-profit food service $300 (fee may be waived); operate without valid permit $250
Mobile permit line item present in 2008 schedule but dollar value not cleanly separable from PDF; confirm with dept
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 Apache County’s permit cost compares
At about $200/year, Apache County’s restaurant health permit is about the Arizona median ($200) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 77% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 5th-lowest of 9 Arizona 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 39 food & drinking establishments serve ~65,036 residents in Apache County — one per ~1,668 residents, sparser than the Arizona average (one per ~597).
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.
Equipment your Apache 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Apache 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 Apache County?
$250 (Class A; excellent/satisfactory last inspection); $200 (Class B; below satisfactory) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Apache County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: By seats: Fixed <25 seats, 25-99 seats, >100 seats (approx $100-$400); mobile plan review ~$200 (2008 schedule)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Apache County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile permit line item present in 2008 schedule but dollar value not cleanly separable from PDF; confirm with dept
Who issues food permits in Apache County?
Food permits here are issued by Apache County Public Health Services District - Division of Environmental Services. 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