Arapahoe County Public Health, Environmental Health (formerly served by Tri-County Health Dept., dissolved end of 2022) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Arapahoe County food-facility health permits run about $338–$581 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $60–$900. Confirm the exact amount with Arapahoe County Public Health, Environmental Health (formerly served by Tri-County Health Dept., dissolved end of 2022) 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 Arapahoe County Public Health, Environmental Health (formerly served by Tri-County Health Dept., dissolved end of 2022) issues the health permit.
About 1,378 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 656,061. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment License (annual)
Restaurant 0-100 seats $481
101-200 seats $538
>
200 seats $581
Limited food service $338 (fee increase effective Aug 6, 2025)
K-12 schools $0. Grocery w/deli $469 (<=15k sqft) to $894 (>15k); $50 late fee
Plan review — required
Plan Review Application $155
plus $60/hour per inspector (max $900)
Site Review (initial inspection) $120
Turnaround: not published; CO law requires plans approved before construction/remodel/takeover begins
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Arapahoe County’s permit cost compares
At about $338/year, Arapahoe County’s restaurant health permit is about the Colorado median ($338) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 96% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 3rd-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 1,378 food & drinking establishments serve ~656,061 residents in Arapahoe County — one per ~476 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 ~$338 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
Complete plans must be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the local health dept before any construction, remodel, or takeover of an existing facility
Change-of-ownership offers a shorter approval process than a full new plan review
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
$481 / $538 / $581
Caterers licensed with Restaurants by seating capacity (0-100 / 101-200 / over 200 seats) under Colorado statewide retail food fee schedule (SB25-285, effective 9/1/2025)
market/grocery with deli
$469 (<=15,000 sqft) / $894 (>15,000 sqft)
Grocery Store with Deli; grocery without deli $244 / $441
pushcart/limited operation
$338-$481
Mobile/pushcart: Prepackaged $338, Full Service $481; Limited Food Service Establishment $338
temporary/seasonal/special-event
—
Special Events and Temporary Food Vendor licenses exist (per-event/per-day); flat amount not published in county summary
food processing/wholesale
—
Not a Colorado retail-food category; wholesale/manufacturing licensed by CO Dept of Public Health & Environment / Dept of Agriculture
Equipment your Arapahoe 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.
Restaurant 0-100 seats $481; 101-200 seats $538; >200 seats $581; Limited food service $338 (fee increase effective Aug 6, 2025) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Arapahoe County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Plan Review Application $155; plus $60/hour per inspector (max $900); Site Review (initial inspection) $120
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Arapahoe County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Separate Qualtrics plan review form for food trucks/trailers; commissary agreement required
Who issues food permits in Arapahoe County?
Food permits here are issued by Arapahoe County Public Health, Environmental Health (formerly served by Tri-County Health Dept., dissolved end of 2022). 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