Restaurants 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 Baltimore City Health Department - Environmental Health / Food Control & Plan Review issues the health permit.
About 1,441 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 565,239. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Baltimore City does NOT publish its food-facility license fee online; the pay portal (pay.baltimorecity.gov/foodlicensing) states fees are 'based on facility type/priority' assessed by a plan reviewer; The commonly-cited High $540 / Medium $340 / Low $135 figures are BALTIMORE COUNTY's schedule (a separate jurisdiction), not Baltimore City; so left null; Contact BCHD Environmental Health (410-396-4424)
County health departments license and inspect to the Maryland food code; no statewide letter grade; inspection reports are public and posted online by this jurisdiction.
Carts, trucks and street vendors must obtain a food license from the Baltimore City Health Department AND a business/mobile vending license from the State of Maryland; City mobile food-license fee not published online (contact BCHD); temporary event food facility application is $50
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 | — | Caterers are among facility types licensed/inspected by Baltimore City Environmental Health under the standard Food License; specific fee not published online |
| bakery | — | Bakeries listed among licensed food facilities; covered under the standard Food License |
| bar/tavern | — | Bars/taverns listed among licensed/inspected facilities under the standard Food License |
| market/grocery with deli | — | Grocery stores and market stalls listed among licensed food facilities |
| temporary/seasonal/special-event | $50 application fee | "Temporary Food Service Facility" license required for public events of 14 days or less; $50.00 application fee |
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 Baltimore City with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →