Local permits & fees

Bayfield County, WI Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Bayfield County Health Department · department site →

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

Bayfield County food-facility health permits run about $157.32–$684 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $125–$650. Confirm the exact amount with Bayfield County Health Department 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 Bayfield County Health Department issues the health permit.

About 74 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 16,769. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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

Retail Food Establishment - Serving Meals License

Complexity-based (incl; state admin fee):

Prepackaged $157.32, Simple $324.90, Moderate $427.50, Complex $684.00

Fees from the 2026 Serving Meals/Mobile application (county fee + state admin fee); Not-Serving-Meals (grocery/c-store) license fees: Prepackaged $69.54, Simple non-TCS $161.88, Simple TCS $331.74, Moderate $471.07, Complex $661.20. Licenses expire June 30. $100 rush fee if inspection requested within 7 business days

Plan review — required

Pre-inspection fee (required for new/remodeled):

Prepackaged $125, Simple $330, Moderate $485, Complex $650

Reach the department

Phone715-373-6109

Emailannemarie.coy@bayfieldcounty.wi.gov

OfficeBayfield County Health Department, 117 E 6th St, PO Box 403, Washburn, WI 54891

Websitewww.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov →

Inspection grading

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

Food truck / mobile permit

Retail Food Establishment - Serving Meals, Mobile / Mobile Retail (No Meals)

Mobile (meals) incl; state admin:

Prepackaged $157.32, Simple $324.90, Moderate $427.50, Complex $684.00

Mobiles licensed under the same complexity categories as fixed establishments; separate 'Serving Meals, Mobile' and 'Not Serving Meals (mobile)' applications; Set-up/base fee applies; County accepts mobile/temp licenses from other WI counties but requires notification and fee

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 Bayfield County’s permit cost compares

At about $157/year, Bayfield County’s restaurant health permit is below the Wisconsin median ($159) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 66% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 9th-lowest of 18 Wisconsin 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 74 food & drinking establishments serve ~16,769 residents in Bayfield County — one per ~227 residents, denser than the Wisconsin average (one per ~430).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$157 annual health permit + $125 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 Bayfield 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 Bayfield County with its neighbors.

Lake County, MN

Restaurant permit: See page

Ashland County, WI

Restaurant permit: See page

Douglas County, WI

Restaurant permit: See page

Sawyer County, WI

Restaurant permit: See page

Washburn County, WI

Restaurant permit: See page

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Bayfield 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 Bayfield County?

Complexity-based (incl; state admin fee): Prepackaged $157.32, Simple $324.90, Moderate $427.50, Complex $684.00 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Bayfield County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Pre-inspection fee (required for new/remodeled): Prepackaged $125, Simple $330, Moderate $485, Complex $650

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobiles licensed under the same complexity categories as fixed establishments; separate 'Serving Meals, Mobile' and 'Not Serving Meals (mobile)' applications; Set-up/base fee applies; County accepts mobile/temp licenses from other WI counties but requires notification and fee

Who issues food permits in Bayfield County?

Food permits here are issued by Bayfield County Health Department. 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.

Wisconsin 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.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov · www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov · www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov · observed 2026-08-21