Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
South Carolina Dept. of Agriculture (SCDA), Retail Food Safety & Compliance - state-administered statewide since 7/1/2024 (transferred from SC DHEC) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Beaufort County food-facility health permits run about $100 annually. Plan review runs about $100. Confirm the exact amount with South Carolina Dept. of Agriculture (SCDA), Retail Food Safety & Compliance - state-administered statewide since 7/1/2024 (transferred from SC DHEC) 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 South Carolina Dept. of Agriculture (SCDA), Retail Food Safety & Compliance - state-administered statewide since 7/1/2024 (transferred from SC DHEC) issues the health permit.
About 522 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 198,979. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
$100 initial permit fee plus an annual inspection fee based on prior-year gross food sales ($0-250,000 = $100
then +$50 per $250,000 up to $1,750,001+ = $450)
total on a new permit is never less than $200
Statewide uniform schedule administered by SCDA; Gross food sales exclude alcohol and general merchandise; Late penalties: +$50 (30-59 days past due), +$100 (60+ days); Sources: https://agriculture.sc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AnnualInspectionFees2025.pdf; https://agriculture.sc.gov/divisions/consumer-protection/retail-food-safety/retail-food-establishment-fees/
Plan review — required
SCDA does not publish a separate plan review fee
plan review/facility review is part of the new-permit process ($100 initial permit fee)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Beaufort County’s permit cost compares
At about $100/year, Beaufort County’s restaurant health permit is about the South Carolina median ($100) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 45% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 7th-lowest of 46 South Carolina 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 522 food & drinking establishments serve ~198,979 residents in Beaufort County — one per ~381 residents, denser than the South Carolina average (one per ~649).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$100 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.
Watch out for
STATE gross-sales schedule: one uniform fee structure applies to restaurants, groceries, mobile units, commissaries, and retail food processors statewide
Responsibility moved from SC DHEC to the SC Department of Agriculture effective July 1, 2024
Once the fee is paid a grade sticker (not a paper permit) is posted
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
$100 initial permit fee plus gross-sales annual inspection fee ($100-$450)
Shared Use Operations/Commissary permitted under R.61-25 Chapter 9; same statewide schedule
Bakery / food processing
$100 initial permit fee plus gross-sales annual inspection fee ($100-$450)
Retail food processors (bottling/canning for direct-to-consumer sale) permitted under the same statewide schedule
Grocery / market with deli
$100 initial permit fee plus gross-sales annual inspection fee ($100-$450)
Grocery/convenience stores that prepare or package food on-site; fee based on gross food sales (excludes alcohol and general merchandise)
Temporary / seasonal event
handled via Event Authorization (Form D-1717) for temporary food establishments, community festivals, and seasonal series; a separate fee is not published in the annual inspection schedule
SCDA Regulation 61-25 Chapter 9-8/9-9/9-11
Pushcart / mobile vending
$100 initial permit fee plus gross-sales annual inspection fee ($100-$450)
Mobile food establishments permitted under R.61-25 Chapter 9-1; same statewide schedule
Equipment your Beaufort 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.
$100 initial permit fee plus an annual inspection fee based on prior-year gross food sales ($0-250,000 = $100; then +$50 per $250,000 up to $1,750,001+ = $450); total on a new permit is never less than $200 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Beaufort County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: SCDA does not publish a separate plan review fee; plan review/facility review is part of the new-permit process ($100 initial permit fee)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Beaufort County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food establishments are permitted under the same statewide retail food schedule
Who issues food permits in Beaufort County?
Food permits here are issued by South Carolina Dept. of Agriculture (SCDA), Retail Food Safety & Compliance - state-administered statewide since 7/1/2024 (transferred from SC DHEC). 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