Local permits & fees

Bell County, TX Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.

Bell County Public Health District - Retail Food Division · department site →

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

Bell County food-facility health permits run about $50–$650 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $150. Confirm the exact amount with Bell County Public Health District - Retail Food Division 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 Bell County Public Health District - Retail Food Division issues the health permit.

About 661 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 393,193. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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

Brick and Mortar Retail Establishment Permit (fee by number of employees)

2026 tiers:

1-6 emp $300
7-12 $350
13-20 $400
21-30 $450
31-50 $500
51-100 $550
101-200 $600
201+ $650 (increases $50/tier annually through 2028)

Late fee $100/30 days; re-inspection $200; permit reinstatement after closure $300; amended permit $125; expedited review/inspection $100. School inspections $250 (2/yr)

Plan review — required

$150.00

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(254) 532-9800

Emailretailfood@bellcountyhealth.org

Office4236 Lowes Dr, Temple, TX 76502

Websitewww.dshs.texas.gov →

Plan reviewwww.dshs.texas.gov →

Inspection grading

Numeric score

Texas (TFER) demerit-based inspection: score = 100 minus demerits, fail above 30 demerits; administered by the local health authority, reports public.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit Permit / Inspection

County MFU permit (good until 2026-07-01):

full service $275, limited $175, additional units $175. Effective 2026-07-01: mobile inspection fee TBD by DSHS, reimbursed by DSHS, not to exceed $200

Texas moved mobile-food permitting to state DSHS eff; 2026-07-01 pending a DSHS Collaborative Agreement

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 Bell County’s permit cost compares

At about $50/year, Bell County’s restaurant health permit is below the Texas median ($258) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 19% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 4th-lowest of 247 Texas 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 661 food & drinking establishments serve ~393,193 residents in Bell County — one per ~595 residents, sparser than the Texas average (one per ~566).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$50 annual health permit + $150 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

Restaurant fee is scaled by employee count (uncommon in TX), with scheduled annual increases 2026-2028
Temporary events: $150 (3 days or less); $250 if less than 3 days' notice before event

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Fixed establishment (Brick & Mortar Retail) - priced by number of employees	$300 (1-6 emp) / $350 (7-12) / $400 (13-20) / $450 (21-30) / $500 (31-50) / $550 (51-100) / $600 (101-200) / $650 (201+) [2026 rates]	Not named categories; fee scales by employee count with a $50/yr increase scheduled through 2028
Central Prep Facility / Commissary (not otherwise permitted)	Same as Food Dealer permit scale ($300-$650 by employee count)	Priced identically to brick-and-mortar establishment scale
Temporary event (3 days or less)	$150	$250 if less than 3 days' notice before event
School inspections	$250	Two inspections per year
Child/Adult Daycare / Group Home Environmental Health Inspection	$150 (A: 1-25) / $200 (B: 26-50) / $250 (C: 51-75) / $300 (D: 76-100) / $350 (E: 101+)	Tiered by number of participants licensed by State Licensing
Foster Home Environmental Health Inspection	$100

Equipment your Bell 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 Bell County with its neighbors.

Burnet County, TX

Restaurant permit: $258

Coryell County, TX

Restaurant permit: $258

Falls County, TX

Restaurant permit: $258

Lampasas County, TX

Restaurant permit: $258

McLennan County, TX

Restaurant permit: $258

Milam County, TX

Restaurant permit: $258

Williamson County, TX

Restaurant permit: $258

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Bell 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.

Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Bell County?

2026 tiers: 1-6 emp $300; 7-12 $350; 13-20 $400; 21-30 $450; 31-50 $500; 51-100 $550; 101-200 $600; 201+ $650 (increases $50/tier annually through 2028) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Bell County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $150.00

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Texas moved mobile-food permitting to state DSHS eff; 2026-07-01 pending a DSHS Collaborative Agreement

Who issues food permits in Bell County?

Food permits here are issued by Bell County Public Health District - Retail Food Division. 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.

Texas 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.dshs.texas.gov · observed 2026-08-07