Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Benton County food-facility health permits run about $200–$700 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $250–$800. Confirm the exact amount with Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD), Food Safety / Environmental Health (serves both Benton and Franklin counties, incl. Kennewick, Richland and West Richland in Benton County - the Tri-Cities) 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 Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD), Food Safety / Environmental Health (serves both Benton and Franklin counties, incl. Kennewick, Richland and West Richland in Benton County - the Tri-Cities) issues the health permit.
About 439 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 215,219. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Risk Level (1-3) is assigned by menu/process complexity; Change of Ownership $250; Remodel/Menu Review/Pre-Op $150; Plan Approval with less than 3 weeks notice $200; Risk Level increase $100 per level
No summary grade; Benton-Franklin Health District posts point-based (red/blue violation) inspection reports online.
Commissary is required (Commissary Use add-on $100); Concessions (Seasonal) are a distinct class at $200 / $300 / $400 by risk
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | By risk level: Risk 1 $200; Risk 2 $300; Risk 3 $400 per year (plan review $350) | BFHD Food Establishment Fee Schedule, effective 01/01/2024 |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | Commissary Kitchen $150/yr (plan review $250); Food Service from a Commissary Kitchen by risk $200 / $300 / $400; Commissary Use add-on $100; Commissary Exemption $150 | Multiple commissary-related line items |
| Bakery / food processing | Additional Department (bakery, meat, produce, etc.) within a store, by risk: $200 / $300 / $400 (plan review $150) | Priced as an added department within a grocery/retail facility |
| Bar / limited food service | Cocktail Lounge / Bar / Additional Kitchen by risk: $100 / $200 / $300 (plan review $300); Alcohol Service without Food $175 (plan review $250) | Bar with/without food handled as distinct lines |
| Grocery / market with deli | Basic (store) by number of registers: 1-4 $200; 5-9 $300; 10+ $400 (plan review $300); with Food Service 0-20 seats add by risk $200 / $300 / $400 | Grocery priced by register count; deli/food-service and added departments are separate add-ons |
| Temporary / seasonal event | Temporary Permit: Low Hazard $60; Moderate $90; High $120. Seasonal Temp $200 / $300 / $400; Seasonal Temp (Caterer) $100 / $150 / $200; additional event days $15/day | Qualified Operator at a temporary event $30 / $45 / $60 by hazard |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | Mobile Unit (per unit) by risk: Risk 1 $200; Risk 2 $300; Risk 3 $400 (plan review $500); Concessions (Seasonal) $200 / $300 / $400 | Commissary required (Commissary Use add-on $100) |
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 Benton County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →