Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Berrien County Health Department, Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Berrien County food-facility health permits run about $510–$610 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $25–$300. Confirm the exact amount with Berrien County Health Department, Environmental Health 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 Berrien County Health Department, Environmental Health Division issues the health permit.
About 332 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 152,261. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Fixed Food Service Establishment License
Food Service Establishment 0-100 seats $510.00
101-200 seats $560.00
201+ seats $610.00 (2026 Environmental Health fee schedule)
Berrien County licenses restaurants/food service establishments only; Grocery stores and other retail food establishments are licensed by the Michigan Dept; of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), not the county; Change of owner during a license year is pro-rated
Plan review — required
$100/hour, pre-paid, 2-hour minimum (i.e
$200 minimum)
Restaurant start-up packet $25.00
Construction without plan review submission $300.00
Michigan local health departments inspect under the Michigan Food Law/FDA Food Code (priority/core violations); no letter grade or score. Reports on MDARD's online Food Inspection Postings (MiSafe).
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile / Seasonal Food Service (STFU / Transitory Food Unit)
Seasonal/Mobile (Limited) $255.00
Mobile Food Service Commissary License $255.00
Transitory Food Unit (TFU) $330.00 (2026 fee schedule)
In Michigan mobile/temporary units are Special Transitory Food Units (STFU); a licensed commissary is required for mobile operations
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 Berrien County’s permit cost compares
At about $510/year, Berrien County’s restaurant health permit is above the Michigan median ($372) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 98% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 47th-lowest of 63 Michigan 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 332 food & drinking establishments serve ~152,261 residents in Berrien County — one per ~459 residents, denser than the Michigan average (one per ~501).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$510 annual health permit + $25 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
2026 Environmental Health fee schedule figures (published PDF)
Temporary Food Service License $145.00; with application received <48 hrs before event $220.00; issued at event $290.00; non-profit $105.00
Restaurants = county health dept; grocery/retail food = MDARD (state)
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
$255.00
Mobile Food Service Commissary License (2026 EH fee schedule); required for mobile/STFU operations
Temporary / seasonal event
$145.00
Temporary Food Service License; $220.00 if application received <48 hrs before event; $290.00 issued at event; $105.00 non-profit
Pushcart / mobile vending
$255.00
Seasonal/Mobile (Limited) license; Transitory Food Unit (TFU) $330.00. Michigan classifies these as Special Transitory Food Units (STFU)
Grocery / market with deli
grocery/retail food establishments are licensed by the Michigan Dept; of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD, state), not Berrien County
Berrien County licenses restaurants/food service only; retail food (grocery) = MDARD
Equipment your Berrien 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.
Food Service Establishment 0-100 seats $510.00; 101-200 seats $560.00; 201+ seats $610.00 (2026 Environmental Health fee schedule) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Berrien County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $100/hour, pre-paid, 2-hour minimum (i.e; $200 minimum); Restaurant start-up packet $25.00; Construction without plan review submission $300.00
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Berrien County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. In Michigan mobile/temporary units are Special Transitory Food Units (STFU); a licensed commissary is required for mobile operations
Who issues food permits in Berrien County?
Food permits here are issued by Berrien County Health Department, Environmental Health 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.
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026