Local permits & fees

Big Stone County, MN Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Countryside Public Health · department site →

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

Big Stone County food-facility health permits run about $64–$577 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $213–$426. Confirm the exact amount with Countryside Public Health 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 Countryside Public Health issues the health permit.

About 14 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 5,105. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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

Food Establishment License

$160 base fee (all establishments) + food category: Limited $64, Small $128, Medium $332, Large $577 (2026)

Countryside Public Health is the MDH-delegated agency for Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine Counties; it sets its own fees by Community Health Board resolution; Add-ons: Catering w/ Med or Large $100, Catering only $230, Service Kitchen $66, Additional Food Service Area $100, Outdoor Grill $100. Alcohol: from bar $177, beer/wine table service $64. Plus $50 statewide hospitality fee; Fees from 2026 License Application for Food, Pool and Lodging Establishments

Plan review — required

$426 full plan review / $213 partial or small plan review (2026)

Reach the department

Phone320-843-4546

Emaileh@countrysidephmn.gov

OfficeCountryside Public Health Department, 201 13th Street South, Benson, MN 56215-1820

Websitewww.countrysidepublichealth.org →

Inspection grading

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

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit

$160 base + $73 mobile food unit (Food Cart $64
Seasonal Permanent/Temporary $64) (2026)

Separate mobile food unit/food cart/seasonal stand application; 25% penalty fee if applying less than 10 days before opening

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 Big Stone County’s permit cost compares

At about $64/year, Big Stone County’s restaurant health permit is above the Minnesota median ($50) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 23% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 59th-lowest of 81 Minnesota 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 14 food & drinking establishments serve ~5,105 residents in Big Stone County — one per ~365 residents, denser than the Minnesota average (one per ~519).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$64 annual health permit + $213 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 Big Stone 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 Big Stone County with its neighbors.

Lac qui Parle County, MN

Restaurant permit: $64

Stevens County, MN

Restaurant permit: $50

Swift County, MN

Restaurant permit: $160

Traverse County, MN

Restaurant permit: $50

Grant County, SD

Restaurant permit: $90

Roberts County, SD

Restaurant permit: $90

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Big Stone 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 Big Stone County?

$160 base fee (all establishments) + food category: Limited $64, Small $128, Medium $332, Large $577 (2026) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Big Stone County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $426 full plan review / $213 partial or small plan review (2026)

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Big Stone County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Separate mobile food unit/food cart/seasonal stand application; 25% penalty fee if applying less than 10 days before opening

Who issues food permits in Big Stone County?

Food permits here are issued by Countryside Public Health. 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.

Minnesota 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.countrysidepublichealth.org · www.countrysidepublichealth.org · www.countrysidepublichealth.org · observed 2026-08-21