Tennessee Dept. of Health (state-administered county) - Blount County Health Department, Environmental Health · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Blount County food-facility health permits run about $80–$300 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Tennessee Dept. of Health (state-administered county) - Blount County Health Department, Environmental 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 Tennessee Dept. of Health (state-administered county) - Blount County Health Department, Environmental Health issues the health permit.
About 208 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 141,456. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Food Service Establishment Permit
$210/yr state permit fee (per TDH
Blount is state-administered so no local surcharge applies)
School food service establishments $80/yr
farmers-market food units $300
Seating count determines classification per Rule 1200-23-1. The $210 figure is the state fee documented on a TN county fee sheet ('STATE FEE: $210.00'); Tennessee's six home-rule metro counties add a local fee (e.g., Shelby +$150 = $360 total); Blount, as a state-administered county, is billed the state fee
Plan review — required
TDH does not charge a separate plan-review fee in state-administered counties
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Blount County’s permit cost compares
At about $80/year, Blount County’s restaurant health permit is below the Tennessee median ($100) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 29% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 1st-lowest of 94 Tennessee 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 208 food & drinking establishments serve ~141,456 residents in Blount County — one per ~680 residents, denser than the Tennessee average (one per ~706).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$80 annual health permit.
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-administered county: the TN Dept; of Health directly permits and inspects food service establishments in Blount (not a county-run program)
Fee schedule is set by state Rule 1200-23-1; permit year runs July 1; June 30
Retail food stores (grocery) are separately regulated by the TN Dept; of Agriculture under the Retail Food Store Inspection Act (TCA Title 53, Ch; 8)
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Grocery / market with deli
retail food stores are permitted and inspected by the TN Dept; of Agriculture (Retail Food Store Inspection Act, TCA Title 53 Ch; 8), not TDH; fee not published here
Deli/food-service areas inside a store may require a separate TDH food service establishment permit
Pushcart / mobile vending
permitted as a food service establishment (state fee); no separate TN state mobile-unit dollar figure published in reviewed sources
Mobile food units regulated under Rule 1200-23-1-.02(12)
Temporary / seasonal event
TN temporary food service establishment permit fee not separately published in reviewed sources
Temporary food establishment defined at Rule 1200-23-1-.01
Equipment your Blount 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.
$210/yr state permit fee (per TDH; Blount is state-administered so no local surcharge applies); School food service establishments $80/yr; farmers-market food units $300 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Blount County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: TDH does not charge a separate plan-review fee in state-administered counties; plan review is part of the permitting process
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Blount County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food units must comply with Rule 1200-23-1-.02(12) and operate from an approved commissary
Who issues food permits in Blount County?
Food permits here are issued by Tennessee Dept. of Health (state-administered county) - Blount County Health Department, Environmental 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.
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026