Blue Earth County, MN Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants and food trucks.
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) - Food, Pools, and Lodging Services (restaurants/food service); Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) (grocery/retail food). Blue Earth County is NOT a delegated licensing agency - the state licenses directly. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Blue Earth County food-facility health permits run about $185–$670 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $450–$550. Confirm the exact amount with Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) - Food, Pools, and Lodging Services (restaurants/food service); Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) (grocery/retail food). Blue Earth County is NOT a delegated licensing agency - the state licenses directly. 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 Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) - Food, Pools, and Lodging Services (restaurants/food service); Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) (grocery/retail food). Blue Earth County is NOT a delegated licensing agency - the state licenses directly. issues the health permit.
About 156 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 70,006. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 and Beverage Establishment License (MDH)
License fee $185 (Category 1 / low risk), $430 (Category 2 / medium risk), or $670 (Category 3 / high risk), PLUS base fee $300 + statewide hospitality fee $50 + technology fee $5. Example high-risk restaurant total: $1,025
Blue Earth County (Mankato) has no county food-licensing delegation; MDH licenses restaurants/bars/food service and MDA licenses grocery/retail; Fees effective July 1, 2025. Source: MDH FPLS Plan Review and License Fees (health.state.mn.us)
MDH/MDA (and delegated programs) inspect under the Minnesota Food Code; no letter grade or score. Minnesota generally does not post results online — reports available on request.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit License (MDH)
License fee $75 plus base fee $300 + hospitality $50 + technology $5
plan review $700 (new) / $400 (remodel)
Food Cart license is $150 (plan review $750-$800 new); Special Event Food Stand license $250
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Blue Earth County’s permit cost compares
At about $185/year, Blue Earth County’s restaurant health permit is above the Minnesota median ($50) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 69% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 73rd-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 156 food & drinking establishments serve ~70,006 residents in Blue Earth County — one per ~449 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 ~$185 annual health permit + $450 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
State-licensed (MDH); Blue Earth County is not a delegated agency
Grocery/retail food handled by MDA, not MDH
Base fee $300 + statewide hospitality $50 + technology $5 apply on top of category license fee
Fees effective July 1, 2025; MDH 651-201-4500
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
$250 (Special Event Food Stand license) or $150 (Seasonal Temporary / Seasonal Permanent Food Stand license), plus base fee $300 + hospitality $50 + technology $5 where applicable
MDH state fees effective July 1, 2025; Blue Earth County is not a delegated agency
Pushcart / mobile vending
$150 (Food Cart license) or $75 (Mobile Food Unit license), plus base fee $300 + hospitality $50 + technology $5
MDH-licensed statewide
Grocery / market with deli
grocery/retail food is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), not MDH; MDA retail food handler fees not captured here
Retail food (grocery) falls under MDA jurisdiction in Minnesota
Equipment your Blue Earth 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.
License fee $185 (Category 1 / low risk), $430 (Category 2 / medium risk), or $670 (Category 3 / high risk), PLUS base fee $300 + statewide hospitality fee $50 + technology fee $5. Example high-risk restaurant total: $1,025 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Blue Earth County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $550 (Category 3 new); $450 (Category 3 remodel)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Blue Earth County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Food Cart license is $150 (plan review $750-$800 new); Special Event Food Stand license $250
Who issues food permits in Blue Earth County?
Food permits here are issued by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) - Food, Pools, and Lodging Services (restaurants/food service); Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) (grocery/retail food). Blue Earth County is NOT a delegated licensing agency - the state licenses directly.. 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