Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services (PHHS), Environmental Health · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Boone County food-facility health permits run about $205–$530 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services (PHHS), 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 Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services (PHHS), Environmental Health issues the health permit.
About 416 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 189,463. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Permanent Food Service Establishment Operating Permit
Annual fee by gross receipts:
less than $250,000 = $205.00
$250,000-$750,000 = $285.00
more than $750,000 = $530.00 (effective May 1, 2022)
Confirmed 2026-08-10 from City of Columbia (PHHS) permanent food-service page; Fee is based on gross receipts (less non-food revenue); Non-profit food service establishments also require an operating permit; for-profit establishments additionally need a City of Columbia business license; Re-inspection administrative fee $110.00 for 2nd and subsequent re-inspections
Plan review — required
a plan review is required for new/remodeled establishments but a separate plan review fee is not published on the PHHS food-service pages
Columbia/Boone County Public Health inspects under the Missouri Food Code (risk-based); no statewide letter grade. Inspection reports posted online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Establishment (Truck/Vendor) Permit
Same gross-receipts tiers as permanent establishments:
<
$250,000$205.00
$250,000-$750,000$285.00
>
$750,000$530.00 (renewable annually)
All mobile vendors need a current Columbia/Boone County Health Department permit; a permitted commissary (same permit holder) is required unless all requirements are met on the vehicle; For-profit vendors also need a City of Columbia business license
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Boone County’s permit cost compares
At about $205/year, Boone County’s restaurant health permit is above the Missouri median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 77% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 24th-lowest of 25 Missouri 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 416 food & drinking establishments serve ~189,463 residents in Boone County — one per ~455 residents, denser than the Missouri average (one per ~610).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$205 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
Permit fee tiers effective May 1, 2022; based on gross receipts and a public health priority factor
Temporary food service establishment permit within Columbia city limits is $40 or $70 depending on event length; vendors without a full operating permit may obtain up to two temporary permits per year
PHHS is a joint city/county agency (1005 W; Worley St., Columbia, MO 65203)
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Pushcart / mobile vending
$205.00 / $285.00 / $530.00 by gross receipts
Mobile food establishment (truck/vendor) operating permit uses the same gross-receipts tiers as permanent establishments (<$250k $205; $250k-$750k $285; >$750k $530), renewable annually; Requires a permitted commissary with the same permit holder
Temporary / seasonal event
$40.00 or $70.00
Temporary food service establishment permit within City of Columbia limits, $40 or $70 depending on event length; up to two temporary permits per year for vendors without a full operating permit
Equipment your Boone 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.
Annual fee by gross receipts: less than $250,000 = $205.00; $250,000-$750,000 = $285.00; more than $750,000 = $530.00 (effective May 1, 2022) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Boone County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: a plan review is required for new/remodeled establishments but a separate plan review fee is not published on the PHHS food-service pages
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Boone County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. All mobile vendors need a current Columbia/Boone County Health Department permit; a permitted commissary (same permit holder) is required unless all requirements are met on the vehicle; For-profit vendors also need a City of Columbia business license
Who issues food permits in Boone County?
Food permits here are issued by Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services (PHHS), 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