Boulder County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection / Retail Food) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Boulder County food-facility health permits run about $338–$581 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $155–$900. Confirm the exact amount with Boulder County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection / Retail Food) 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 Boulder County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection / Retail Food) issues the health permit.
About 871 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 326,831. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Retail Food Establishment License (annual, by seats)
Restaurant 0-100 seats $481
101-200 seats $538
>
200 seats $581
Limited retail food service $338 (2026 rates
rising in 2027/2028)
Fee varies by size/type; due at opening inspection; No fee for K-12 schools or nonprofits serving food-insecure populations; Credit card surcharge $0.75 + 2.25%; e-check +$1
Plan review — required
Plan Review Application $155 at submission
review fees charged hourly at opening/licensing, capped at $900 max
Turnaround: Plan review specialists notify within up to 8 weeks of submission
Colorado law bars local letter grades; inspection reports posted online via CDPHE/county portal.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Unit License
Mobile Unit, Prepackaged Food $338
Mobile Unit, Full Service $481 (2026 rates)
Mobile units submit floor plans, finish/plumbing specs, commissary agreement (if applicable), and menu; NOTE: within City of Boulder limits a separate City Mobile Food Vehicles license also applies
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Boulder County’s permit cost compares
At about $338/year, Boulder County’s restaurant health permit is about the Colorado median ($338) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 96% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 7th-lowest of 64 Colorado 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 871 food & drinking establishments serve ~326,831 residents in Boulder County — one per ~375 residents, denser than the Colorado average (one per ~428).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$338 annual health permit + $155 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
All plan documents must be submitted electronically (printed accepted case-by-case); application session cannot be saved mid-way
Local building permits are required before licensing; changes to approved plans may require resubmission and additional fees
Grocery Stores with Deli (range reflects phased SB25-285 increases); grocery without deli $244-$340 / $441-$624
pushcart/limited operation
$338-$682
Mobile Unit Prepackaged $338-$475, Full Service $481-$682; Limited Retail Food Service $338-$475
caterer
$481-$826
Caterers licensed under Restaurant seating tiers (0-100 $481-$682; 101-200 $538-$763; over 200 $581-$826)
food processing/wholesale
—
Not a county retail-food category
Equipment your Boulder 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.
Restaurant 0-100 seats $481; 101-200 seats $538; >200 seats $581; Limited retail food service $338 (2026 rates; rising in 2027/2028) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Boulder County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Plan Review Application $155 at submission; review fees charged hourly at opening/licensing, capped at $900 max
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Boulder County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units submit floor plans, finish/plumbing specs, commissary agreement (if applicable), and menu; NOTE: within City of Boulder limits a separate City Mobile Food Vehicles license also applies
Who issues food permits in Boulder County?
Food permits here are issued by Boulder County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection / Retail Food). 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