Restaurants and food trucks.
Brazos County food-facility health permits run about $350–$700 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $500–$700. Confirm the exact amount with Brazos County Health District, Environmental Health Services (issues food establishment permits for Bryan and College Station as city permits and for the rest of Brazos County as county permits) 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 Brazos County Health District, Environmental Health Services (issues food establishment permits for Bryan and College Station as city permits and for the rest of Brazos County as county permits) issues the health permit.
About 541 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 244,703. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Risk category (1 low / 2 medium / 3 high) x size (A 1-10 employees / B 11-50 / C >50); Non-profit 501(c)(3) food establishments: no fee; Transfer of ownership $250; follow-up/re-inspection $150; schools $300 (2 inspections/yr); Fee schedule revised 8/2025
Texas (TFER) demerit-based inspection: score = 100 minus demerits, fail above 30 demerits; administered by the local health authority, reports public.
Effective July 1, 2026, Texas HB 2844 (2025) shifts mobile food unit permitting to a single statewide DSHS permit; local mobile permits will no longer be valid and localities cannot charge duplicative local mobile fees
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bar / limited food service | Permitted under 'Food Service Establishments, Food Stores, Bars'; new city permit $500 (low risk, no food prep) / $700 (medium-high risk); county renewals by risk/size $350-$675/yr; source https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/foodestablishments/pdf/Local%20Ordinance%20Registry/Brazos%20County%20Retail%20Food%20Permit%20Fees.pdf | Brazos County groups bars with food service establishments and food stores on a single schedule |
| Grocery / market with deli | Food Stores permitted under the same 'Food Service Establishments, Food Stores, Bars' schedule; new city permit $500/$700; county renewals $350-$675/yr by risk (1-3) x size (A-C); source https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/foodestablishments/pdf/Local%20Ordinance%20Registry/Brazos%20County%20Retail%20Food%20Permit%20Fees.pdf | Grocery/markets are permitted as food stores; a store with food prep/deli is higher risk (2-3) |
| Temporary / seasonal event | Temporary Food Service Permit $52 (14 consecutive days, same location, 3/yr limit); Multi-Event Temporary $200; Seasonal Permit (4 consecutive months) $175; Farmer's Market $100; source https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/foodestablishments/pdf/Local%20Ordinance%20Registry/Brazos%20County%20Retail%20Food%20Permit%20Fees.pdf | Brazos County Health District temporary, multi-event, seasonal and farmer's market permits |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | New Mobile Units or Push Carts $258; Push Carts $258; Roadside Vendor $258; source https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/foodestablishments/pdf/Local%20Ordinance%20Registry/Brazos%20County%20Retail%20Food%20Permit%20Fees.pdf | Roadside vendors must prepare and package all food at a permitted establishment; Effective July 1, 2026, mobile permitting shifts to a statewide DSHS permit under Texas HB 2844 |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Brazos County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →