Broome County Health Department, Environmental Health Services · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Broome County food-facility health permits run about $150–$450 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $100. Confirm the exact amount with Broome County Health Department, Environmental Health Services 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 Broome County Health Department, Environmental Health Services issues the health permit.
About 470 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 196,077. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Permit to Operate a Food Service Establishment
High Risk $450 / Medium Risk $300 / Low Risk $150 (annual), Oct 2025 schedule
AUTHORITY: county-administered under the NY State Sanitary Code (10 NYCRR Part 14); Fees are risk-based (High/Medium/Low); All permits are annual; no seasonal permits are issued; Late fee $75 (applied to new facilities if first operation is within 21 calendar days of a complete application)
State/local health departments inspect to the NYS Sanitary Code; violations listed in the statewide online database, no letter grade (NYSDOH does not support grading).
Mobile food units fall under the same risk-based schedule as fixed establishments; the fee schedule lists 'some mobile food units' as examples of medium-risk operations
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Broome County’s permit cost compares
At about $150/year, Broome County’s restaurant health permit is about the New York median ($150) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 66% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 13th-lowest of 31 New York 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 470 food & drinking establishments serve ~196,077 residents in Broome County — one per ~417 residents, denser than the New York average (one per ~445).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$150 annual health permit + $100 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
New York permits food service establishments at the COUNTY level under State Sanitary Code Part 14; Broome County Health Dept sets its own risk-based fees
Risk tiers: High (complex prep/cooling/reheating; roasted meats, sauces, casseroles) $450; Medium (rapid turnover; fast food, pizza, subs, some retail bakeries, some mobile units) $300; Low (no time/temperature-controlled foods; bars/taverns, concession counters, ice cream shops) $150
Temporary (1-7 days) $75; Floor Plan Review $100; Late Fee $75. No seasonal permits
No seasonal permits are issued (all permits annual); $75 late fee if the event starts within 3 business days of a completed application
Pushcart / mobile vending
Charged by risk tier; mobile food units are cited as MEDIUM risk ($300 annual); source https://broomecountyny.gov/sites/default/files/dept/hd/pdfs/Food%20Fee%20Schedule%2010.2025.pdf
Mobile units are not a separate fee line; the schedule places 'some mobile food units' in the medium-risk tier
Equipment your Broome 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.
High Risk $450 / Medium Risk $300 / Low Risk $150 (annual), Oct 2025 schedule; source https://broomecountyny.gov/sites/default/files/dept/hd/pdfs/Food%20Fee%20Schedule%2010.2025.pdf These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Broome County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $100 (Floor Plan Review); source https://broomecountyny.gov/sites/default/files/dept/hd/pdfs/Food%20Fee%20Schedule%2010.2025.pdf
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Broome County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food units fall under the same risk-based schedule as fixed establishments; the fee schedule lists 'some mobile food units' as examples of medium-risk operations
Who issues food permits in Broome County?
Food permits here are issued by Broome County Health Department, Environmental Health Services. 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