Local permits & fees

Brown County, MN Food Facility Permits

Restaurants and food trucks.

Brown County Public Health (Environmental Health) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department 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 Brown County Public Health (Environmental Health) issues the health permit.

About 62 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 25,628. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)

Last verified: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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, Beverage and Lodging License

Fee not published online — contact the department.

Brown County is MDH-delegated and sets its own fees; License categories exist on the 2025 application (Base Fee, Small/Medium/Large Establishment, Limited Food, Additional Food Service, etc.) but the dollar amounts are left blank on the published form and are not in the county-wide fee schedule; Re-inspection fee $175; in-office hearing $100; late fee $70 (Jan) then +$70 (Feb); Contact Becky Thomes, Environmental Specialist, 507-766-2021

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Phone507-233-6820

OfficeBrown County Public Health, 1117 Center St, New Ulm, MN 56073

Websitewww.browncountymn.gov →

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit / Food Cart

Fee not published online — contact the department.

Category (MFU/FC) listed on application; dollar amount not published online

How to apply

See the department site above.

Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.

Local food-service market

About 62 food & drinking establishments serve ~25,628 residents in Brown County — one per ~413 residents, denser than the Minnesota average (one per ~519).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

Equipment your Brown 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.

Compartment sinks

3-bay wash / rinse / sanitize — sized to your menu

Hand sinks

required in prep, cook & warewashing areas

Grease traps / interceptors

sized by drainage fixture units

Reach-in refrigeration

cold-holding at 41°F or below

Work tables & surfaces

NSF-listed, non-absorbent

Hoods & ventilation

over cooking equipment; make-up air

Dishwashers

high-temp or chemical sanitizing

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Brown County with its neighbors.

Blue Earth County, MN

Restaurant permit: $185

Cottonwood County, MN

Restaurant permit: $50

Nicollet County, MN

Restaurant permit: See page

Redwood County, MN

Restaurant permit: $165

Renville County, MN

Restaurant permit: $150

Watonwan County, MN

Restaurant permit: $50

How to open: typical permitting sequence

This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.

Confirm whether Brown County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
Confirm zoning and permitted use.
Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
Pay plan-review fees.
Respond to plan-check corrections.
Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
Receive approval before storing or preparing food.

Frequently asked questions

Is plan review required in Brown County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Brown County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Category (MFU/FC) listed on application; dollar amount not published online

Who issues food permits in Brown County?

Food permits here are issued by Brown County Public Health (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.

Minnesota statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: www.browncountymn.gov · www.browncountymn.gov · www.browncountymn.gov · observed 2026-08-21