Skip to main content
foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Brown County, OH Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Brown County Health Department · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Brown County food-facility health permits run about $28–$533 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $120. Confirm the exact amount with Brown County Health 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 Health Department issues the health permit.

About 50 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 43,777. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License
  • $117-$533 (by risk level &
  • size, incl
  • $28 state fee)

Level 1-4 by facility size; no commercial/non-commercial split; Less than 25,000 sq ft: L1 $117, L2 $128, L3 $218, L4 $269. 25,000 sq ft or greater: L1 $156, L2 $163, L3 $504, L4 $533. Totals include $28 state fee; Fee schedule updated 04/14/2026

Plan review — required

50% of license fee (minimum $120)

Reach the department

Office9116 Hamer Rd. Suite 101, Georgetown, OH 45121

Inspection grading

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

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Service
$61 high risk / $44.50 low risk

High Risk Mobile $61, Low Risk Mobile $44.50 (incl; $28 state fee); Temporary $16/day; Vending $6

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.

How Brown County’s permit cost compares

At about $28/year, Brown County’s restaurant health permit is about the Ohio median ($28) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 3% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 2nd-lowest of 54 Ohio 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 50 food & drinking establishments serve ~43,777 residents in Brown County — one per ~876 residents, sparser than the Ohio average (one per ~574).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$28 annual health permit + $120 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.

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.

Nearby counties

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

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Brown County?

$117-$533 (by risk level & size, incl; $28 state fee) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Brown County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: 50% of license fee (minimum $120)

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. High Risk Mobile $61, Low Risk Mobile $44.50 (incl; $28 state fee); Temporary $16/day; Vending $6

Who issues food permits in Brown County?

Food permits here are issued by Brown County Health Department. 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.
Sources: www.browncountyhealth.org · www.browncountyhealth.org · observed 2026-08-21
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026