Local permits & fees

Cass County, MI Food Facility Permits

Restaurants and food trucks.

Van Buren/Cass District Health Department (VBCDHD) · 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 Van Buren/Cass District Health Department (VBCDHD) issues the health permit.

About 57 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 51,642. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment License

Fee not published online — contact the department.

Michigan Cass County (not MO/IN); VBCDHD (serves Van Buren and Cass counties) does not publish a food service fee schedule online; its Environmental Health Code states fees are adopted/revised by the Board of Health but no dollar schedule is posted; Contact food service supervisor (269) 906-0301

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Phone269-782-0064

OfficeVan Buren/Cass District Health Department - Cass County Office, 302 S Front Street, Dowagiac, MI 49047

Websitevbcassdhd.org →

Inspection grading

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

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile / Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU)

Fee not published online — contact the department.

Mobile and STFU licensing offered but fee amounts 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 57 food & drinking establishments serve ~51,642 residents in Cass County — one per ~906 residents, sparser than the Michigan average (one per ~501).

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

Equipment your Cass 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 Cass County with its neighbors.

Elkhart County, IN

Restaurant permit: $300

St. Joseph County, IN

Restaurant permit: $85

Berrien County, MI

Restaurant permit: $510

Kalamazoo County, MI

Restaurant permit: $30

St. Joseph County, MI

Restaurant permit: $250

Van Buren County, MI

Restaurant permit: See page

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Cass 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 Cass County?

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

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile and STFU licensing offered but fee amounts not published online

Who issues food permits in Cass County?

Food permits here are issued by Van Buren/Cass District Health Department (VBCDHD). 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.

Michigan 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: vbcassdhd.org · vbcassdhd.org · observed 2026-08-21