Chesterfield County, VA Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants and food trucks.
Virginia Department of Health - Chesterfield Health District, Environmental Health (Richmond metro) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Chesterfield County food-facility health permits run about $40 annually. Plan review runs about $40. Confirm the exact amount with Virginia Department of Health - Chesterfield Health District, Environmental Health (Richmond metro) 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 Virginia Department of Health - Chesterfield Health District, Environmental Health (Richmond metro) issues the health permit.
About 592 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 383,876. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
New establishments pay a $40 plan review fee, then a $40 permit fee at approval
the $40 annual permit fee is invoiced each following year
STATE-administered flat schedule; Virginia food establishments are permitted by the Virginia Department of Health (here, the Chesterfield Health District) under the Virginia Food Regulations (12VAC5-421); the fee is a uniform $40 statewide, not set by the county; Retail food stores selling packaged food (groceries/markets) are regulated by the Virginia Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS), not VDH
Plan review — required
$40
one-time plan review fee submitted to the local health department (statewide VDH flat fee)
Turnaround: Submit the food service permit application at least 30 days prior to opening (after plan review approval)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Chesterfield County’s permit cost compares
At about $40/year, Chesterfield County’s restaurant health permit is about the Virginia median ($40) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 15% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 26th-lowest of 133 Virginia 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 592 food & drinking establishments serve ~383,876 residents in Chesterfield County — one per ~648 residents, sparser than the Virginia average (one per ~630).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$40 annual health permit + $40 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
STATE-administered flat schedule; the Virginia Department of Health (Chesterfield Health District) permits food establishments under the Virginia Food Regulations (12VAC5-421); fees are uniform statewide
Annual food establishment permit is a flat $40 statewide; new establishments also pay a $40 plan review fee
Mobile Food Unit: $40 permit + $40 plan review; Temporary Food Establishment (TFE): $40 annually (a TFE operates <=14 consecutive days for a single event)
If you already hold a VA Temporary Food Permit for the calendar year, no additional $40 is charged for further events; only a new application per event
Retail food stores (groceries/markets selling packaged food) are regulated by the Virginia Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS), not VDH
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Caterer
$40; a caterer is a Food Establishment permitted by VDH at the statewide flat $40 annual fee (plus a $40 plan review for a new facility)
Virginia does not price food establishments by type; the flat $40 applies statewide
Grocery / market with deli
retail food stores (groceries/markets selling packaged food) are regulated by the Virginia Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS), not VDH; A grocery with a deli / hot-food prep / seating is a VDH Food Establishment at the flat $40 annual fee
Virginia splits retail food stores (VDACS) from food establishments/food service (VDH)
Temporary / seasonal event
$40; Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) permit, annually (a TFE operates <=14 consecutive days for a single event); If you already hold a VA temporary permit for the calendar year, no additional $40; only a new application per event
Statewide VDH flat fee
Pushcart / mobile vending
$80 total to start; Mobile Food Unit / push cart: $40 permit + $40 plan review; $40 annual permit thereafter (statewide VDH flat fees)
A commissary/base of operations is required
Equipment your Chesterfield 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.
$40; annual Food Establishment permit (statewide VDH flat fee); New establishments pay a $40 plan review fee, then a $40 permit fee at approval; the $40 annual permit fee is invoiced each following year These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Chesterfield County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $40; one-time plan review fee submitted to the local health department (statewide VDH flat fee)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Chesterfield County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. A commissary/base of operations is required; Mobile units permitted by VDH; the $40 flat fees apply statewide
Who issues food permits in Chesterfield County?
Food permits here are issued by Virginia Department of Health - Chesterfield Health District, Environmental Health (Richmond metro). 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