Chugach Census Area, AK Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants and food trucks.
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Environmental Health, Food Safety & Sanitation Program — fees set by state regulation 18 AAC 31.050 (Alaska Food Code, 18 AAC 31). · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Chugach Census Area food-facility health permits run about $190–$825 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $400–$580. Confirm the exact amount with Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Environmental Health, Food Safety & Sanitation Program — fees set by state regulation 18 AAC 31.050 (Alaska Food Code, 18 AAC 31). 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 Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Environmental Health, Food Safety & Sanitation Program — fees set by state regulation 18 AAC 31.050 (Alaska Food Code, 18 AAC 31). issues the health permit. Alaska sets food-establishment permit fees at the state level; Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Environmental Health, Food Safety & Sanitation Program — fees set by state regulation 18 AAC 31.050 (Alaska Food Code, 18 AAC 31). is the licensing authority. If your city or county runs its own health department, local fees and rules may also apply — confirm for your exact address.
About 29 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 6,769. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-21 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 establishment permit / license (state-set)
Food Service annual permit fee by seating:
$400 if seating 25 or less
$490 if seating 26 to 100
$580 if seating 101 or more
(Related types: Food Service with Wholesale Processing $525/$615/$705
Food Service and Caterer $645/$735/$825
Caterer $430
Limited Food Service $190
Tavern/Bar $280.)
Set at the state level by Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Environmental Health, Food Safety & Sanitation Program; fees set by state regulation 18 AAC 31.050 (Alaska Food Code, 18 AAC 31); a single statewide fee schedule; Effective Current schedule per 18 AAC 31.050 (as published on DEC fees page, observed 2026-08-21); Where a city or county runs its own health department it may set local fees instead
Plan review — check locally
Plan review fee equals the annual permit fee for the same category (Food Service: $400 / $490 / $580 by the same seating tiers)
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile food establishment (state-set)
Mobile Food Service $215 annual
Mobile Food Service, Self-Contained and Caterer $460 annual
State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements
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 Chugach Census Area’s permit cost compares
At about $190/year, Chugach Census Area’s restaurant health permit is about the Alaska median ($190) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 74% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 5th-lowest of 30 Alaska 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 29 food & drinking establishments serve ~6,769 residents in Chugach Census Area — one per ~233 residents, denser than the Alaska average (one per ~405).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$190 annual health permit + $400 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 Chugach Census Area 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Chugach Census Area 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
How much is a food permit in Chugach Census Area?
Food Service annual permit fee by seating: $400 if seating 25 or less; $490 if seating 26 to 100; $580 if seating 101 or more; (Related types: Food Service with Wholesale Processing $525/$615/$705; Food Service and Caterer $645/$735/$825; Caterer $430; Limited Food Service $190; Tavern/Bar $280.) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Chugach Census Area?
Plan review may apply; check locally with the department. Typical fees: Plan review fee equals the annual permit fee for the same category (Food Service: $400 / $490 / $580 by the same seating tiers)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Chugach Census Area?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements
Who issues food permits in Chugach Census Area?
Food permits here are issued by Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Environmental Health, Food Safety & Sanitation Program — fees set by state regulation 18 AAC 31.050 (Alaska Food Code, 18 AAC 31).. 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