Clark County Health Department (Martinsville, IL) — Food Service · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Clark County food-facility health permits run about $100–$200 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $50–$250. Confirm the exact amount with Clark County Health Department (Martinsville, IL) — Food Service 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 Clark County Health Department (Martinsville, IL) — Food Service issues the health permit.
About 38 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 15,088. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Permit
Annual renewal:
Category I (High) $200
Category II (Medium) $150
Category III (Low) $100
Permit category determined by menu risk, evaluated annually; Non-profit and governmental entities $0. Renewal deadline Jan 14; late fee $25 (subject to increase after initial late fee); Pre-operational inspection and plan review required before a new permit
No separate mobile fee published in the food service permit application
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 Clark County’s permit cost compares
At about $100/year, Clark County’s restaurant health permit is below the Illinois median ($125) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 45% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 13th-lowest of 62 Illinois 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 38 food & drinking establishments serve ~15,088 residents in Clark County — one per ~397 residents, denser than the Illinois average (one per ~483).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$100 annual health permit + $50 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 Clark 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Clark 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
How much is a food permit in Clark County?
Annual renewal: Category I (High) $200; Category II (Medium) $150; Category III (Low) $100 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Clark County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Bundled in 'New Permit With Plan': Category I $250; Category II $200; Category III $150 (approx; $50 above annual-renewal fee)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Clark County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. No separate mobile fee published in the food service permit application
Who issues food permits in Clark County?
Food permits here are issued by Clark County Health Department (Martinsville, IL) — Food Service. 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