Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Clark County food-facility health permits run about $470–$2,908 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $1,224–$1,688. Confirm the exact amount with Clark County Public Health (CCPH) - Food Safety Program 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 Public Health (CCPH) - Food Safety Program issues the health permit.
About 847 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 521,150. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Every fixed food establishment (incl; ghost kitchens) needs an annual permit; Fee scales by menu complexity (Level 1 low / 2 medium / 3 high) and prior-year gross revenue; HACCP add-on permit $767 for special processes; Inspection frequency 1-3x/yr by level
Turnaround: 6-8 weeks in normal volume; currently 8-12 weeks (initial comments 3-5 weeks) during a permitting-system transition
No public grade; Clark County Public Health posts point-based inspection reports (0 = perfect, red/blue violations) online.
Annual Commissary Agreement with a permitted kitchen required (unless unit meets commissary-exemption criteria) for all food/equipment storage, warewashing, and water supply; Washington State Labor & Industries approval required before operating; Reciprocity units also pay a permit fee
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | $1,150/yr (2026) | Contracted to prepare food in an approved establishment for service elsewhere; Annual Commissary Agreement with a permitted kitchen required unless the caterer has its own permitted kitchen; Point of sale at a public event requires an additional permit |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | $460/yr (Public Kitchen permit, 2026) | Public Kitchen permit covers kitchens used as a commissary by other permit holders, non-profit/church/grange kitchens serving the public intermittently, or cooking-class kitchens |
| Grocery / market with deli | Base grocery permit $329/yr; add-on by department complexity: +$235 (Level 1) / +$751 (Level 2) / +$1,611 (Level 3) (2026) | Base grocery permit covers packaged/cold-holding goods; deli or prepared-food departments are added at the applicable complexity level |
| Bar / limited food service | $2,357-$2,908/yr (2026; bars are classed Level 3 High Complexity, priced by gross revenue) | Bars/grills are Level 3 complexity under Clark County's menu-complexity system; there is no separate 'bar' permit type; fee follows the Level 3 annual permit revenue tiers |
| Temporary / seasonal event | Temporary event: $147 (1-3 days, Level 1) / $283 (1-3 days, Level 2-3) / $519 (4-21 days); Seasonal (<=6 months, fixed location): $537; Multiple Event (food booths): $399/$979/$1,764 by level (2026) | Late fee $157 if submitted <14 days before event; Commissary Agreement required for multiple-event/food-booth operations |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | $470 (Level 1) / $1,221 (Level 2) / $1,957 (Level 3) per year (2026) | Mobile Unit permit; includes stationary coffee kiosks/non-permanent structures; Commissary Agreement + WA Labor & Industries approval required; New/change-of-ownership mobile plan review $1,113 |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Clark County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →