Local permits & fees

Clay County, MN Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Clay County Environmental Health (Partnership4Health) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Clay County food-facility health permits run about $60–$540 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Clay County Environmental Health (Partnership4Health) 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 Clay County Environmental Health (Partnership4Health) issues the health permit.

About 95 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 66,258. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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, Beverage and Lodging License

$300 base fee (all establishments) + food category: Limited Food Menu $60, Small $120, Medium $310, Large $540

Clay County Environmental Health (delegated; PartnerSHIP 4 Health covers Clay & Wilkin); Add-ons: Additional Food Service $150, HACCP Verification $175. Alcohol: Beer/Wine Table Service $60, Alcohol Service from Bar $165. Individual water/sewer $60. Plus $50 statewide hospitality fee; Fee for operators opening on/after Oct 1 is one-half; Fees from the Food, Beverage and Lodging License Application (v.12.1.2023)

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Phone218-299-5220

Emailenvironmentalhealth@claycountymn.gov

OfficePartnership4Health Community Health Board, 715 11th Street North, Suite 303, Moorhead, MN 56560

Websiteclaycountymn.gov →

Inspection grading

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

Food truck / mobile permit

Food Cart / Mobile Food Unit

Fee not published online — contact the department.

Clay County uses a separate Food Carts/Mobile Food Units application; the unit fee is not published on the main application form

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 Clay County’s permit cost compares

At about $60/year, Clay County’s restaurant health permit is above the Minnesota median ($50) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 19% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 54th-lowest of 81 Minnesota 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 95 food & drinking establishments serve ~66,258 residents in Clay County — one per ~697 residents, sparser than the Minnesota average (one per ~519).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$60 annual health permit.

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 Clay 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 Clay County with its neighbors.

Becker County, MN

Restaurant permit: $50

Norman County, MN

Restaurant permit: $50

Otter Tail County, MN

Restaurant permit: $60

Wilkin County, MN

Restaurant permit: $175

Cass County, ND

Restaurant permit: $200

Richland County, ND

Restaurant permit: $130

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Clay 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 Clay County?

$300 base fee (all establishments) + food category: Limited Food Menu $60, Small $120, Medium $310, Large $540 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Clay County?

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

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Clay County uses a separate Food Carts/Mobile Food Units application; the unit fee is not published on the main application form

Who issues food permits in Clay County?

Food permits here are issued by Clay County Environmental Health (Partnership4Health). 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.

Minnesota 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: claycountymn.gov · claycountymn.gov · observed 2026-08-21