Clayton County Board of Health, Office of Environmental Health Services (Clayton County Health District / Georgia DPH) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Clayton County food-facility health permits run about $300–$600 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $100–$550. Confirm the exact amount with Clayton County Board of Health, Office of Environmental Health Services (Clayton County Health District / Georgia DPH) 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 Clayton County Board of Health, Office of Environmental Health Services (Clayton County Health District / Georgia DPH) issues the health permit.
About 403 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 298,300. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Restaurant / food-facility permit
Food Service Establishment Annual Permit
$300 (Category 1) / $500 (Category 2) / $600 (Category 3) per year
Georgia food service establishments are graded into risk-based Categories 1 (lowest risk) through 3 (highest risk); Fees are SET BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH; this schedule took effect Jan 1, 2017 and is the version currently published by Clayton County
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Clayton County’s permit cost compares
At about $300/year, Clayton County’s restaurant health permit is above the Georgia median ($250) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 93% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 24th-lowest of 28 Georgia 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 403 food & drinking establishments serve ~298,300 residents in Clayton County — one per ~740 residents, sparser than the Georgia average (one per ~680).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$300 annual health permit + $100 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
Georgia is a home-rule state for food fees: the COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH sets the fee schedule (Clayton's is dated Jan 1, 2017 and still published)
Temporary Food Service $125 (1-4 days) / $150 (5-10 days) / $200 (11-14 days); expedited temporary (plans submitted <30 days to event) $100; source https://www.claytoncountypublichealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2017-Fee-Schedule-Final.pdf
County-set fee schedule (effective Jan 1, 2017)
Pushcart / mobile vending
Mobile Food Service Permit $300 per year plus Mobile Food Service Plan Review $200; source https://www.claytoncountypublichealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2017-Fee-Schedule-Final.pdf
Mobile units require a base of operations/commissary; Fixed caterers, bakeries, bars and grocery delis are not separately priced; they fall under the risk-based Category 1/2/3 annual permit ($300/$500/$600)
Equipment your Clayton 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.
$300 (Category 1) / $500 (Category 2) / $600 (Category 3) per year; source https://www.claytoncountypublichealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2017-Fee-Schedule-Final.pdf These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Clayton County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $400 (Plan Review 1) / $475 (Plan Review 2) / $550 (Plan Review 3); Expedited Plan Review $150; renovations/remodel $100-$350; HACCP Plan Review $100; source https://www.claytoncountypublichealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2017-Fee-Schedule-Final.pdf
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Clayton County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food service units require a base of operations/commissary in Georgia; the annual mobile permit is $300 with a separate $200 plan review
Who issues food permits in Clayton County?
Food permits here are issued by Clayton County Board of Health, Office of Environmental Health Services (Clayton County Health District / Georgia DPH). 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