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foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Columbia County, WA Food Facility Permits

Restaurants and food trucks.

Columbia County Public Health (Environmental Health) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department 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 Columbia County Public Health (Environmental Health) issues the health permit.

About 8 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 4,053. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Fee not published online — contact the department.

Columbia County Public Health permits food establishments under WAC 246-215. Applications (Food Establishment Application, Temporary Food Application) are handled via myhealthdepartment.com/wa-columbiacounty; no fee schedule with dollar amounts is published on the site; A $15 late fee applies to temporary applications submitted <7 days before an event; reinspection fee set by the Board of Health

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Phone(509) 382-2181
Office112 N Second St., Dayton, WA 99328
Websitecolumbiacopublichealth.org →

Inspection grading

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

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit
Fee not published online — contact the department.

Mobile food unit permitting under WAC 246-215; fee not published online

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.

Local food-service market

About 8 food & drinking establishments serve ~4,053 residents in Columbia County — one per ~507 residents, denser than the Washington average (one per ~521).

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

Equipment your Columbia 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 Columbia County with its neighbors.

Umatilla County, OR
Restaurant permit: $180
Wallowa County, OR
Restaurant permit: $180
Franklin County, WA
Restaurant permit: $200
Garfield County, WA
Restaurant permit: See page
Walla Walla County, WA
Restaurant permit: $535
Whitman County, WA
Restaurant permit: $200

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

  1. Confirm whether Columbia County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
  2. Confirm zoning and permitted use.
  3. Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
  4. Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
  5. Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
  6. Pay plan-review fees.
  7. Respond to plan-check corrections.
  8. Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
  9. Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
  10. Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
  11. Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
  12. Receive approval before storing or preparing food.

Frequently asked questions

Is plan review required in Columbia County?

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

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food unit permitting under WAC 246-215; fee not published online

Who issues food permits in Columbia County?

Food permits here are issued by Columbia County Public Health (Environmental Health). 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.
Washington 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: columbiacopublichealth.org · myhealthdepartment.com · observed 2026-08-21
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026