Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program - STATE-administered statewide (flat statewide fee) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Craighead County food-facility health permits run about $35 annually. Plan review runs about $50–$500. Confirm the exact amount with Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program - STATE-administered statewide (flat statewide fee) 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 Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program - STATE-administered statewide (flat statewide fee) issues the health permit.
About 245 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 113,993. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Permit (annual)
$35.00 flat annual permit fee statewide (Ark
Code 20-57-204)
Late fee equal to one-half the renewal fee if renewed 60+ days after expiration
Uniform statewide flat fee administered by ADH; applies in Craighead County (Jonesboro); Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-20/subtitle-4/chapter-57/subchapter-2/section-20-57-204/
Plan review — required
1% of total estimated construction cost, not less than $50.00 and not to exceed $500.00 (new or remodeled facilities)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Craighead County’s permit cost compares
At about $35/year, Craighead County’s restaurant health permit is about the Arkansas median ($35) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 7% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 16th-lowest of 75 Arkansas 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 245 food & drinking establishments serve ~113,993 residents in Craighead County — one per ~465 residents, denser than the Arkansas average (one per ~703).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$35 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.
Watch out for
STATE-administered flat fee: every food service establishment in Arkansas pays the same $35 annual permit fee regardless of size or type (Ark; Code 20-57-204)
Plan review is a separate one-time fee (1% of cost, $50 min / $500 max) for new construction and remodels
ADH inspects and permits establishments in Craighead County; there is no separate county fee
Late renewal (60+ days past expiration) adds a penalty of one-half the renewal fee
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Pushcart / mobile vending
$35.00/yr flat (mobile food units permitted as food service establishments under Ark; Code 20-57-204)
Arkansas Dept; of Health issues temporary food event permits but the fee is not published online (the $35 flat fee applies to standard food service establishments)
State-administered by ADH Food Protection Program
Equipment your Craighead 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.
$35.00 flat annual permit fee statewide (Ark; Code 20-57-204); Late fee equal to one-half the renewal fee if renewed 60+ days after expiration These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Craighead County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: 1% of total estimated construction cost, not less than $50.00 and not to exceed $500.00 (new or remodeled facilities)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Craighead County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units require an approved commissary/base of operations per ADH rules
Who issues food permits in Craighead County?
Food permits here are issued by Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program - STATE-administered statewide (flat statewide fee). 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