Local permits & fees

Dawson County, GA Food Facility Permits

Restaurants and food trucks.

Dawson County Environmental Health (District 2 Public 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 Dawson County Environmental Health (District 2 Public Health) issues the health permit.

About 83 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 31,732. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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.

Annual fee schedule adopted by the Dawson County Board of Commissioners (Code of Ordinances Ch; 26); dollar amounts not published online; Contact Dawson County EH (706) 265-2930

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Phone(706) 265-2930

Office189 Hwy. 53 W. Suite 102, Dawsonville, GA 30534

Websitephdistrict2.org →

Inspection grading

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

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Service

Fee not published online — contact the department.

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 83 food & drinking establishments serve ~31,732 residents in Dawson County — one per ~382 residents, denser than the Georgia average (one per ~680).

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

Equipment your Dawson 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 Dawson County with its neighbors.

Cherokee County, GA

Restaurant permit: $100

Fannin County, GA

Restaurant permit: $200

Forsyth County, GA

Restaurant permit: $300

Gilmer County, GA

Restaurant permit: $100

Hall County, GA

Restaurant permit: $300

Lumpkin County, GA

Restaurant permit: See page

Pickens County, GA

Restaurant permit: See page

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Dawson 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.