Des Moines County, IA Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants and food trucks.
Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL); statutory fees set in Iowa Code ch. 137F, enforced by the state or by delegated 'municipal corporations' under 28E agreements · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Des Moines County food-facility health permits run about $150–$400 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL); statutory fees set in Iowa Code ch. 137F, enforced by the state or by delegated 'municipal corporations' under 28E agreements 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 Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL); statutory fees set in Iowa Code ch. 137F, enforced by the state or by delegated 'municipal corporations' under 28E agreements issues the health permit. Iowa sets food-establishment permit fees at the state level; Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL); statutory fees set in Iowa Code ch. 137F, enforced by the state or by delegated 'municipal corporations' under 28E agreements is the licensing authority. If your city or county runs its own health department, local fees and rules may also apply — confirm for your exact address.
About 89 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 38,253. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 establishment permit / license (state-set)
Food establishment preparing/serving food for on-premises consumption (restaurant), annual license fee by annual gross food &
beverage sales: less than $100,000 = $150
at least $100,000 but less than $500,000 = $300
$500,000 or more = $400. New/renewal applications that do not report prior-year gross sales pay the maximum $400
Set at the state level by Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL); statutory fees set in Iowa Code ch; 137F, enforced by the state or by delegated 'municipal corporations' under 28E agreements; a single statewide fee schedule; Effective Iowa Code 2026 (137F.6; last amended 2023 Acts ch; 82); Where a city or county runs its own health department it may set local fees instead
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile food establishment (state-set)
Mobile food unit or pushcart = $250 annual license fee
State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements
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 Des Moines County’s permit cost compares
At about $150/year, Des Moines County’s restaurant health permit is about the Iowa median ($150) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 66% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 29th-lowest of 99 Iowa 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 89 food & drinking establishments serve ~38,253 residents in Des Moines County — one per ~430 residents, denser than the Iowa average (one per ~549).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$150 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 Des Moines 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Des Moines 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 Des Moines County?
Food establishment preparing/serving food for on-premises consumption (restaurant), annual license fee by annual gross food & beverage sales: less than $100,000 = $150; at least $100,000 but less than $500,000 = $300; $500,000 or more = $400. New/renewal applications that do not report prior-year gross sales pay the maximum $400 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Des Moines County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements
Who issues food permits in Des Moines County?
Food permits here are issued by Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL); statutory fees set in Iowa Code ch. 137F, enforced by the state or by delegated 'municipal corporations' under 28E agreements. 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