Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Deschutes County Health Services, Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Deschutes County food-facility health permits run about $1,071–$1,588 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $372–$865. Confirm the exact amount with Deschutes County Health Services, Environmental Health Division 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 Deschutes County Health Services, Environmental Health Division issues the health permit.
About 604 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 208,513. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Deschutes County Fee Schedule FY2026 (adopted, dated 11-01-2025); County-adopted annual license fee tiered by seating; Licenses run calendar year; $150 penalty if paid 30+ days after Dec 31 expiration, plus $150 each additional month; (Board-adopted fee-schedule PDF; live re-fetch limited 2026-08-10, figures carried from the FY2026 schedule.)
Plan review — required
New restaurant $865
Remodel $519
Commissary/Base of Operation $433
School cafeteria $865
Non-profit $433
Mobile Food Unit plan review Class I $372 / II $466 / III $648 / IV $688
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Deschutes County’s permit cost compares
At about $1,071/year, Deschutes County’s restaurant health permit is above the Oregon median ($180) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 100% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 35th-lowest of 35 Oregon 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 604 food & drinking establishments serve ~208,513 residents in Deschutes County — one per ~345 residents, denser than the Oregon average (one per ~443).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$1,071 annual health permit + $372 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
Fees are county-adopted (Deschutes County Board of Commissioners FY2026 Fee Schedule)
Limited service license $879; Commissary annual license $433; Bed & breakfast food facility $648
Temporary Restaurant License: for-profit $218, benevolent/non-profit $70; temporary at event operating without a license $347
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
$433 (annual license); plan review $433
Deschutes County Fee Schedule FY2026 (Commissary / Base of Operation)
Temporary Restaurant License: for-profit $218, benevolent/non-profit $70; temporary at event (no license) $347; re-check fee $146
FY2026 fee schedule; seasonal/intermittent temporary licenses also offered (for-profit $218 if applied 7+ days ahead, $259 if less)
Pushcart / mobile vending
Covered by Mobile Unit Annual Operating License: Class I $388, Class II $455, Class III $648, Class IV $843
Carts/pushcarts fall into the mobile unit class structure (per OAR 333-162-0020)
Equipment your Deschutes 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.
$1,071 (0-15 seats); $1,172 (16-50 seats); $1,404 (51-150 seats); $1,588 (151+ seats) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Deschutes County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: New restaurant $865; Remodel $519; Commissary/Base of Operation $433; School cafeteria $865; Non-profit $433; Mobile Food Unit plan review Class I $372 / II $466 / III $648 / IV $688
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Deschutes County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Four mobile classes (Class IV = full mobile kitchen); FY2026 fee schedule
Who issues food permits in Deschutes County?
Food permits here are issued by Deschutes County Health Services, Environmental Health Division. 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