Douglas County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (Douglas County left the former Tri-County Health Department and established its own health department; retail food license fees are set statewide by CDPHE under SB25-285) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Douglas County food-facility health permits run about $481–$581 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $155. Confirm the exact amount with Douglas County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (Douglas County left the former Tri-County Health Department and established its own health department; retail food license fees are set statewide by CDPHE under SB25-285) 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 Douglas County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (Douglas County left the former Tri-County Health Department and established its own health department; retail food license fees are set statewide by CDPHE under SB25-285) issues the health permit.
About 614 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 383,906. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Retail Food Establishment License (Restaurant/Caterer, by seating capacity)
Colorado retail food license fees are set by the STATE (SB25-285) and are identical in every CO jurisdiction; they phase up in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Restaurants and caterers are grouped and licensed by seating capacity; Each establishment pays only one applicable category fee; Douglas County Health Department administers licensing locally
Plan review — required
$155 Retail Food Plan Review Application (statewide)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Douglas County’s permit cost compares
At about $481/year, Douglas County’s restaurant health permit is above the Colorado median ($338) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 98% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 60th-lowest of 64 Colorado 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 614 food & drinking establishments serve ~383,906 residents in Douglas County — one per ~625 residents, sparser than the Colorado average (one per ~428).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$481 annual health permit + $155 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
Douglas County established its own health department after the Tri-County Health Department dissolved (2022-2023); it now administers retail food licensing locally instead of Tri-County
Colorado retail food license fees are set statewide by SB25-285 and increase in 2026, 2027 and 2028; each establishment pays only one applicable category fee
Restaurants and caterers are licensed by seating capacity; grocery/markets are licensed by square footage (with or without a deli)
Colorado's statewide SB25-285 schedule groups caterers with restaurants, licensed by seating capacity
Bar / limited food service
$338 (Limited Food Service Establishment), 2026; source https://la-h-health.colorado.gov/news-article/notice-to-retail-food-establishments
Statewide SB25-285 category for limited-menu operations (bars, coffee shops, etc.)
Grocery / market with deli
Grocery with deli: $469 (under 15,001 sq ft) / $894 (over 15,000 sq ft); grocery without deli $244 / $441, 2026; source https://la-h-health.colorado.gov/news-article/notice-to-retail-food-establishments
Statewide SB25-285 schedule, priced by square footage and whether a deli is present
Pushcart / mobile vending
Mobile full service $481 / prepackaged food only $338, 2026; source https://la-h-health.colorado.gov/news-article/notice-to-retail-food-establishments
Statewide SB25-285 mobile retail food establishment fees; commissary/servicing area required
Equipment your Douglas 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.
$481 (0-100 seats) / $538 (101-200 seats) / $581 (over 200 seats), 2026 statewide SB25-285 schedule; source https://la-h-health.colorado.gov/news-article/notice-to-retail-food-establishments These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Douglas County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $155 Retail Food Plan Review Application (statewide); source https://cdphe.colorado.gov/dehs/rf/licensing
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Douglas County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. State fee schedule; Douglas County Health Department issues mobile-unit and pushcart licenses and reviews the required commissary/servicing area
Who issues food permits in Douglas County?
Food permits here are issued by Douglas County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (Douglas County left the former Tri-County Health Department and established its own health department; retail food license fees are set statewide by CDPHE under SB25-285). 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