Cobb & Douglas Public Health - Center for Environmental Health · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Douglas County food-facility health permits run about $250–$325 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $270–$435. Confirm the exact amount with Cobb & Douglas Public Health - Center for Environmental Health 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 Cobb & Douglas Public Health - Center for Environmental Health issues the health permit.
About 240 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 149,160. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Annual Inspection Fee
$250 (Category I)
$285 (Category II)
$325 (Category III)
Governmental $0
Risk Type I annual inspection fees by category; New fee schedule takes effect January 1, 2027
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 $250/year, Douglas County’s restaurant health permit is about the Georgia median ($250) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 82% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 16th-lowest of 28 Georgia 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 240 food & drinking establishments serve ~149,160 residents in Douglas County — one per ~622 residents, denser than the Georgia average (one per ~680).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$250 annual health permit + $270 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.
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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Douglas 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 Douglas County?
$250 (Category I); $285 (Category II); $325 (Category III); Governmental $0 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: $270 (Risk Type I); $355 (Risk Type II); $435 (Risk Type III); Governmental $0
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. Out-of-county annual fee $140
Who issues food permits in Douglas County?
Food permits here are issued by Cobb & Douglas Public Health - Center for Environmental Health. 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