Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
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 - Food Safety & Compliance, Omaha issues the health permit.
About 1,473 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 589,540. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Fixed food-establishment permit fee not published in an accessible form (department site blocks automated access); An 'Initial Permit Fee' covers application processing, plan review, liquor/occupancy referral inspections, and pre-opening inspections; New establishments also pay a one-time NDA (Nebraska Dept; of Agriculture) fee for a State ID; Contact DCHD directly for the fee table
Douglas County (Omaha) Health Dept assigns a sanitation rating — Superior, Excellent, Standard, or Fair — posted on its online food-establishment rating map/inspection site.
A separate City of Omaha (Park Omaha) Mobile Food Vendor Permit is also required to vend on streets/right-of-way
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| caterer | Initial permit fee $200 + annual $583 (annual prorated by quarter: 100% Jan-Mar / 75% Apr-Jun / 50% Jul-Sep / 25% Oct-Dec); 'Caterer in Addition to a Licensed Facility' annual $219 | A caterer transports ready-to-eat food from a permitted establishment to the customer; must be associated with a licensed Food & Drink establishment or a licensed commissary; Fees are the 2025 schedule |
| commissary/central kitchen | Initial permit fee $200 + annual $583 (prorated by quarter as above) | Commissary = a food establishment where food/containers/supplies are kept, handled, prepared, packaged or stored for use by mobile units, pushcarts or caterers |
| bar/tavern | Drink Only: initial $100 + annual $249 (prorated by quarter); Mobile Drink Only Vendor: initial $100 + annual $249 | 'Drink Only' = establishment dispensing beverages or non-TCS foods requiring limited handling |
| market/grocery with deli | Retail Food Permit: per checkout; initial $50 + annual $168; 5-10 checkouts; initial $250 + annual $838; 10+ checkouts; initial $500 + annual $1,678 (annual prorated by quarter); A grocery/market that also prepares/handles exposed food needs an additional Food & Drink permit | Base Retail Food Permit covers individually packaged foods/beverages with no on-site food prep; a deli counter (exposed/prepared food) requires an added permit; Fees are the 2025 schedule |
| pushcart/limited operation | Ice Cream Push Carts: 1-10 carts $189; 11+ carts $284 (flat, not prorated); Separate Facility $124 annual | 'Separate Facility' = a separate food/drink prep facility operated within/as an accessory to an approved establishment by the same person |
| temporary/seasonal/special-event | Annual Non-TCS Temporary Food Establishment $249. For coordinated special events: event sponsor Umbrella Fee $440 plus $74 per individual booth vendor (per Temporary Events page) | Temporary food operations must originate from a permitted commissary; special-event coordinators and vendors file separate applications; Umbrella/booth figures are from the department's Temporary Events page; the $249 annual non-TCS figure is from the Permit Types fee list |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Douglas County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →