Etowah County Health Department (Alabama Dept. of Public Health delegates food establishment permitting to the county); fees set by the county board of health within the ADPH-recommended range · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Etowah County food-facility health permits run about $75–$600 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Etowah County Health Department (Alabama Dept. of Public Health delegates food establishment permitting to the county); fees set by the county board of health within the ADPH-recommended range 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 Etowah County Health Department (Alabama Dept. of Public Health delegates food establishment permitting to the county); fees set by the county board of health within the ADPH-recommended range issues the health permit.
About 185 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 103,241. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Food Service Establishment Permit (by Priority Category)
Etowah County revised its fee schedule (previously adopted 2007); food permit fees are now based on Priority Category rather than annual gross sales; New schedule effective September 1, 2026. Source: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/Etowah/environmental-fees.html
Plan review — required
no separate food establishment plan review fee is published in the Etowah County environmental fee schedule
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Etowah County’s permit cost compares
At about $75/year, Etowah County’s restaurant health permit is below the Alabama median ($118) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 29% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 2nd-lowest of 6 Alabama 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 185 food & drinking establishments serve ~103,241 residents in Etowah County — one per ~558 residents, denser than the Alabama average (one per ~692).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$75 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.
Watch out for
ADPH delegates food permitting to county health departments; the state does not publish a uniform statewide food establishment fee
Temporary Food Service Permit (per event, 14 days or less): $100 new / $75 prior
Food Processors: Category 1 $300 new ($200 prior); Category 2 $400 new ($300 prior)
Office: 709 East Broad Street, Gadsden, AL 35903; (256) 547-6311
Equipment your Etowah 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.
New fees effective 2026-09-01: Category 1 $100, Category 2 $150, Category 3 $500, Category 4 $600 (prior/current fees: Category 2 $75, Categories 3-4 $200-$500) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Etowah County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: no separate food establishment plan review fee is published in the Etowah County environmental fee schedule
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Etowah County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Fee from the Etowah County Environmental Fee Schedule
Who issues food permits in Etowah County?
Food permits here are issued by Etowah County Health Department (Alabama Dept. of Public Health delegates food establishment permitting to the county); fees set by the county board of health within the ADPH-recommended range. 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