Flathead City-County Health Department, Environmental Health Services (licenses retail food establishments on behalf of Montana DPHHS) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Flathead County food-facility health permits run about $85–$115 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $115. Confirm the exact amount with Flathead City-County Health Department, Environmental Health Services (licenses retail food establishments on behalf of Montana DPHHS) 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 Flathead City-County Health Department, Environmental Health Services (licenses retail food establishments on behalf of Montana DPHHS) issues the health permit.
About 328 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 113,679. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
$85 (no more than two employees working at any one time) / $115 (three or more employees)
License fee is set statewide by MCA 50-50-205 and collected by the local health authority; the fee is the same regardless of establishment type; State law preempts local fee amounts
Plan review — required
Flathead County does not publish a fixed-establishment plan-review fee (applications are not reviewed until payment is received)
Montana DPHHS charges $115 per mobile food establishment plan submitted for review (by rule)
Turnaround: Typically 2-3 weeks; 4-6 weeks in spring/summer; Plan review approval valid 90 days (one 90-day extension available on request)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Flathead County’s permit cost compares
At about $85/year, Flathead County’s restaurant health permit is about the Montana median ($85) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 34% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 15th-lowest of 56 Montana 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 328 food & drinking establishments serve ~113,679 residents in Flathead County — one per ~347 residents, denser than the Montana average (one per ~365).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$85 annual health permit + $115 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
State-set fees: MCA 50-50-205 fixes the retail food establishment license at $85 (<=2 employees) or $115 (3+ employees) statewide
Flathead County Environmental Health: 1035 First Ave W, Kalispell; office at 40 11th St W, Suite 210, 406-751-8130
Plan review is required before opening, changing operators, major remodels, or menu changes affecting food safety
Wholesale food manufacturing is licensed separately by Montana DPHHS, not under the retail food establishment license
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Grocery / market with deli
$85 (no more than two employees at any one time) / $115 (three or more employees); statewide retail food establishment license (MCA 50-50-205)
Montana licenses all retail food establishment types under one fee, set by employee count
Wholesale food manufacturing requires a separate Montana DPHHS wholesale food license
Bar / limited food service
$85 / $115 (retail food establishment license; same statewide schedule)
Alcohol licensing is separate through the Montana Department of Revenue
Pushcart / mobile vending
$85 / $115 (mobile = retail food establishment license); Montana DPHHS mobile plan review $115 one-time
Mobile units are retail food establishments under MCA Title 50, Ch; 50
Temporary / seasonal event
Flathead does not publish a temporary food fee; MCA 50-50-205 caps the temporary permit fee at the retail amount ($85/$115) and it is collected locally
Confirm the exact temporary fee with Flathead Environmental Health (406-751-8130)
Equipment your Flathead 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.
$85 (no more than two employees working at any one time) / $115 (three or more employees) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Flathead County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Flathead County does not publish a fixed-establishment plan-review fee (applications are not reviewed until payment is received); Montana DPHHS charges $115 per mobile food establishment plan submitted for review (by rule)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Flathead County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units are retail food establishments under MCA Title 50, Ch; 50. Montana DPHHS charges a $115 mobile plan review fee
Who issues food permits in Flathead County?
Food permits here are issued by Flathead City-County Health Department, Environmental Health Services (licenses retail food establishments on behalf of Montana DPHHS). 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