Forsyth County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health, Food/Lodging & Institutions · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Forsyth County food-facility health permits run about $50–$120 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $123–$246. Confirm the exact amount with Forsyth County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health, Food/Lodging & Institutions 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 Forsyth County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health, Food/Lodging & Institutions issues the health permit.
About 818 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 392,921. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
$120 (uniform North Carolina state permit fee
$70 is remitted to the county health dept and $50 to the state)
The permit fee is set uniformly by NC (per the state EHS Inspections, Statistics & Fees Unit); NC food establishment permits are continuous (no separate annual renewal fee); the significant local cost is the required plan review below
Plan review — required
$246 (Food Service Plan Review, new)
$123 (foodservice remodel plan review)
Turnaround: Allow at least ~3 weeks from submittal; submit permit application at least 30 days before opening
Sanitation score converts to a required grade card — A 90-100, B 80-89, C 70-79 (below 70 cannot operate) — posted at the establishment and available online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit (MFU) permit
$150 (MFU plan review, per FCDPH fee schedule) plus the $120 state permit fee
Pushcart plan review is $100. A commissary is generally required for mobile units and pushcarts; Fee schedule reviewed is FCDPH 'effective September 1, 2020'
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Forsyth County’s permit cost compares
At about $50/year, Forsyth County’s restaurant health permit is below the North Carolina median ($70) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 19% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 2nd-lowest of 95 North Carolina 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 818 food & drinking establishments serve ~392,921 residents in Forsyth County — one per ~480 residents, denser than the North Carolina average (one per ~598).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$50 annual health permit + $123 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
Food Service Plan Review $246 (new) / $123 (remodel); MFU plan review $150; pushcart plan review $100
Temporary Food Establishment fee $75
Seafood Market annual permit listed at $0.00 on the county fee schedule
Environmental Health: 336-703-3325 (food program 336-703-3225)
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
temporary/special-event
$75.00 (Temporary Food Establishment Fee)
Per FCDPH fee schedule effective 9/1/2020
pushcart/mobile vending
Pushcart plan review $100.00; Mobile Food Unit plan review $150.00 (plus the $120 NC state permit fee)
Commissary generally required; fees from FCDPH fee schedule
grocery/market (seafood market)
$0.00 (Seafood Market Annual Permit Fee)
FCDPH fee schedule lists a Seafood Market annual permit at $0.00; markets otherwise operate under the NC $120 state food-establishment permit; No separate caterer/commissary/bakery/deli/bar categories are broken out on the county fee schedule
Equipment your Forsyth 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.
$120 (uniform North Carolina state permit fee; $70 is remitted to the county health dept and $50 to the state) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Forsyth County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $246 (Food Service Plan Review, new); $123 (foodservice remodel plan review)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Forsyth County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Pushcart plan review is $100. A commissary is generally required for mobile units and pushcarts; Fee schedule reviewed is FCDPH 'effective September 1, 2020'
Who issues food permits in Forsyth County?
Food permits here are issued by Forsyth County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health, Food/Lodging & Institutions. 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