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 Fresno County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Division (Consumer Food Program) issues the health permit.
About 1,734 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 1,017,162. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Annual food facility permit fees are set in the county Master Schedule of Fees (Environmental Health), enabled by Fresno County Code Ch; see Master Schedule of Fees (cited); Permits are non-transferable; a new owner must pay fees and obtain a Permit to Operate before operating
Turnaround: Plans reviewed in order received; initial review completed within 20 business days
No color placard or grade; facilities post a notice that reports are available, and Fresno posts inspection reports online daily.
Consumer Food Program permits and inspects mobile food vendors; mobile plan check must be completed before permitting
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 | $292 | 'Catering/Caterer' $292 per facility (Ord; 26-002, eff; 4/1/2026) |
| commissary/central kitchen | $450 | Commissary $450; Commissary (mobile units) $1,341; Commissary (mobile units secondary operation) $339; Commissary (compact mobile food operations) $487; Host Facility $163 |
| bakery | $603 | Bakery $603 location/year; Confectionery $531 |
| bar/tavern | $471 | Bar $471 location/year |
| market/grocery with deli | $1,005 | Market with Meat Department: 1-3,000 sq ft $1,005, >3,001 sq ft $1,266. Market without Meat Department: 1-500 sq ft $523, 501-3,000 $699, >3,001 $883. Meat Market $1,248 |
| temporary/seasonal/special-event | $285 | Community Event: Event Organizer Application Review $68 per event, Event Vendor $285 per unit/event; Swap Meet: 1-149 spaces $2,264, >149 spaces $4,525. Commercial Farmers Market $1,095 location/year |
| pushcart/limited operation | $83 | Pushcart Prepackaged $83 unit/year; Snack Bar: Pre-packaged $420, Limited Preparation $374, Full Preparation $394. Satellite Food Facility $513 |
| food processing/wholesale | $531 | No general wholesale/food-processing permit (state-regulated); Closest county permit: Confectionery (candy manufacturer) $531; Ice Plant Operator $251 |
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 Fresno 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 →