Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Gallatin City-County Health Department - Environmental Health Services (Healthy Gallatin) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Gallatin County food-facility health permits run about $85–$378 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $126–$420. Confirm the exact amount with Gallatin City-County Health Department - Environmental Health Services (Healthy Gallatin) 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 Gallatin City-County Health Department - Environmental Health Services (Healthy Gallatin) issues the health permit.
About 402 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 126,409. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 - annual state license + county review
Annual state license (MDPHHS, per MCA 50-50-205):
$85 small (1-2 employees) / $115 large (3+ employees)
One-time county application review $252 (up to 750 sq ft) + pre-operational inspection $126 (750 sq ft example totals $378 to GCCHD)
Two-part system: the recurring license is a State of Montana (DPHHS) fee collected at the pre-operational inspection; the plan/application review and pre-op inspection are paid to Gallatin City-County Health Dept; County application review scales by size: up to 750 sq ft or mobile $252, 751-2,500 sq ft $336, >2,500 sq ft $420 (values from the published schedule; some source-table alignment ambiguity); Published fee schedule dated effective Oct 27, 2018
Plan review — required
County application review $252 (up to 750 sq ft) + pre-operational inspection $126
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Gallatin County’s permit cost compares
At about $85/year, Gallatin 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 16th-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 402 food & drinking establishments serve ~126,409 residents in Gallatin County — one per ~314 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 + $126 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
Recurring food license is a State of Montana (DPHHS) fee; Gallatin City-County collects only the review and inspection fees
New/remodel plan review is now submitted to the State of Montana Environmental Health & Food Safety Section per the county food-service page
Only published fee schedule online is dated effective Oct 27, 2018; figures may be dated; confirm current amounts with EHS (406-582-3120)
'Caterer or Manufacturer using licensed commissary kitchen' is reviewed under the Food Establishment application review (base $252) but no distinct caterer dollar figure is broken out
Caterers operate from a licensed commissary; state annual license still applies via MDPHHS
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
$84 (Commissary Change minor application review) + pre-operational inspection
Applies to an already-licensed caterer/mobile/wholesale moving to a different licensed facility; new commissaries go through full food-establishment review
Temporary Food Service Event permit payable to Gallatin City-County Health Dept; Cottage Food Operation registration $40
Equipment your Gallatin 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.
Annual state license (MDPHHS, per MCA 50-50-205): $85 small (1-2 employees) / $115 large (3+ employees); One-time county application review $252 (up to 750 sq ft) + pre-operational inspection $126 (750 sq ft example totals $378 to GCCHD) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Gallatin County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: County application review $252 (up to 750 sq ft) + pre-operational inspection $126; scales to $336 (751-2,500 sq ft) and $420 (>2,500 sq ft)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Gallatin County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units licensed the same as retail food establishments under MCA 50-50-205; must operate from a licensed commissary
Who issues food permits in Gallatin County?
Food permits here are issued by Gallatin City-County Health Department - Environmental Health Services (Healthy Gallatin). 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