Galveston County Health District (GCHD) - Environmental Health / Consumer Health Services · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Galveston County food-facility health permits run about $773 annually. Confirm the exact amount with Galveston County Health District (GCHD) - Environmental Health / Consumer Health Services 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 Galveston County Health District (GCHD) - Environmental Health / Consumer Health Services issues the health permit.
About 746 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 361,744. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 (risk-based: high/medium/low)
Defaults to $773/year (per SB 1008/DSHS)
discounted rate available on submission of tax filing and income paperwork
GCHD covers 14 jurisdictions (Galveston County plus 13 cities incl; League City, Texas City, Friendswood, Dickinson, La Marque)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Galveston County’s permit cost compares
At about $773/year, Galveston County’s restaurant health permit is above the Texas median ($258) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 100% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 247th-lowest of 247 Texas 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 746 food & drinking establishments serve ~361,744 residents in Galveston County — one per ~485 residents, denser than the Texas average (one per ~566).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$773 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
Fee changes made to align with SB 1008 and DSHS statewide fee ceiling ($773 max)
Establishments risk-rated (high/medium/low) based on food handling
Distinct TX scheme: fixed establishments priced by gross annual food-sales volume (SB 1008 cap), not by named category; No separate caterer/commissary/bakery/bar/deli categories published
Temporary Food Permit - Single Event
$52
Up to 14 consecutive days for a single event
Temporary Food Permit - Multiple Events (annual)
$200
Valid 1 year for one booth/unit at multiple events, each event not exceeding 14 days
Annual permit valid at all farmers markets in Galveston County (HSC 437.0065 / SB 932)
School Food Establishment (for-profit contractor)
$258
Group Day Home Inspection
$75
General sanitation inspection service
Food Service Establishment Plan Review & Construction (pre-opening)
$250
Equipment your Galveston 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.
Defaults to $773/year (per SB 1008/DSHS); discounted rate available on submission of tax filing and income paperwork These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Galveston County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Galveston County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Texas moved mobile-food permitting to state DSHS eff; 2026-07-01; historically permitted by GCHD; Verify current state fee/route with DSHS
Who issues food permits in Galveston County?
Food permits here are issued by Galveston County Health District (GCHD) - Environmental Health / Consumer Health Services. 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