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Local permits & fees

Gordon County, GA Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Gordon County Environmental Health (Northwest Health District 1-1) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Gordon County food-facility health permits run about $275–$375 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $450–$550. Confirm the exact amount with Gordon County Environmental Health (Northwest Health District 1-1) 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 Gordon County Environmental Health (Northwest Health District 1-1) issues the health permit.

About 80 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 59,757. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)

Last verified: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Annual Inspection Permit
  • $275 (Risk Type I)
  • $375 (Risk Type II &
  • III)

Annual inspection fee by risk type; Published Northwest Health District Gordon County fee schedule

Plan review — required

  • $450 (<
  • 25 seats)
  • $500 (26-99 seats)
  • $550 (100+ seats)

Reach the department

Office310 N. River St., Calhoun, GA 30701

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile/Extended Food Service
  • $250 (with local commissary)
  • $200 (without local commissary)

Temporary/seasonal $100

How to apply

See the department site above.

Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.

How Gordon County’s permit cost compares

At about $275/year, Gordon County’s restaurant health permit is above the Georgia median ($250) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 92% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 21st-lowest of 28 Georgia 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 80 food & drinking establishments serve ~59,757 residents in Gordon County — one per ~747 residents, sparser than the Georgia average (one per ~680).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$275 annual health permit + $450 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.

Equipment your Gordon 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.

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Gordon County with its neighbors.

How to open: typical permitting sequence

This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.

  1. Confirm whether Gordon County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
  2. Confirm zoning and permitted use.
  3. Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
  4. Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
  5. Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
  6. Pay plan-review fees.
  7. Respond to plan-check corrections.
  8. Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
  9. Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
  10. Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
  11. Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
  12. Receive approval before storing or preparing food.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Gordon County?

$275 (Risk Type I); $375 (Risk Type II & III) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Gordon County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $450 (<25 seats); $500 (26-99 seats); $550 (100+ seats)

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Gordon County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Temporary/seasonal $100

Who issues food permits in Gordon County?

Food permits here are issued by Gordon County Environmental Health (Northwest Health District 1-1). 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.
Sources: nwgapublichealth.org · nwgapublichealth.org · observed 2026-08-21
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026