Local permits & fees

Grant County, AR Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Services · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Grant County food-facility health permits run about $35 annually. Plan review runs about $50–$500. Confirm the exact amount with Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection 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 Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Services issues the health permit. Arkansas sets food-establishment permit fees at the state level; Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Services is the licensing authority. If your city or county runs its own health department, local fees and rules may also apply — confirm for your exact address.

About 20 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 18,383. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 establishment permit / license (state-set)

$35.00 annual (flat fee
same $35.00 applies to Restaurant, Food Store, Kiosk, Daycare, Retail Deli/Bakery, Food Mobile, Food Salvage, Summer Feeding/Afterschool, Private School, Private Contractor
Public/Charter Schools $0.)

Set at the state level by Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Services; a single statewide fee schedule; Effective Form EHP-99 revision 9/2025. Where a city or county runs its own health department it may set local fees instead

Plan review — check locally

Retail plan review fee equal to 1% of total estimated cost, minimum $50.00, not to exceed $500.00 (per A.C.A
Title 20-57 / ADH rules
not itemized on the permit application form)

Reach the department

Phone(870) 942-3157

Office700 E Center St, Sheridan, AR 72150

Websitehealthy.arkansas.gov →

Inspection grading

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

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile food establishment (state-set)

$35.00 (listed as '
Food Mobile'
on the ADH permit application, same flat fee)

State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements

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 Grant County’s permit cost compares

At about $35/year, Grant County’s restaurant health permit is about the Arkansas median ($35) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 7% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 27th-lowest of 75 Arkansas 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 20 food & drinking establishments serve ~18,383 residents in Grant County — one per ~919 residents, sparser than the Arkansas average (one per ~703).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$35 annual health permit + $50 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 Grant 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.

Compartment sinks

3-bay wash / rinse / sanitize — sized to your menu

Hand sinks

required in prep, cook & warewashing areas

Grease traps / interceptors

sized by drainage fixture units

Reach-in refrigeration

cold-holding at 41°F or below

Work tables & surfaces

NSF-listed, non-absorbent

Hoods & ventilation

over cooking equipment; make-up air

Dishwashers

high-temp or chemical sanitizing

Nearby counties

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

Cleveland County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

Dallas County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

Hot Spring County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

Jefferson County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

Pulaski County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

Saline County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Grant County?

$35.00 annual (flat fee; same $35.00 applies to Restaurant, Food Store, Kiosk, Daycare, Retail Deli/Bakery, Food Mobile, Food Salvage, Summer Feeding/Afterschool, Private School, Private Contractor; Public/Charter Schools $0.) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Grant County?

Plan review may apply; check locally with the department. Typical fees: Retail plan review fee equal to 1% of total estimated cost, minimum $50.00, not to exceed $500.00 (per A.C.A; Title 20-57 / ADH rules; not itemized on the permit application form)

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements

Who issues food permits in Grant County?

Food permits here are issued by Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection 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.

Arkansas statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: healthy.arkansas.gov · healthy.arkansas.gov · codes.findlaw.com · observed 2026-08-21