Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Guilford County Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Public Health - Environmental Health (Food, Lodging & Institutions). Serves Greensboro and High Point. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department 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 Guilford County Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Public Health - Environmental Health (Food, Lodging & Institutions). Serves Greensboro and High Point. issues the health permit.
About 1,185 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 549,866. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
$0
North Carolina does not charge a fee for the food service establishment permit itself
the permit is issued after a passing pre-opening inspection
Cost to open is the plan review fee (below)
Permitting follows the statewide NC Food Code and 15A NCAC 18A .2600, administered by Guilford County Environmental Health; Food & Lodging division: (336) 641-3771; manager Shelby McLean (336) 641-4811
Plan review — required
Food service new-facility plan review $250
remodel plan review $125
private school food service plan review $250
multi-trip fee $100 (Guilford EH fee schedule)
Turnaround: specific turnaround not published; plan review required for all new or remodeled construction before permitting
Sanitation score converts to a required grade card — A 90-100, B 80-89, C 70-79 (below 70 cannot operate) — posted at the establishment and available online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit Permit
Mobile Food Unit plan review $200 (Guilford EH fee schedule)
the food service permit itself has no NC fee
NC Mobile Food Units require an approved commissary/base of operation; Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) and Limited Food Service Establishment (LFSE) each $75. ServSafe testing $60
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Local food-service market
About 1,185 food & drinking establishments serve ~549,866 residents in Guilford County — one per ~464 residents, denser than the North Carolina average (one per ~598).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Watch out for
In North Carolina the state does not charge a food establishment permit fee; local counties charge only plan review fees (Guilford: $250 new / $125 remodel / $200 mobile)
Guilford publishes restaurant grades/inspection results online; Food & Lodging covers Greensboro and High Point
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Caterer
—
Permit required for preparing high-risk food (meat, fish, eggs, cut leafy greens/fruit/vegetables/cheese) for immediate consumption (catering); NC state-issued permit; no county annual fee published
Pushcart/limited operation
—
Push carts require a Guilford County Public Health permit and must return daily to a permitted commissary; NC state-issued permit; no county annual fee published
Commissary/central kitchen
—
Referenced as base of operations for mobile units/push carts and for TFE food prep (TFE commissary permit allows prep up to 7 days before event); No separate county fee published
Temporary/seasonal/special-event
$75 (non-refundable)
Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) permit; operates <=21 days in one location tied to a fair/carnival/event; application due 30 days prior; Mobile units/push carts with a valid NC permit may qualify to operate a single-day event without the fee if approved
Equipment your Guilford 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.
$0; North Carolina does not charge a fee for the food service establishment permit itself; the permit is issued after a passing pre-opening inspection; Cost to open is the plan review fee (below) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Guilford County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Food service new-facility plan review $250; remodel plan review $125; private school food service plan review $250; multi-trip fee $100 (Guilford EH fee schedule)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Guilford County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. NC Mobile Food Units require an approved commissary/base of operation; Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) and Limited Food Service Establishment (LFSE) each $75. ServSafe testing $60
Who issues food permits in Guilford County?
Food permits here are issued by Guilford County Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Public Health - Environmental Health (Food, Lodging & Institutions). Serves Greensboro and High Point.. 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