Colorado Food Protection Act, C.R.S. 25-4-1607 (Title 25, Art. 4, Part 16), amended by SB25-285 (2025); implemented under 6 CCR 1010-2. Statute mandates 'uniform statewide administration'; county/district public health agencies administer but the fee schedule is set by state statute. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Gunnison County food-facility health permits run about $338–$581 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $155. Confirm the exact amount with Colorado Food Protection Act, C.R.S. 25-4-1607 (Title 25, Art. 4, Part 16), amended by SB25-285 (2025); implemented under 6 CCR 1010-2. Statute mandates 'uniform statewide administration'; county/district public health agencies administer but the fee schedule is set by state statute. 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 Colorado Food Protection Act, C.R.S. 25-4-1607 (Title 25, Art. 4, Part 16), amended by SB25-285 (2025); implemented under 6 CCR 1010-2. Statute mandates 'uniform statewide administration'; county/district public health agencies administer but the fee schedule is set by state statute. issues the health permit. Colorado sets food-establishment fees at the state level through Colorado Food Protection Act, C.R.S. 25-4-1607 (Title 25, Art. 4, Part 16), amended by SB25-285 (2025); implemented under 6 CCR 1010-2. Statute mandates 'uniform statewide administration'; county/district public health agencies administer but the fee schedule is set by state statute., EXCEPT in counties/cities that run their own health department (which set their own fees). Confirm which applies to your exact address.
About 92 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 17,321. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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)
Restaurants & Caterers by seating (2026):
0-100 seats $481
101-200 seats $538
over 200 seats $581. Limited Food Service Establishment $338. (2027 and 2028 step-increases are also set in statute.)
Set at the state level by Colorado Food Protection Act, C.R.S; 25-4-1607 (Title 25, Art; 4, Part 16), amended by SB25-285 (2025); implemented under 6 CCR 1010-2. Statute mandates 'uniform statewide administration'; county/district public health agencies administer but the fee schedule is set by state statute; a single statewide fee schedule for counties without their own health department; Effective 2026 fee tier applies to new licenses issued on or after 2025-09-01 (SB25-285 raised fees ~25% for 2026, with further increases 2027 and 2028)
Plan review — check locally
$155 (Retail Food Plan Review Application
same fee for restaurant/grocery and mobile-unit plan review)
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile food establishment (state-set)
Mobile food establishment (2026):
Full Service $481
Prepackaged Food $338
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 Gunnison County’s permit cost compares
At about $338/year, Gunnison County’s restaurant health permit is about the Colorado median ($338) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 96% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 25th-lowest of 64 Colorado 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 92 food & drinking establishments serve ~17,321 residents in Gunnison County — one per ~188 residents, denser than the Colorado average (one per ~428).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$338 annual health permit + $155 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 Gunnison 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Gunnison 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 Gunnison County?
Restaurants & Caterers by seating (2026): 0-100 seats $481; 101-200 seats $538; over 200 seats $581. Limited Food Service Establishment $338. (2027 and 2028 step-increases are also set in statute.) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Gunnison County?
Plan review may apply; check locally with the department. Typical fees: $155 (Retail Food Plan Review Application; same fee for restaurant/grocery and mobile-unit plan review)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Gunnison 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 Gunnison County?
Food permits here are issued by Colorado Food Protection Act, C.R.S. 25-4-1607 (Title 25, Art. 4, Part 16), amended by SB25-285 (2025); implemented under 6 CCR 1010-2. Statute mandates 'uniform statewide administration'; county/district public health agencies administer but the fee schedule is set by state statute.. 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