Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Imperial County Public Health Department, Division of Environmental Health · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Imperial County food-facility health permits run about $558–$1,572 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $153. Confirm the exact amount with Imperial County Public Health Department, Division of Environmental Health 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 Imperial County Public Health Department, Division of Environmental Health issues the health permit.
About 244 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 179,057. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Facility Annual Health Permit (by risk category and square footage)
Low risk:
$558 (<
=1,500 sq ft) to $913 (>
=10,000 sq ft)
Moderate risk: $666 to $1,242
High risk: $777 (<
=1,500 sq ft) to $1,572 (>
=10,000 sq ft)
CalCode permit priced by risk level (low/moderate/high) and four size bands (<=1,500; 1,501-5,000; 5,001-10,000; >=10,000 sq ft); Fee schedule dated 7/29/2025
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Imperial County’s permit cost compares
At about $558/year, Imperial County’s restaurant health permit is above the California median ($491) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 98% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 23rd-lowest of 40 California 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 244 food & drinking establishments serve ~179,057 residents in Imperial County — one per ~734 residents, sparser than the California average (one per ~491).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$558 annual health permit + $153 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.
Watch out for
School cafeteria permit $622
Temporary food facility: 1-3 days for-profit $50; 4-15 days for-profit $283; late processing fee $75
Administered from 797 Main Street, Suite B, El Centro, CA
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Caterer
$347 (annual)
Imperial County Environmental Health fee schedule 7/29/2025
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
$233 (annual)
Commissary permit
Temporary / seasonal event
1-3 days (for-profit) $50; 4-15 days (for-profit) $283; non-profit 12-month prepackaged $102; event organizer $5 per participating food facility
Late processing fee $75 if submitted after the two-week deadline
Equipment your Imperial 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.
Low risk: $558 (<=1,500 sq ft) to $913 (>=10,000 sq ft); Moderate risk: $666 to $1,242; High risk: $777 (<=1,500 sq ft) to $1,572 (>=10,000 sq ft) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Imperial County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $153.00 (EH Building Plan Review base fee)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Imperial County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Three mobile classes by food-handling level; From Environmental Health fee schedule 7/29/2025
Who issues food permits in Imperial County?
Food permits here are issued by Imperial County Public Health Department, Division of Environmental Health. 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