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Local permits & fees

Jackson County, OR Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.

Jackson County Health & Human Services, Environmental Public Health (Medford) · 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 Jackson County Health & Human Services, Environmental Public Health (Medford) issues the health permit.

About 546 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 220,768. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Operation (Restaurant) annual license
  • Jackson County does not publish its restaurant/food service license fee schedule online
  • the county'
  • s Food Services page states '
  • Plan review and license fee information is available by calling our office at 541-774-8206.'
  • Oregon county-administered programs set their own fees under ORS 624.490

Jackson County Environmental Public Health licenses and inspects restaurants, mobile units, caterers, coffee stands, taphouses, bed & breakfasts and temporary food service; A December 2022 county internal-audit report noted Jackson's food fees run higher than several neighboring counties

Plan review — required

  • plan review fee is not published online
  • the county directs applicants to call Environmental Public Health at 541-774-8206 (a dedicated Restaurant &
  • Pool Plan Review line is 541-774-7824)

Reach the department

Phone(541) 774-8206
Office140 S. Holly Street, Medford, OR 97501
Websitejacksoncountyor.gov →

Inspection grading

Numeric score

Oregon 100-point sanitation score (pass at 70); results posted online.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Unit license (Class I-IV per OAR 333-162-0020)
  • mobile unit license fee is not published online
  • call 541-774-8206

Mobile units are defined in OAR 333-162-0000; Oregon classifies mobile units Class I-IV by food-handling; A commissary/base of operations is required

How to apply

Jackson County fees & payment information →Forms & applications →

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

Local food-service market

About 546 food & drinking establishments serve ~220,768 residents in Jackson County — one per ~404 residents, denser than the Oregon average (one per ~443).

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

Watch out for

  • Jackson County runs its own Environmental Public Health program (Medford) under the Oregon food code; annual restaurant/mobile/plan-review fees are quoted by phone rather than posted online
  • Temporary restaurant licenses ARE published: Benevolent (non-profit) $77; Non-benevolent (for-profit) $256; Jackson County Fair $387; rush processing (received less than 4 days before the event) adds $50
  • Seasonal/intermittent temporary restaurant licenses are offered but amounts are quoted by phone
  • License renewals are handled through the myhealthdepartment.com online portal

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
CatererJackson County licenses caterers but does not publish the fee online; call Environmental Public Health at 541-774-8206Caterer is a licensed food service class in Jackson County
Commissary / central preparation kitchencommissary/base-of-operation fee is not published online; call 541-774-8206Required for mobile units; fee quoted by phone
Temporary / seasonal eventTemporary restaurant: Benevolent (non-profit) $77; Non-benevolent (for-profit) $256; Jackson County Fair $387; rush processing (received <4 days before the event) adds $50Seasonal/intermittent temporary licenses also offered; those amounts are quoted by phone
Pushcart / mobile vendingmobile unit license fee (Class I-IV per OAR 333-162-0020) is not published online; call 541-774-8206Mobile units are defined in OAR 333-162-0000; commissary required

Equipment your Jackson 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 Jackson County with its neighbors.

Siskiyou County, CA
Restaurant permit: $200
Douglas County, OR
Restaurant permit: $180
Josephine County, OR
Restaurant permit: $180
Klamath County, OR
Restaurant permit: $180

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

  1. Confirm whether Jackson 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 Jackson County?

Jackson County does not publish its restaurant/food service license fee schedule online; the county's Food Services page states 'Plan review and license fee information is available by calling our office at 541-774-8206.' Oregon county-administered programs set their own fees under ORS 624.490 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Jackson County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: plan review fee is not published online; the county directs applicants to call Environmental Public Health at 541-774-8206 (a dedicated Restaurant & Pool Plan Review line is 541-774-7824)

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units are defined in OAR 333-162-0000; Oregon classifies mobile units Class I-IV by food-handling; A commissary/base of operations is required

Who issues food permits in Jackson County?

Food permits here are issued by Jackson County Health & Human Services, Environmental Public Health (Medford). 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.
Oregon 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: jacksoncountyor.gov · www.jacksoncountyor.gov · jacksoncountyor.gov · oregon.public.law · observed 2026-08-07
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026