Kansas Department of Agriculture - Food Safety & Lodging (statewide restaurant/retail/mobile licensing); Johnson County Community Health Services - Environmental Health (temporary food event permits) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Johnson County food-facility health permits run about $200–$750 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Kansas Department of Agriculture - Food Safety & Lodging (statewide restaurant/retail/mobile licensing); Johnson County Community Health Services - Environmental Health (temporary food event permits) 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 Kansas Department of Agriculture - Food Safety & Lodging (statewide restaurant/retail/mobile licensing); Johnson County Community Health Services - Environmental Health (temporary food event permits) issues the health permit.
About 1,200 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 622,237. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Kansas Food Establishment License (issued by KDA)
Kansas Food Establishment License (issued by KDA):
50,000+ $750. Typical small restaurant first year ~$450, renewal ~$250/yr
source https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch65/065_006_0088.html and https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/licenses/food-and-lodging-applications-and-licenses/license-information-food-safety
AUTHORITY: Restaurants in Johnson County are licensed by the STATE (Kansas Dept of Agriculture), not the county; KDA license fees are SIZE-BASED (square footage), NOT category-based; the Category I-IV designations govern inspection frequency, not the fee; Application fee $200 is paid on initial licensing only (statutory cap $350 per K.S.A; 65-688); Licenses run Apr 1-Mar 31 and are not prorated; School lunch program $415/yr; satellite school lunch $340/yr; (Prior record's category-based totals were incorrect and have been replaced with the size-based schedule.)
Plan review — required
plan review is administered by KDA as part of licensing
a separate itemized plan-review dollar fee is not published
Kansas Dept of Agriculture Food Safety & Lodging inspects statewide under the Kansas Food Code (risk-based); no letter grade or score. Reports on KDA's online inspection portal.
Food truck / mobile permit
Kansas Food Establishment License - Mobile Unit (issued by KDA)
Kansas Food Establishment License; Mobile Unit (issued by KDA):
same size-based schedule ($200 one-time application + annual license $250-$750 by size)
most mobile units fall in the smallest tier (~$250/yr license)
Mobile units file the KDA Mobile Unit Log with the standard Food Establishment Application; Johnson County Community Health Services issues local TEMPORARY food event permits ($100 per unit)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Johnson County’s permit cost compares
At about $200/year, Johnson County’s restaurant health permit is above the Kansas median ($190) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 77% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 101st-lowest of 105 Kansas 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 1,200 food & drinking establishments serve ~622,237 residents in Johnson County — one per ~519 residents, sparser than the Kansas average (one per ~514).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$200 annual health permit.
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
KEY: Kansas licenses food establishments at the STATE level via KDA; the county health agency (Johnson County Community Health Services) handles temporary/event food permits, not annual restaurant licenses
Category I-IV designations set inspection frequency, not fee amount; School lunch program $415/yr; satellite $340/yr
Johnson County temporary food event permit is $100 per unit ($100 late fee if <14 days prior)
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Bakery / food processing
Licensed by KDA as a food establishment; annual license fee is SIZE-based ($250-$750 by square footage) + $200 application; source https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/licenses/food-and-lodging-applications-and-licenses/license-information-food-safety
Licensed by the state (KDA), not the county; A separate KDA food processor license applies to wholesale/manufacturing operations
Bar / limited food service
Licensed by KDA as a food establishment (drinking establishments included); annual license fee SIZE-based ($250-$750) + $200 application; source https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/licenses/food-and-lodging-applications-and-licenses/license-information-food-safety
Licensed by the state (KDA); Fee is driven by facility square footage, not menu
Temporary / seasonal event
$100 per unit (non-refundable); $100 late fee if received <14 days prior; source https://johnsoncountyhealth.org/temporary-food-permit/
Temporary food event permits are issued LOCALLY by Johnson County Community Health Services (Environmental Health), not by KDA
Pushcart / mobile vending
Licensed by KDA as a mobile food unit; SIZE-based annual license ($250-$750) + $200 application; most carts fall in the smallest tier (~$250/yr); source https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/licenses/food-and-lodging-applications-and-licenses/license-information-food-safety
Mobile units file the KDA Mobile Unit Log with the standard Food Establishment Application
Equipment your Johnson 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.
Kansas Food Establishment License (issued by KDA): one-time application fee $200 (initial only) + annual license fee by facility SIZE; under 5,000 sq ft $250; 5,000 to <10,000 $300; 10,000 to <50,000 $500; 50,000+ $750. Typical small restaurant first year ~$450, renewal ~$250/yr; source https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch65/065_006_0088.html and https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/licenses/food-and-lodging-applications-and-licenses/license-information-food-safety These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Johnson County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: plan review is administered by KDA as part of licensing; a separate itemized plan-review dollar fee is not published
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Johnson County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units file the KDA Mobile Unit Log with the standard Food Establishment Application; Johnson County Community Health Services issues local TEMPORARY food event permits ($100 per unit)
Who issues food permits in Johnson County?
Food permits here are issued by Kansas Department of Agriculture - Food Safety & Lodging (statewide restaurant/retail/mobile licensing); Johnson County Community Health Services - Environmental Health (temporary food event permits). 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