Local permits & fees

Kalamazoo County, MI Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services, Environmental Health Division (licenses food service establishments - restaurants). Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), not the county. 311 E. Alcott St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001; (269) 373-5210. · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Kalamazoo County food-facility health permits run about $30–$640 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $255–$1,370. Confirm the exact amount with Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services, Environmental Health Division (licenses food service establishments - restaurants). Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), not the county. 311 E. Alcott St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001; (269) 373-5210. 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 Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services, Environmental Health Division (licenses food service establishments - restaurants). Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), not the county. 311 E. Alcott St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001; (269) 373-5210. issues the health permit.

About 529 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 262,215. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 License (fixed location, annual)

Fixed, for-profit and schools $640.00 ($610 local + $30 state)
non-profit fixed $615.00 ($610 local + $5 state)
seasonal $335.00 ($305 + $30), non-profit seasonal $310.00

From Kalamazoo County EH Fee Schedule (2026); Total = local fee + state fee; Veterans licensed under 1921 PA 359 are exempt from a portion of the state fees; License year runs to April 30; late-application penalty $35/business day starting May 2

Plan review — required

Plan Review $685.00
Partial Plan Review $325.00
Change of Ownership $255.00
Specialized Processing/HACCP Review $305.00 (2026)
Penalty if construction begins before plan approval $1,370.00

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(269) 373-5210

OfficeKalamazoo County Health & Community Services, Environmental Health, 311 E Alcott St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Websitewww.kalcounty.gov →

Plan reviewwww.kalcounty.gov →

Inspection grading

Routine inspection — no public letter grade

Michigan local health departments inspect under the Michigan Food Law/FDA Food Code (priority/core violations); no letter grade or score. Reports on MDARD's online Food Inspection Postings (MiSafe).

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Service License / Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU)

Mobile Food Service License $320.00 ($290 local + $30 state)
Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) $269.00 ($225 + $44), non-profit STFU $230.00
STFU inspection fee (1st or 2nd inspection) $90.00 (2026)

STFU is Michigan's statewide mobile unit that can operate across MI local health jurisdictions

How to apply

Forms & applications →

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

How Kalamazoo County’s permit cost compares

At about $30/year, Kalamazoo County’s restaurant health permit is below the Michigan median ($372) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 4% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 8th-lowest of 63 Michigan 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 529 food & drinking establishments serve ~262,215 residents in Kalamazoo County — one per ~496 residents, denser than the Michigan average (one per ~501).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$30 annual health permit + $255 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

Michigan Food Law: local health departments license restaurants (food service establishments); MDARD licenses grocery/retail food markets; so a market with a deli may hold an MDARD license, not a county one
Temporary food $180.00 ($171 + $9), non-profit temporary $165.00 ($160 + $5)
Fee schedule is the '2026 EH Fee Schedule'; food fees stated as Local Fee + State Fee = Total

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Temporary / seasonal event	Temporary $180.00 ($171 local + $9 state), non-profit temporary $165.00 ($160 + $5); Seasonal $335.00 ($305 + $30), non-profit seasonal $310.00 (2026)	Local fee + state fee = total on the 2026 Kalamazoo County EH Fee Schedule
Pushcart / mobile vending	Mobile Food Service License $320.00 ($290 + $30); Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) $269.00 ($225 + $44), non-profit STFU $230.00; STFU inspection fee $90.00 (2026)	STFU can operate across Michigan local health jurisdictions
Grocery / market with deli	grocery/retail food markets in Michigan are licensed by MDARD (Michigan Dept; of Agriculture & Rural Development), not Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo County licenses restaurants (food service establishments) only

Equipment your Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo County with its neighbors.

Allegan County, MI

Restaurant permit: $30

Barry County, MI

Restaurant permit: $701

Branch County, MI

Restaurant permit: $465

Calhoun County, MI

Restaurant permit: See page

Cass County, MI

Restaurant permit: See page

St. Joseph County, MI

Restaurant permit: $250

Van Buren County, MI

Restaurant permit: See page

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Kalamazoo 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.

Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Kalamazoo County?

Fixed, for-profit and schools $640.00 ($610 local + $30 state); non-profit fixed $615.00 ($610 local + $5 state); seasonal $335.00 ($305 + $30), non-profit seasonal $310.00 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Kalamazoo County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Plan Review $685.00; Partial Plan Review $325.00; Change of Ownership $255.00; Specialized Processing/HACCP Review $305.00 (2026); Penalty if construction begins before plan approval $1,370.00

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. STFU is Michigan's statewide mobile unit that can operate across MI local health jurisdictions

Who issues food permits in Kalamazoo County?

Food permits here are issued by Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services, Environmental Health Division (licenses food service establishments - restaurants). Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), not the county. 311 E. Alcott St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001; (269) 373-5210.. 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.

Michigan 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: www.kalcounty.gov · www.kalcounty.gov · www.kalcounty.gov · observed 2026-08-07