Kanawha-Charleston Health Department (KCHD) - Environmental Health / Food Program · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Kanawha County food-facility health permits run about $125–$325 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $125–$325. Confirm the exact amount with Kanawha-Charleston Health Department (KCHD) - Environmental Health / Food Program 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 Kanawha-Charleston Health Department (KCHD) - Environmental Health / Food Program issues the health permit.
About 391 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 174,805. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment Permit to Operate
KCHD'
s published plan-review fee (a prerequisite to the food permit) is $125 (0-25 seats / B&
B), $225 (26-75 seats), $325 (76+ seats)
Confirm the annual permit fee via KCHD Environmental Health (304-348-8050) or the ENV_HEALTH_FEES fee schedule
Locally administered by the county health department (not state-administered); All food establishments must complete plan review before a permit is issued
Plan review — required
$125 (Food 0-25 seats / Bed and Breakfast)
$225 (Food 26-75 seats / Hotel 0-50 rooms)
$325 (Food 76+ seats / Hotel 51+ rooms)
Turnaround: Submit plans and specifications at least 45 days prior to construction, conversion or remodeling
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Kanawha County’s permit cost compares
At about $125/year, Kanawha County’s restaurant health permit is about the West Virginia median ($125) and about the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 57% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 20th-lowest of 55 West Virginia 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 391 food & drinking establishments serve ~174,805 residents in Kanawha County — one per ~447 residents, denser than the West Virginia average (one per ~640).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$125 annual health permit + $125 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
Locally administered; KCHD (108 Lee Street, East, Charleston) covers Kanawha County; not a state-run permit program
Plan review is mandatory before any food permit is issued; plans due 45+ days before construction/remodel
KCHD offers an online 'Pay My Invoice' portal for environmental-health fees
City of Charleston separately requires a business license and, for vendors, a Street Vending permit
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
Confirm with KCHD Environmental Health (304-348-8050)
KCHD publishes a Temporary Food Application; fee amount to be confirmed
Pushcart / mobile vending
KCHD issues a Mobile Food Unit health permit; Secondary guides cite roughly $250-$450/yr for Charleston operators; the City of Charleston also issues a separate Street Vending permit; Confirm KCHD amount at 304-348-8050
Two layers: KCHD health/food permit plus a City of Charleston street-vending permit
Equipment your Kanawha 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.
KCHD's published plan-review fee (a prerequisite to the food permit) is $125 (0-25 seats / B&B), $225 (26-75 seats), $325 (76+ seats); Confirm the annual permit fee via KCHD Environmental Health (304-348-8050) or the ENV_HEALTH_FEES fee schedule These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Kanawha County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $125 (Food 0-25 seats / Bed and Breakfast); $225 (Food 26-75 seats / Hotel 0-50 rooms); $325 (Food 76+ seats / Hotel 51+ rooms)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Kanawha County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Two layers: KCHD health/food permit plus a City of Charleston street-vending permit for operating in the city
Who issues food permits in Kanawha County?
Food permits here are issued by Kanawha-Charleston Health Department (KCHD) - Environmental Health / Food Program. 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