Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Kankakee County food-facility health permits run about $200–$350 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Kankakee County Health 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 Kankakee County Health Department issues the health permit.
About 232 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 105,940. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 (Annual Food License)
Category I:
$350
Category II: $300
Category III: $200
Risk-based annual fee per the Annual Fee Schedule on the food license application; Licenses renew annually, due by Jan 1; late fee $100 after Jan 15, $200 after Jan 30. Full EH fee schedule (2026) published separately by the dept
Mobile Unit is a listed license type; fee follows risk category; Amount not published on public page
How to apply
See the department site above.
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Kankakee County’s permit cost compares
At about $200/year, Kankakee County’s restaurant health permit is above the Illinois median ($125) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 77% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 51st-lowest of 62 Illinois 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 232 food & drinking establishments serve ~105,940 residents in Kankakee County — one per ~457 residents, denser than the Illinois average (one per ~483).
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.
Equipment your Kankakee 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Kankakee 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a food permit in Kankakee County?
Category I: $350; Category II: $300; Category III: $200 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Kankakee County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Kankakee County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile Unit is a listed license type; fee follows risk category; Amount not published on public page
Who issues food permits in Kankakee County?
Food permits here are issued by Kankakee County Health Department. 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