Local permits & fees

Kauai County, HI Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH), Food Safety Branch — permit issued under Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 11, Chapter 50 'Food Safety Code'; statewide fee schedule administered through island DOH offices (Oahu, Hilo, Kona, Maui/Molokai, Kauai). · department site →

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

Kauai County food-facility health permits run about $100–$400 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH), Food Safety Branch — permit issued under Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 11, Chapter 50 'Food Safety Code'; statewide fee schedule administered through island DOH offices (Oahu, Hilo, Kona, Maui/Molokai, Kauai). 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 Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH), Food Safety Branch — permit issued under Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 11, Chapter 50 'Food Safety Code'; statewide fee schedule administered through island DOH offices (Oahu, Hilo, Kona, Maui/Molokai, Kauai). issues the health permit. Hawaii sets food-establishment permit fees at the state level; Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH), Food Safety Branch — permit issued under Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 11, Chapter 50 'Food Safety Code'; statewide fee schedule administered through island DOH offices (Oahu, Hilo, Kona, Maui/Molokai, Kauai). is the licensing authority. If your city or county runs its own health department, local fees and rules may also apply — confirm for your exact address.

About 240 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 73,851. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)

Last verified: 2026-08-21 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 / license (state-set)

Risk- and size-based per the DOH statewide Permit Fees Schedule
Restaurant
small (≤1,000 sq ft): Risk Category 1 = $300, Category 2 = $200, Category 3 = $100. Restaurant
large (>
1,000 sq ft): Category 1 = $400, Category 2 = $300, Category 3 = $200. (Risk category set by DOH based on number/type of food operations per HAR.)

Set at the state level by Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH), Food Safety Branch; permit issued under Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 11, Chapter 50 'Food Safety Code'; statewide fee schedule administered through island DOH offices (Oahu, Hilo, Kona, Maui/Molokai, Kauai); a single statewide fee schedule; Effective Fee schedule on official DOH application form dated 08/2021 (SAN APP FOOD 08/2021); observed current 2026-08-21. Where a city or county runs its own health department it may set local fees instead

Plan review — check locally

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Websitehealth.hawaii.gov →

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile food establishment (state-set)

Mobile Establishment:

Risk Category 1 = $300, Category 2 = $200, Category 3 = $100

State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements

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 Kauai County’s permit cost compares

At about $100/year, Kauai County’s restaurant health permit is about the Hawaii median ($100) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 45% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 4th-lowest of 5 Hawaii 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 240 food & drinking establishments serve ~73,851 residents in Kauai County — one per ~308 residents, denser than the Hawaii average (one per ~376).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$100 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 Kauai 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

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Kauai 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 Kauai County?

Risk- and size-based per the DOH statewide Permit Fees Schedule; Restaurant; small (≤1,000 sq ft): Risk Category 1 = $300, Category 2 = $200, Category 3 = $100. Restaurant; large (>1,000 sq ft): Category 1 = $400, Category 2 = $300, Category 3 = $200. (Risk category set by DOH based on number/type of food operations per HAR.) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements

Who issues food permits in Kauai County?

Food permits here are issued by Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH), Food Safety Branch — permit issued under Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 11, Chapter 50 'Food Safety Code'; statewide fee schedule administered through island DOH offices (Oahu, Hilo, Kona, Maui/Molokai, Kauai).. 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.

Hawaii 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: health.hawaii.gov · health.hawaii.gov · observed 2026-08-21