Local permits & fees

Kenosha County, WI Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Kenosha County Public Health (Environmental Health Services) · department site →

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

Kenosha County food-facility health permits run about $263–$796 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $164–$437. Confirm the exact amount with Kenosha County Public Health (Environmental Health Services) 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 Kenosha County Public Health (Environmental Health Services) issues the health permit.

About 378 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 167,488. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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

Retail Food Establishment - Serving Meals License

Retail Serving Meals total license fee (eff; 4/1/2026):

Pre-packaged $263, Simple $613, Moderate $680, High Complexity $796

Fees set by complexity categorization; Retail Not Serving Meals: Simple $281, Moderate $698, High Complexity $1,424. Late fee $100 (failure to renew before July 1); Change-of-operator pre-inspection $82-$273

Plan review — required

Pre-inspection / plan review $164-$437 for new establishments

Reach the department

Phone262-605-6700

OfficeKenosha County Division of Health, 8600 Sheridan Road, Suite 600, Kenosha, WI 53143

Websitewww.kenoshacountywi.gov →

Inspection grading

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

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Retail Food Establishment

Mobile Service Base (no food processing) $100
mobiles serving/not-serving priced under same complexity categories as fixed establishments

Transient TCS Food $177; Inspection fee (all retail temporary/transient) $30

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 Kenosha County’s permit cost compares

At about $263/year, Kenosha County’s restaurant health permit is above the Wisconsin median ($159) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 91% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 14th-lowest of 18 Wisconsin 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 378 food & drinking establishments serve ~167,488 residents in Kenosha County — one per ~443 residents, sparser than the Wisconsin average (one per ~430).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$263 annual health permit + $164 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.

Equipment your Kenosha 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 Kenosha County with its neighbors.

Lake County, IL

Restaurant permit: See page

McHenry County, IL

Restaurant permit: $175

Allegan County, MI

Restaurant permit: $30

Racine County, WI

Restaurant permit: See page

Walworth County, WI

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 Kenosha 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 Kenosha County?

Retail Serving Meals total license fee (eff; 4/1/2026): Pre-packaged $263, Simple $613, Moderate $680, High Complexity $796 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Kenosha County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Pre-inspection / plan review $164-$437 for new establishments

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Transient TCS Food $177; Inspection fee (all retail temporary/transient) $30

Who issues food permits in Kenosha County?

Food permits here are issued by Kenosha County Public Health (Environmental Health Services). 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.

Wisconsin 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.kenoshacountywi.gov · www.kenoshacountywi.gov · www.kenoshacountywi.gov · observed 2026-08-21