Local permits & fees

Kent County, MI Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Kent County Health Department - Environmental Health (Food Safety Services), Grand Rapids · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the 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 Kent County Health Department - Environmental Health (Food Safety Services), Grand Rapids issues the health permit.

About 1,316 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 661,354. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 (annual; licensed by local health department under Michigan Food Law)

400

Confirm with EH at (616) 632-6900. 700 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(616) 632-6900

OfficeKent County Health Dept, Environmental Health, 700 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Websitewww.kentcountymi.gov →

Plan reviewwww.kentcountymi.gov →

Inspection grading

Routine inspection — no public letter grade

Kent County (Grand Rapids) Health Dept inspects under the Michigan Food Law/FDA Food Code; no letter grade, reports posted online.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Establishment / Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) license

400

Separate STFU & Mobile Facilities Plan Review Application required

How to apply

Kent County fees & payment information →Forms & applications →

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

Local food-service market

About 1,316 food & drinking establishments serve ~661,354 residents in Kent County — one per ~503 residents, sparser than the Michigan average (one per ~501).

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

Watch out for

Inspection reports available via the department's online portal (inspections.kentcountyhealth.org)
Distinct plan-review applications for fixed major renovation, partial (change of ownership), STFU/mobile, and temporary food

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
caterer	—	Kent County Health Department names 'catering operations' among the food operations it regulates but publishes no fee schedule online; In Michigan a caterer operates under a food service establishment license issued by the county; fees are set locally and not posted on the department page
bar/tavern	—	'Bars' are listed among regulated fixed food service establishments; no separate fee published online
temporary/seasonal/special-event	—	Temporary Food Facilities (operations up to 14 consecutive days at a fixed location, i.e; temporary food events) are licensed via a dedicated application; the fee is not posted on the department page

Equipment your Kent 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 Kent County with its neighbors.

Allegan County, MI

Restaurant permit: $30

Barry County, MI

Restaurant permit: $701

Ionia County, MI

Restaurant permit: See page

Montcalm County, MI

Restaurant permit: See page

Muskegon County, MI

Restaurant permit: $30

Newaygo County, MI

Restaurant permit: $600

Ottawa County, MI

Restaurant permit: $372

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Kent 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 Kent County?

400 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Kent County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Separate STFU & Mobile Facilities Plan Review Application required

Who issues food permits in Kent County?

Food permits here are issued by Kent County Health Department - Environmental Health (Food Safety Services), Grand Rapids. 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.kentcountymi.gov · inspections.kentcountyhealth.org · www.michigan.gov · observed 2026-08-07