Restaurants and food trucks.
Kenton County food-facility health permits run about $125–$340 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Northern Kentucky Health Department - Food Safety (serves Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton counties; Kenton includes Covington in the Cincinnati metro) 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 Northern Kentucky Health Department - Food Safety (serves Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton counties; Kenton includes Covington in the Cincinnati metro) issues the health permit.
About 324 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 171,321. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Locally administered by the Northern Kentucky Health Department under the statewide permit-and-fee regulation 902 KAR 45:110. NKY's published seating-based fees are higher than the state regulation's base seating charges because NKY layers its own local fee structure; Permits are annual
Kentucky retail food code (902 KAR 45:005): 0–100 score with green/red placarding; below 60 closes; results posted publicly.
The NKY food permits page does not restate a mobile fee, but the statewide regulation 902 KAR 45:110 (which NKY administers) sets the Statewide Mobile Food Unit permit at $200/year and a mobile retail food store at $60/year; a Statewide Mobile Food Unit permit carries statewide reciprocity; A commissary/base of operations is required; Confirm which category applies with NKY (859-341-4151)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | $135 (Catering operation) | Catering is a distinct add-on fee on the NKY food permits schedule / 902 KAR 45:110 |
| Grocery / market with deli | Retail food outlet by square footage: $90 (up to 1,000 sq ft); $155 (1,001-10,000); $215 (10,001-20,000); $250 (20,001-30,000); $375 (over 30,000) | NKY 'Retail Food Outlets' category, priced by square footage (mirrors 902 KAR 45:110) |
| Bakery / food processing | not broken out with its own fee; a retail bakery is permitted either as a Food Service Establishment (by seating) or a Retail Food Outlet (by square footage, $90-$375); Confirm classification with NKY (859-341-4151) | No dedicated bakery line; classification depends on operation type |
| Temporary / seasonal event | $60 (1-3 days); $90 (4-7 days); $125 (8-14 days); Under 902 KAR 45:110, farmers-market temporary is $100 and a restricted food concession is $125/year | NKY 'Temporary Food Outlets' category by number of days |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | $200 (Statewide Mobile Food Unit, per 902 KAR 45:110); $60 (mobile retail food store, per 902 KAR 45:110) | NKY page does not restate a mobile fee; amounts are from statewide 902 KAR 45:110 which NKY administers; Statewide Mobile Food Unit permit carries reciprocity; commissary required; Confirm with NKY (859-341-4151) |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Kenton County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →