Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Kern County Public Health Services Department - Environmental Health Division (Food & Consumer Protection Program) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Kern County food-facility health permits run about $155–$1,075 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $865. Confirm the exact amount with Kern County Public Health Services Department - Environmental Health Division (Food & Consumer Protection Program) 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 Kern County Public Health Services Department - Environmental Health Division (Food & Consumer Protection Program) issues the health permit.
About 1,440 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 913,820. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
High (RE11) $155+$920=$1,075. School cafeteria (RE06) $685. Food Facility
Market: Low (FM09) $420
Moderate (FM10) $675
High (FM11) $950. Limited prepackaged non-PHF (FFL01) $310
Every food facility pays a $155 application fee plus a risk-tiered permit fee (totals shown); Fees set by the Board of Supervisors (County Code Ch; 8.04); Verified from Kern EH Food Fees schedule
Plan review — required
Mobile food plan review (MP13) $865. A permanent-facility (restaurant) plan review fee is not itemized on the EH Food Fees schedule reviewed
plan review is required before applying for the health permit
Turnaround: Not published; Plan Review must be completed before applying for the health permit
high (MF17) $450. Mobile food plan review (MP13) $865
Most MFFs must use a commissary; a signed Commissary Use Agreement is required before the permit is issued; Single-event mobile/TFF tiers (MF18-20) run $65-$120
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Kern County’s permit cost compares
At about $155/year, Kern County’s restaurant health permit is below the California median ($491) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 66% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 2nd-lowest of 40 California 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 1,440 food & drinking establishments serve ~913,820 residents in Kern County — one per ~635 residents, sparser than the California average (one per ~491).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$155 annual health permit + $865 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.
Watch out for
Every food permit includes a flat $155 application fee on top of the risk-based permit fee
Most mobile food facilities must operate from a commissary and provide a signed Commissary Use Agreement before a permit is issued
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
—
No distinct caterer permit line; caterers permitted as a Food Facility (by risk) with a commissary; Fee schedule is risk-based, not type-named
commissary/central kitchen
$945
Non-Dedicated Commissary (MC01): Permit Fee $945 (Total new $1,100 incl; $155 application; renewal total $627.50)
bakery
—
No separate bakery permit; per Kern ordinance definition, bakeries are permitted under 'Food Facility; Market' risk categories (see market/grocery entry)
market/grocery with deli
$265
Food Facility; Market Permit Fee: Low Risk $265 (total $420), Moderate $520 (total $675), High $795 (total $950); Certified Farmer's Market $395 (total $550); Definition of Market includes markets, bakeries, and food processors
temporary/seasonal/special-event
$205
Temporary Food Facility Permit Fee: Low $205, Moderate $240, High $295 (add $155 application); Single Event: Low $65 / Moderate $90 / High $120. Community event organizer: Small (1-5 vendors) $360, Medium (6-15) $465, Large (16+) $630 (permit fee)
pushcart/limited operation
$155
Limited Prepackaged; Non PHF (FL01): Permit Fee $155 (total $310); Push carts are permitted as Mobile Food Facility low risk (permit fee $175)
food processing/wholesale
—
No separate wholesale/food-processing permit; per ordinance definition food processors are permitted under 'Food Facility; Market' risk categories (see market/grocery entry)
Equipment your Kern 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.
Annual (Kern EH 'Food Fees' schedule = $155 application fee + risk-based permit fee); Food Facility (restaurant): Low risk (RE09) $155+$295=$450; Moderate (RE10) $155+$625=$780; High (RE11) $155+$920=$1,075. School cafeteria (RE06) $685. Food Facility; Market: Low (FM09) $420; Moderate (FM10) $675; High (FM11) $950. Limited prepackaged non-PHF (FFL01) $310 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Kern County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Mobile food plan review (MP13) $865. A permanent-facility (restaurant) plan review fee is not itemized on the EH Food Fees schedule reviewed; plan review is required before applying for the health permit
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Kern County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Most MFFs must use a commissary; a signed Commissary Use Agreement is required before the permit is issued; Single-event mobile/TFF tiers (MF18-20) run $65-$120
Who issues food permits in Kern County?
Food permits here are issued by Kern County Public Health Services Department - Environmental Health Division (Food & Consumer Protection Program). 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