Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Public Health - Seattle & King County (Environmental Health, Food & Facilities Program) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
King County food-facility health permits run about $441–$1,386 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $35–$1,008. Confirm the exact amount with Public Health - Seattle & King County (Environmental Health, Food & Facilities 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 Public Health - Seattle & King County (Environmental Health, Food & Facilities Program) issues the health permit.
About 6,332 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 2,271,380. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Permanent Food Service Business Permit
Risk-based annual permit (permit year Apr 1-Mar 31)
General Food Service 0-12 seats: Risk1 $441 / Risk2 $693 / Risk3 $945
13-50 seats: $441 / $756 / $1,008
51-150 seats: $441 / $756 / $1,134
151-250 seats: $441 / $882 / $1,260
over 250 seats: $441 / $945 / $1,386
Fee set by risk category (complexity of food handling); Bakery no-seating $567/$630; Grocery no-seating $441/$819; Nonprofit institution $441/$693/$1,260. Verified against official 2026 fee PDF
Plan review — required
4-hour base fee $1,008 + $252/hr after 4 hours
resubmitted plan review 2-hour base $504 + $252/hr after 2 hrs
changes to mobile/limited food service $504 + $252/hr after 2 hrs
multiple plan review in one facility $252/hr
commissary change $35
Turnaround: Must be approved BEFORE any construction begins; one preoperational inspection included; fees non-refundable
King County posts a required window rating sign — Excellent / Good / Okay / Needs to Improve — plus an online ratings search.
Inspection scores & grading
Grading system: Rating: Excellent / Good / Okay / Needs to Improve. Public Health - Seattle & King County assigns a four-tier food-safety rating based on inspection points and return inspections; searchable on a map-based lookup.
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How King County’s permit cost compares
At about $441/year, King County’s restaurant health permit is above the Washington median ($292) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 97% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 26th-lowest of 30 Washington 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 6,332 food & drinking establishments serve ~2,271,380 residents in King County — one per ~359 residents, denser than the Washington average (one per ~521).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$441 annual health permit + $35 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.
The full approval stack
A code-compliant kitchen in King County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.
Annual permit year runs April 1; March 31 (not calendar year)
Plan review must be approved before construction starts; one preoperational inspection is bundled into the plan review fee, and plan review fees are non-refundable
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
—
Catering and Home-Based Food Business permit; fee on separate service-fees page (not published here)
commissary/central kitchen
—
Commercial Commissary Kitchens permit; fee not published on page
bar/tavern
—
Beverage-Related Business (wine, beer, and distillery tasting rooms); fee not published
temporary/seasonal/special-event
—
Temporary Event Food Business (<21 days at one location); Farmers Market permit also offered; fee not published
market/grocery with deli
—
Micro-Market (Unattended Retail) permit; fee not published
Equipment your King 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.
Risk-based annual permit (permit year Apr 1-Mar 31); General Food Service 0-12 seats: Risk1 $441 / Risk2 $693 / Risk3 $945; 13-50 seats: $441 / $756 / $1,008; 51-150 seats: $441 / $756 / $1,134; 151-250 seats: $441 / $882 / $1,260; over 250 seats: $441 / $945 / $1,386 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in King County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: 4-hour base fee $1,008 + $252/hr after 4 hours; resubmitted plan review 2-hour base $504 + $252/hr after 2 hrs; changes to mobile/limited food service $504 + $252/hr after 2 hrs; multiple plan review in one facility $252/hr; commissary change $35
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in King County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units also require a mobile food plan review before operating; changes to mobile units billed at $504 + $252/hr after 2 hrs
Who issues food permits in King County?
Food permits here are issued by Public Health - Seattle & King County (Environmental Health, Food & Facilities 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