Local permits & fees

Kings County, CA Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.

Kings County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Services (EHS) · 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 Kings County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Services (EHS) issues the health permit.

About 202 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 152,682. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Vending Facility Permit (CalCode)

Kings County DPH lists permit applications online but does not publish a food-facility fee schedule on its website
no dollar figure available from a published source

CalCode retail food program covering restaurants, bars, markets, school cafeterias, bakeries, produce stands and vending; Contact EHS (559) 584-1401 for current fees

Plan review — required

a Plan Check application is required but no plan check fee is published on the county site

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(559) 584-1441

Office330 Campus Drive, Hanford, CA 93230

Websitewww.kcdph.com →

Plan reviewwww.kcdph.com →

Inspection grading

Routine inspection — no public letter grade

No placard or letter grade; Kings County posts inspection reports (public records) online by city.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Vending Permit

mobile food vending permit application is provided but fee amount is not published online

Separate Commissary permit application also required for mobile operators

How to apply

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 202 food & drinking establishments serve ~152,682 residents in Kings County — one per ~756 residents, sparser than the California average (one per ~491).

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

Watch out for

CalCode jurisdiction administered by Kings County DPH Environmental Health Services in Hanford
Website enumerates permit types (Food Vending Facility, Non-Profit/School, Plan Check, Temporary Event, Mobile Food Vending, Commissary, Cottage Food) but publishes no fee amounts
City of Hanford separately regulates mobile food vendors (Municipal Code Ch; 5.64), which requires a valid Kings County DPH food vending permit

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen	Commissary permit application provided by Kings County DPH but no fee published online	Required for mobile food vendors
Temporary / seasonal event	Temporary Events Food Vendor and Coordinator applications provided but fees not published online	Separate vendor and event-coordinator permits
Pushcart / mobile vending	Mobile Food Vending permit application provided but fee not published online	CalCode mobile food facility

Equipment your Kings 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 Kings County with its neighbors.

Fresno County, CA

Restaurant permit: See page

Kern County, CA

Restaurant permit: $155

Monterey County, CA

Restaurant permit: $1,495

San Luis Obispo County, CA

Restaurant permit: $545

Tulare County, CA

Restaurant permit: $743

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Kings 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 Kings County?

Kings County DPH lists permit applications online but does not publish a food-facility fee schedule on its website; no dollar figure available from a published source These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Kings County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: a Plan Check application is required but no plan check fee is published on the county site

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Separate Commissary permit application also required for mobile operators

Who issues food permits in Kings County?

Food permits here are issued by Kings County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Services (EHS). 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.

California 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.kcdph.com · www.kcdph.com · ecode360.com · observed 2026-08-07