Kitsap Public Health District, Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Kitsap County food-facility health permits run about $340–$800 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $265–$855. Confirm the exact amount with Kitsap Public Health District, Environmental Health Division 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 Kitsap Public Health District, Environmental Health Division issues the health permit.
About 549 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 277,658. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
2026 fee schedule (Board Resolution 2025-06) consolidated permanent food establishments into two risk classes (Low/High) based on menu and food-prep processes; Change-of-ownership application (no menu/equipment change) is $165
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Kitsap County’s permit cost compares
At about $340/year, Kitsap County’s restaurant health permit is above the Washington median ($292) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 96% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 22nd-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 549 food & drinking establishments serve ~277,658 residents in Kitsap County — one per ~506 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 ~$340 annual health permit + $265 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
Washington uses a risk-based classification; Kitsap collapsed it to Low Risk vs High Risk for 2026
Fee schedule effective January 1, 2026 (Board Resolution 2025-06)
Temporary permit-exempt food events are No Charge
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
Single Event: Permit-Exempt Food No Charge / Limited $110 / Complex $165; Recurring Event: Permit-Exempt No Charge / Limited $130 / Complex $240, 2026; source https://www.kitsappublichealth.org/_files/ugd/461036_aeec6d4d2edf4965924bee119a9b1a77.pdf
Single-event permits valid up to 21 days; recurring/seasonal and farmers-market booths priced separately; Applications due 14 days prior
Pushcart / mobile vending
$995 (Mobile Units plan review); annual permit per risk class $340 (Low) / $800 (High), 2026; source https://www.kitsappublichealth.org/_files/ugd/461036_aeec6d4d2edf4965924bee119a9b1a77.pdf
Mobile units pay a plan review plus the permanent food establishment annual permit by risk class
Equipment your Kitsap 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.
$340 (Low Risk Class) / $800 (High Risk Class), effective Jan 1, 2026; source https://www.kitsappublichealth.org/_files/ugd/461036_aeec6d4d2edf4965924bee119a9b1a77.pdf These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Kitsap County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $855 (Food Establishment Plan Review; All Other Establishments); $265 (Change in Menu and/or Equipment Review); $445 (Special Process Plan Review); $265 (Variance Request Review), 2026; source https://www.kitsappublichealth.org/_files/ugd/461036_aeec6d4d2edf4965924bee119a9b1a77.pdf
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Kitsap County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units require a plan review ($995) and then pay the permanent food establishment annual permit by risk class
Who issues food permits in Kitsap County?
Food permits here are issued by Kitsap Public Health District, Environmental Health Division. 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