Knox County Health Department - Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Knox County food-facility health permits run about $210–$360 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Knox County Health Department - 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 Knox County Health Department - Environmental Health Division issues the health permit.
About 1,081 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 500,669. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Service Establishment Permit
$210/yr (50 or fewer seats)
$360/yr (51+ seats)
Fees are set by TN state law (Rule 1200-23) and based on seating capacity; the environmental specialist identifies the applicable fee at the preliminary inspection; Amounts are the statewide state schedule (confirmed via Shelby County TN); Knox-specific published figure not separately posted
Two layers: KCHD issues the health/food permit (state mobile fee schedule applies; a commissary is generally required), and the City of Knoxville issues a separate Mobile Food Unit permit under its 04/26/16 ordinance for operating in the city/parks; Neither exact current dollar amount was published in reviewed sources
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Knox County’s permit cost compares
At about $210/year, Knox County’s restaurant health permit is above the Tennessee median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 78% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 88th-lowest of 94 Tennessee 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 1,081 food & drinking establishments serve ~500,669 residents in Knox County — one per ~463 residents, denser than the Tennessee average (one per ~706).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$210 annual health permit.
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
Plan review is free but required for new construction and remodels; it is separate from city/county building-department plan review
Temporary food establishment permit is $30 each
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
temporary/special-event
$30.00
"Temporary Food Establishment"; fixed location tied to an organized event, more than 1 day and up to 14 consecutive days; Other categories (caterer, commissary, bakery, market/deli, food processing) use state-of-Tennessee fees not published on accessible dept pages
Equipment your Knox 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.
$210/yr (50 or fewer seats); $360/yr (51+ seats) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Knox County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $0 (no fee)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Knox County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Two layers: KCHD issues the health/food permit (state mobile fee schedule applies; a commissary is generally required), and the City of Knoxville issues a separate Mobile Food Unit permit under its 04/26/16 ordinance for operating in the city/parks; Neither exact current dollar amount was published in reviewed sources
Who issues food permits in Knox County?
Food permits here are issued by Knox County Health Department - 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