Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Panhandle Health District (PHD), Environmental Health Section / Food Program · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Kootenai County food-facility health permits run about $160 annually. Plan review runs about $100. Confirm the exact amount with Panhandle Health District (PHD), Environmental Health Section / Food 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 Panhandle Health District (PHD), Environmental Health Section / Food Program issues the health permit.
About 428 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 185,010. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 License (annual)
$160 (food service license
the fee PHD states for a new license / change of ownership)
PHD does not publish a full public food fee schedule online; $160 is the figure stated in PHD application materials for issuing a new license; An annual application and fee is required (Idaho Code 39-1604); an application without the license fee is not processed
Plan review — required
$100 (plan review fee for new or remodeling establishments, per PHD application materials)
No letter grade statewide; Panhandle Health District posts inspection results online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Service License
$80 (mobile operating without a commissary or with a currently licensed food establishment) / $100 (operating with an unlicensed commissary)
$100 one-time plan review for new/remodeled units
One license fee covers the mobile unit for the entire calendar year statewide as long as the same menu is served; A pre-operation inspection at a PHD office is required before a license is issued
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Kootenai County’s permit cost compares
At about $160/year, Kootenai County’s restaurant health permit is below the Idaho median ($200) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 67% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 1st-lowest of 36 Idaho 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 428 food & drinking establishments serve ~185,010 residents in Kootenai County — one per ~432 residents, denser than the Idaho average (one per ~472).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$160 annual health permit + $100 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
PHD serves the five northern Idaho counties including Kootenai (Coeur d'Alene); Kootenai office at 8500 N; Atlas Rd., Hayden, 208-415-5220
Kootenai County itself does not issue food permits; the county FAQ directs applicants to Panhandle Health District 1
PHD does not post itemized dollar amounts for annual restaurant licenses online; fees are stated on individual application packets and confirmed by the office
Cities (e.g., Coeur d'Alene) may require a separate local mobile-vendor/fire permit in addition to the PHD food license
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Pushcart / mobile vending
$80 (mobile operating without a commissary or with a currently licensed food establishment) / $100 (with an unlicensed commissary); $100 one-time plan review
One PHD license covers the unit statewide for the calendar year with the same menu; pre-operation inspection required
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
a commissary letter is required for mobile units, but PHD does not publish a distinct commissary permit fee online
Contact Panhandle Health District Environmental Health (208-415-5220) to confirm classification
Bakery / food processing
PHD licenses food processors/wholesalers but does not publish the processor/wholesaler license fee online
Application-Processor form required; fee confirmed by the office
Temporary / seasonal event
PHD does not publish a temporary food service license fee amount online; no additional fee applies for additional events in the same calendar year with the same menu
Per PHD temporary food service application materials
Equipment your Kootenai 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.
$160 (food service license; the fee PHD states for a new license / change of ownership) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Kootenai County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $100 (plan review fee for new or remodeling establishments, per PHD application materials)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Kootenai County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. One license fee covers the mobile unit for the entire calendar year statewide as long as the same menu is served; A pre-operation inspection at a PHD office is required before a license is issued
Who issues food permits in Kootenai County?
Food permits here are issued by Panhandle Health District (PHD), Environmental Health Section / Food 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