Lake County Health Department - Food Safety Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Lake County food-facility health permits run about $150–$460 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Lake County Health Department - Food Safety 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 Lake County Health Department - Food Safety Division issues the health permit.
About 1,042 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 500,598. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Preparation (Food Service Establishment) Permit - annual, by number of employees
$150 (1-4 employees)
$210 (5-9)
$240 (10-14)
$270 (15-19)
$300 (20-24)
$320 (25-29)
$350 (30-34)
$380 (35-39)
$400 (40-44)
$430 (45-49)
$460 (50+)
(County ordinance Ch
112, per Ord
993B
current through 2026 S-14 supplement.)
Locally administered by the Lake County Health Department (Crown Point; Gary / NW Indiana); Unusually, the annual permit fee is set by NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES per establishment, not by risk level or square footage; New establishments applying July-December pay 50% of the fee; Seasonal operations pay 1/3 (<=4 months) or 1/2 (4-6 months) of the annual fee; Religious, fraternal, educational, charitable and civic organizations are exempt from fees; Late renewal (after March 1) = double fee
Plan review — required
the county food ordinance (Ch
112) does not establish a separate published plan-review dollar fee
a pre-opening inspection is required for new food service establishments before operation
Confirm any plan-review/pre-inspection fee with the Lake County Health Department Food Safety Division (219-755-3655 / 219-755-3000)
Lake County (Gary/Hammond) General Health District inspects under Indiana Retail Food code (410 IAC 7-24); no letter grade. Reports are public records available on request.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Preparation Establishment Permit
$25 annual
The mobile permit is waived if the mobile unit operates under a valid permanent or temporary food preparation establishment permit (with that permit number displayed on the unit)
Set by county ordinance Ch; 112(H); Indiana requires a commissary/base of operations for mobile units under 410 IAC 7-24
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Lake County’s permit cost compares
At about $150/year, Lake County’s restaurant health permit is above the Indiana median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 66% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 46th-lowest of 63 Indiana 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 1,042 food & drinking establishments serve ~500,598 residents in Lake County — one per ~480 residents, denser than the Indiana average (one per ~577).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$150 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
Locally administered; Lake County Health Department Food Safety Division licenses food establishments for Gary and NW Indiana under Ordinance Ch; 112 and 410 IAC 7-24
Annual permit fee scales by NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ($150 for 1-4 up to $460 for 50+) rather than by risk level; unusual among the counties surveyed
Grocery stores without delicatessens are priced separately at $0.40 per 100 sq ft (minimum $30)
Temporary food permit $15 per continuous operation; Mobile $25 (waived if under a valid permanent/temporary permit)
Fee schedule derives from Ord; 993B (1984), last amended 2012 (Ord; 1336A-1); still current through the 2026 S-14 code supplement; confirm no newer fee ordinance with the department
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Grocery / market with deli
$0.40 per 100 square feet, minimum fee $30 (Grocery Store Permits WITHOUT delicatessens); A grocery with a delicatessen/food-prep area is instead licensed as a Food Preparation permit by employee count ($150-$460)
County ordinance Ch; 112(E)(1)(b) prices grocery stores without delis by square footage; adding a deli shifts it to the employee-based food preparation permit
Temporary / seasonal event
$15 per any one continuous operation at any location (temporary food preparation establishment or grocer); Existing seasonal establishments pay 1/3 (<=4 months) or 1/2 (4-6 months) of the annual fee
Flat $15 temporary fee under Ch; 112(G); seasonal proration applies to permanent establishments operating part of the year
Pushcart / mobile vending
$25 annual (Mobile Food Preparation Establishment); Waived if the mobile unit operates under a valid permanent or temporary permit with that permit number displayed
County ordinance Ch; 112(H); Indiana requires a commissary/base of operations under 410 IAC 7-24
Equipment your Lake 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.
$150 (1-4 employees); $210 (5-9); $240 (10-14); $270 (15-19); $300 (20-24); $320 (25-29); $350 (30-34); $380 (35-39); $400 (40-44); $430 (45-49); $460 (50+); (County ordinance Ch; 112, per Ord; 993B; current through 2026 S-14 supplement.) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Lake County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: the county food ordinance (Ch; 112) does not establish a separate published plan-review dollar fee; a pre-opening inspection is required for new food service establishments before operation; Confirm any plan-review/pre-inspection fee with the Lake County Health Department Food Safety Division (219-755-3655 / 219-755-3000)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Lake County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Set by county ordinance Ch; 112(H); Indiana requires a commissary/base of operations for mobile units under 410 IAC 7-24
Who issues food permits in Lake County?
Food permits here are issued by Lake County Health Department - Food Safety 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