Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Larimer County Department of Health & Environment (LCDHE), Environmental Health - Food Safety Program · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Larimer County food-facility health permits run about $338–$894 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $96–$580. Confirm the exact amount with Larimer County Department of Health & Environment (LCDHE), Environmental Health - Food Safety 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 Larimer County Department of Health & Environment (LCDHE), Environmental Health - Food Safety Program issues the health permit.
About 869 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 370,771. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Fees follow the Colorado statewide retail food fee schedule (effective CY2026; increasing in later years); LCDHE, 1525 Blue Spruce Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80524; (970) 498-6775
No letter grades; Larimer posts restaurant/grocery inspection results online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Establishment / Retail Food License (mobile)
Mobile Food Unit
Prepackaged $338
Mobile Food Unit
Full Food Service $481 (CO statewide 2026)
LCDHE distinguishes 'mobile units' (service from inside the unit) from 'carts' (service from outside); Commissary agreement required; for multi-day events commissary must be within 60 min/60 miles; HB25-1295 added statewide mobile reciprocity
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Larimer County’s permit cost compares
At about $338/year, Larimer County’s restaurant health permit is about the Colorado median ($338) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 96% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 33rd-lowest of 64 Colorado 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 869 food & drinking establishments serve ~370,771 residents in Larimer County — one per ~427 residents, denser than the Colorado average (one per ~428).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$338 annual health permit + $96 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
License fees track the Colorado statewide retail food fee schedule, so Larimer amounts match other CO counties (e.g., Boulder, Arapahoe)
License fee increases are scheduled for 2026 and beyond under the phased statewide schedule
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Caterer
$481 / $538 / $581
Larimer retail food licensing follows the Colorado statewide fee schedule (SB 25-285, 2026 fees for licenses issued on/after Sept 1, 2025); Caterers licensed by seating like restaurants: 0-100 seats $481, 101-200 $538, 200+ $581
Market / grocery with deli
$469 / $894
2026 statewide schedule: grocery with deli $469 (<15,001 sq ft) / $894 (>15,000 sq ft); grocery without deli $244 / $441
Limited food service / pushcart
$338
Limited food service establishment 2026 fee $338 (statewide); Larimer food safety page lists pushcarts among mobile/pushcart units
Commissary / central kitchen
—
No separate commissary license category; commissaries are licensed as retail food establishments; Vendors at multi-day events must operate from an approved commissary within 60 minutes / 60 miles of the event, with a written commissary agreement filed with the vendor application
Bakery
—
Retail bakeries licensed as retail food establishments; wholesale/manufacturing bakeries fall under CDPHE Manufactured Food, not the county retail program; No standalone bakery fee published
Food processing / wholesale
—
Food processors/manufacturers regulated by CDPHE Manufactured Food & Consumer Packaged Goods program, not Larimer County retail food licensing; Larimer food safety page lists 'food processors' among regulated operations but publishes no county fee
Equipment your Larimer 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.
Restaurant 0-100 seats $481; 101-200 seats $538; 200+ seats $581; Limited Food Service $338; Grocery w/deli $469 (<=15k sqft) to $894 (>15k); No-fee license for K-12 schools & qualifying non-profits These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Larimer County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Plan Review Application $155; On-site review + pre-opening inspection $288 (+ $96/hour after 3 hours); hourly rate $96/hr; (Mobile plan review historically capped, not to exceed $580.)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Larimer County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. LCDHE distinguishes 'mobile units' (service from inside the unit) from 'carts' (service from outside); Commissary agreement required; for multi-day events commissary must be within 60 min/60 miles; HB25-1295 added statewide mobile reciprocity
Who issues food permits in Larimer County?
Food permits here are issued by Larimer County Department of Health & Environment (LCDHE), Environmental Health - Food Safety 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