Florida Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide licensing); Florida Dept. of Health in Lee County handles local environmental health matters · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Lee County food-facility health permits run about $262–$357 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Florida Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide licensing); Florida Dept. of Health in Lee County handles local environmental health matters 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 Florida Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide licensing); Florida Dept. of Health in Lee County handles local environmental health matters issues the health permit.
About 1,504 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 834,573. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
State DBPR Division of Hotels & Restaurants inspects; outcome is met-standards / warning / emergency closure with violations listed, no letter grade; searchable statewide online database.
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Lee County’s permit cost compares
At about $262/year, Lee County’s restaurant health permit is above the Florida median ($242) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 91% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 64th-lowest of 66 Florida 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 1,504 food & drinking establishments serve ~834,573 residents in Lee County — one per ~555 residents, denser than the Florida average (one per ~701).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$262 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
FL restaurants/food trucks are DBPR state-licensed; no separate county restaurant permit exists in Lee County
Local FL Dept of Health in Lee County covers wells/septic and complaint follow-up, not restaurant licensing
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
$263/yr
DBPR statewide (Div; of Hotels & Restaurants) full-year fee; $136.50 half-year; +$50 new-license application fee; +$10 HEP fee (not prorated); Any licensed public food service establishment may also cater without a separate license
theme-park cart
$262/yr (1-5 carts)
DBPR Theme Park Food Cart license; $136 half-year for 1-5 carts, rising to $357/yr for 26+ carts; For carts operating within a theme park/entertainment complex
DBPR Temporary Food Service Event vendor license; annual covers multiple events; Temporary licensees may not cater
Equipment your Lee 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.
$262 (1-49 seats) / $273 (50-149) / $294 (150-249) / $315 (250-349) / $336 (350-499) / $357 (500+), annual These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Lee County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Lee County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Statewide DBPR license; plan review required unless buying an approved unit or owned similar business within 2 yrs
Who issues food permits in Lee County?
Food permits here are issued by Florida Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide licensing); Florida Dept. of Health in Lee County handles local environmental health matters. 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