Local permits & fees

Lewis County, WA Food Facility Permits

Restaurants and food trucks.

Lewis County Public Health & Social Services (Environmental Health) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department 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 Lewis County Public Health & Social Services (Environmental Health) issues the health permit.

About 184 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 86,154. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)

Last verified: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment Permit

Fee not published online — contact the department.

Annual permit expires Dec 31; renewed annually; Fees paid via Accela online permit center; the annual permit fee schedule by risk category is not published on the public site (re-inspection fee $155 noted); Permitting: (360) 740-1214

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Phone(360) 740-1222

Office125 NW Chehalis Ave, Chehalis, WA 98532

Websitelewiscountywa.gov →

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit

Fee not published online — contact the department.

Fee not published online

How to apply

See the department site above.

Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.

Local food-service market

About 184 food & drinking establishments serve ~86,154 residents in Lewis County — one per ~468 residents, denser than the Washington average (one per ~521).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

Equipment your Lewis 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.

Compartment sinks

3-bay wash / rinse / sanitize — sized to your menu

Hand sinks

required in prep, cook & warewashing areas

Grease traps / interceptors

sized by drainage fixture units

Reach-in refrigeration

cold-holding at 41°F or below

Work tables & surfaces

NSF-listed, non-absorbent

Hoods & ventilation

over cooking equipment; make-up air

Dishwashers

high-temp or chemical sanitizing

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Lewis County with its neighbors.

Cowlitz County, WA

Restaurant permit: $315

Grays Harbor County, WA

Restaurant permit: $418

Pacific County, WA

Restaurant permit: See page

Pierce County, WA

Restaurant permit: $817

Skamania County, WA

Restaurant permit: See page

Thurston County, WA

Restaurant permit: $200

Wahkiakum County, WA

Restaurant permit: See page

Yakima County, WA

Restaurant permit: $118

How to open: typical permitting sequence

This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.

Confirm whether Lewis County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
Confirm zoning and permitted use.
Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
Pay plan-review fees.
Respond to plan-check corrections.
Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
Receive approval before storing or preparing food.