Local permits & fees

Lincoln County, WA Food Facility Permits & Fees

Q: How much is a food permit in Lincoln County?

$200/year (Simple); $250 (Moderate); $300 (Complex) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Q: Is plan review required in Lincoln County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.

Q: Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Lincoln County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food units permitted under the food establishment schedule (by risk); dedicated mobile dollar amount not separately published; Temporary food permit $35/day (max $140), +$15 if <7 days notice

Q: Who issues food permits in Lincoln County?

Food permits here are issued by Lincoln County Health Department. See the department site for current details.

Q: 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.

Restaurants and food trucks.

Lincoln County Health Department · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Lincoln County food-facility health permits run about $200–$300 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Lincoln County Health 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 Lincoln County Health Department issues the health permit.

About 15 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 11,738. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Service Permit

$200/year (Simple)
$250 (Moderate)
$300 (Complex)

Per the Lincoln County (WA) food establishment permit fee schedule (Board of County Commissioners resolution): Complex Food Establishment $300, Moderate $250, Simple $200, Grocery $200, School Cafeteria $200, Senior Center $65. Grocery with special departments adds $25 per deli, meat department, or bakery; Late fee (>7 days) +$85. Prorated for new establishments by start month (25%/50%/100%)

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Phone(509) 725-1001

Office90 Nichols Street, Davenport, WA 99122

Websitewww.lincolncountywa.com →

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.

Mobile food units permitted under the food establishment schedule (by risk); dedicated mobile dollar amount not separately published; Temporary food permit $35/day (max $140), +$15 if <7 days notice

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.

How Lincoln County’s permit cost compares

At about $200/year, Lincoln County’s restaurant health permit is below the Washington median ($292) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 77% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 9th-lowest of 30 Washington 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 15 food & drinking establishments serve ~11,738 residents in Lincoln County — one per ~783 residents, sparser than the Washington average (one per ~521).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$200 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.

Equipment your Lincoln 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 Lincoln County with its neighbors.

Adams County, WA

Restaurant permit: See page

Ferry County, WA

Restaurant permit: $149

Grant County, WA

Restaurant permit: $336

Okanogan County, WA

Restaurant permit: See page

Spokane County, WA

Restaurant permit: $290

Stevens County, WA

Restaurant permit: $149

Whitman County, WA

Restaurant permit: $200

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Lincoln 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.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Lincoln County?

$200/year (Simple); $250 (Moderate); $300 (Complex) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Lincoln County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Lincoln County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food units permitted under the food establishment schedule (by risk); dedicated mobile dollar amount not separately published; Temporary food permit $35/day (max $140), +$15 if <7 days notice

Who issues food permits in Lincoln County?

Food permits here are issued by Lincoln County Health Department. 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.

Washington statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: www.lincolncountywa.com · www.lincolncountywa.com · observed 2026-08-21