Local permits & fees

Livingston County, MI Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.

Livingston County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. In Michigan, restaurant (food service establishment) licenses are issued through the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) but administered locally by the county EH division, which conducts plan review and collects a county license fee PLUS a $30 state fee. Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county. · 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 Livingston County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. In Michigan, restaurant (food service establishment) licenses are issued through the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) but administered locally by the county EH division, which conducts plan review and collects a county license fee PLUS a $30 state fee. Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county. issues the health permit.

About 292 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 196,757. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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

Fixed Food Service Establishment License

County license fee by seating capacity PLUS $30 state fee: 0-25 seats $650+$30
26-50 seats $780+$30
51-75 seats $910+$30
76+ seats $1,040+$30. School full-service $650+$30
school satellite $520+$30

Applications are processed through MDARD; the county sets the local license fee and adds the $30 state fee; Operating without a license carries a $520 penalty; Low-risk consultation (limited food) $130+$9

Plan review — required

Fixed; new/major remodel:

$1,300 (0-100 seating) or $1,560 (101+ seating)
change of ownership $260. Mobile &
TFU
new $780
change of ownership $390. HACCP review $1,040
variance request $520

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(517) 546-9858

OfficeLivingston County Health Dept, Environmental Health, 2300 E Grand River Ave, Suite 102, Howell, MI 48843

Websitemilivcounty.gov →

Plan reviewmilivcounty.gov →

Inspection grading

Routine inspection — no public letter grade

Michigan local health departments inspect under the Michigan Food Law/FDA Food Code (priority/core violations); no letter grade or score. Reports on MDARD's online Food Inspection Postings (MiSafe).

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Establishment License (STFU / Mobile)

Mobile Establishment $260 + $30 state fee
Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU/TFU) license $260 + $44 state fee
Mobile plan review $780 (new) / $390 (change of ownership)

Food trucks operating in Livingston County file an 'Intent to Operate in Livingston County' form; TFU inspection $90; TFU late fee $65

How to apply

Livingston County fees & payment information →Forms & applications →

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

Local food-service market

About 292 food & drinking establishments serve ~196,757 residents in Livingston County — one per ~674 residents, sparser than the Michigan average (one per ~501).

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

Watch out for

Livingston County EH: 2300 E Grand River Ave, Suite 102, Howell, MI 48843; (517) 546-9858; FoodTeam@livgov.com
All food service license fees are stated as 'county fee + $30 state fee'
Temporary food: $260+$9 (applied 5+ days before event) or $390+$9 (less than 5 days before)
Mobile Commissary license $260+$30
Retail grocery/markets are licensed by MDARD (state), not the county

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen	$260 + $30 state fee	Mobile Commissary license
Grocery / market with deli	retail grocery/markets are licensed by MDARD (state), not Livingston County; see MDARD license type guide	County EH handles restaurants/food service; MDARD handles retail grocery
Temporary / seasonal event	$260 + $9 (applied 5+ days before event); $390 + $9 (less than 5 days before)	Temporary food establishment license (county fee + state fee); TFU inspection $90; TFU late fee $65
Pushcart / mobile vending	$260 + $30 state fee (Mobile Establishment); STFU/TFU license $260 + $44 state fee	Mobile plan review $780 new / $390 change of ownership; 'Intent to Operate in Livingston County' form required

Equipment your Livingston 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 Livingston County with its neighbors.

Genesee County, MI

Restaurant permit: $360

Ingham County, MI

Restaurant permit: $500

Jackson County, MI

Restaurant permit: $30

Oakland County, MI

Restaurant permit: See page

Shiawassee County, MI

Restaurant permit: $401

Washtenaw County, MI

Restaurant permit: $30

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Livingston 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.

Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Livingston County?

County license fee by seating capacity PLUS $30 state fee: 0-25 seats $650+$30; 26-50 seats $780+$30; 51-75 seats $910+$30; 76+ seats $1,040+$30. School full-service $650+$30; school satellite $520+$30 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Livingston County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Fixed; new/major remodel: $1,300 (0-100 seating) or $1,560 (101+ seating); change of ownership $260. Mobile & TFU; new $780; change of ownership $390. HACCP review $1,040; variance request $520

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Food trucks operating in Livingston County file an 'Intent to Operate in Livingston County' form; TFU inspection $90; TFU late fee $65

Who issues food permits in Livingston County?

Food permits here are issued by Livingston County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. In Michigan, restaurant (food service establishment) licenses are issued through the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) but administered locally by the county EH division, which conducts plan review and collects a county license fee PLUS a $30 state fee. Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county.. 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.

Michigan 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: milivcounty.gov · milivcounty.gov · www.michigan.gov · observed 2026-08-07