Local permits & fees

Madison County, AL Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Madison County Health Department - Environmental Health (Division of Food, Milk & Lodging), under Alabama Dept of Public Health (ADPH) · 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 Madison County Health Department - Environmental Health (Division of Food, Milk & Lodging), under Alabama Dept of Public Health (ADPH) issues the health permit.

About 826 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 412,600. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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

Food/Lodging Establishment Permit (ADPH Rules Ch. 420-3-22)

ADPH requires a permit and '
appropriate fee,'
but fees are set/collected locally and Madison County'
s food permit fee schedule is not published online

State standards under ADPH Chapter 420-3-22; permitting/fees administered at the county level

Plan review — required

plan review required for new construction/remodel
dollar fee not published online, confirm with Madison County Environmental Health

Turnaround: Health permits reported to process in ~2-3 weeks

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(256) 539-3711

Office301 Max Luther Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35811

Websitewww.alabamapublichealth.gov →

Plan reviewwww.alabamapublichealth.gov →

Inspection grading

Numeric score

Alabama Dept. of Public Health 0–100 inspection score; posted at the establishment and in the ADPH food scores database.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit permit

not published on official sources
confirm with Madison County Environmental Health
A separate City of Huntsville business license also applies

A commissary/base of operation is generally required; ADPH delegates mobile-unit permitting to the county

How to apply

Forms & applications →

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

How Madison County’s permit cost compares

At about $200/year, Madison County’s restaurant health permit is above the Alabama median ($118) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 77% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 5th-lowest of 6 Alabama 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 826 food & drinking establishments serve ~412,600 residents in Madison County — one per ~500 residents, denser than the Alabama average (one per ~692).

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.

Watch out for

Permits issued under ADPH Food Establishment Sanitation Rules Chapter 420-3-22
Fees are set and collected by the county health department, not a statewide schedule
A separate City of Huntsville business license is required in addition to the health permit
Temporary food service establishment permits are required for events (amount not published for Madison County)

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
temporary/special-event	required for events but Madison County's amount is not published online; confirm with Madison County Environmental Health (256) 533-8726	ADPH-delegated; no statewide fee schedule published; No separate caterer/commissary/bakery/deli/bar/pushcart categories are published for Madison County

Equipment your Madison 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 Madison County with its neighbors.

Jackson County, AL

Restaurant permit: See page

Limestone County, AL

Restaurant permit: See page

Marshall County, AL

Restaurant permit: See page

Morgan County, AL

Restaurant permit: See page

Franklin County, TN

Restaurant permit: $100

Lincoln County, TN

Restaurant permit: $100

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Madison 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 Madison County?

ADPH requires a permit and 'appropriate fee,' but fees are set/collected locally and Madison County's food permit fee schedule is not published online These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Madison County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: plan review required for new construction/remodel; dollar fee not published online, confirm with Madison County Environmental Health

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. A commissary/base of operation is generally required; ADPH delegates mobile-unit permitting to the county

Who issues food permits in Madison County?

Food permits here are issued by Madison County Health Department - Environmental Health (Division of Food, Milk & Lodging), under Alabama Dept of Public Health (ADPH). 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.

Alabama 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.alabamapublichealth.gov · www.alabamapublichealth.gov · observed 2026-08-07