Restaurants and food trucks.
Mahoning County food-facility health permits run about $28–$1,511 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $100–$800. Confirm the exact amount with Mahoning County Public Health (MCPH), Food Safety Program (county general health district serving Youngstown and Mahoning County) 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 Mahoning County Public Health (MCPH), Food Safety Program (county general health district serving Youngstown and Mahoning County) issues the health permit.
About 517 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 225,596. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Fee schedule active Feb 1, 2026; Dec 31, 2026. Ohio-standardized risk Level 1 (lowest risk) through Level 4 (highest risk); Level IV includes catering operations; A 25% delinquent (late) fee is added if application/payment is not postmarked by March 1. Fees set per Ohio Admin; Code 3701-36-14
Turnaround: State law permits the health department 30 days to approve plans or request more information
Ohio local health districts inspect under the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code (risk-based, critical/non-critical violations); no letter grade or score.
Mobile license priced by risk; no plan review fee for mobiles; A commissary/servicing base is required under Ohio law
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | Licensed as an FSO at Level 4 (highest risk): commercial less than 25,000 sq ft $735.00; 25,000 sq ft or greater $1,511.00 (incl; $28 state portion) | Ohio classifies catering food service operations as a Level IV activity per ORC 3717.01(G); priced on the FSO risk schedule |
| Bakery / food processing | wholesale operations and home bakeries are licensed by the Ohio Dept; of Agriculture, not MCPH; A retail bakery is licensed as an RFE on the risk-based schedule (e.g., less than 25,000 sq ft Level 1 $286.00 up to Level 4 $735.00) | Ohio splits wholesale/home bakery (ODA) from retail bakery (RFE) |
| Grocery / market with deli | Retail Food Establishment (RFE) on the same risk schedule as restaurants: commercial less than 25,000 sq ft $286.00 (Level 1), $318.00 (Level 2), $585.00 (Level 3), $735.00 (Level 4); 25,000 sq ft or greater $401.00-$1,511.00 by level (incl; $28 state portion) | Ohio licenses grocery/markets as RFE; a store with a deli/prep area rises in risk level, priced identically to FSO |
| Temporary / seasonal event | $133.00 per event (commercial) | Flat temporary FSO/RFE license fee on the Feb 1-Dec 31, 2026 schedule |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | Mobile FSO/RFE: High-Risk $180.00, Low-Risk $104.00 (each incl; $28 state portion); Vending: $25.60 per machine ($19.60 + $6 state) | Mobile license priced by risk; a commissary/servicing base is required; Vending machines are a separate line |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Mahoning County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →