Local permits & fees

Maricopa County, AZ Food Facility Permits

Restaurants and food trucks.

Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (MCESD), Environmental Health Division · 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 Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (MCESD), Environmental Health Division issues the health permit.

About 8,663 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 4,585,871. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment Permit (annual, by risk class)

Fee not published online — contact the department.

MCESD prices annual food establishment permits by class and does not publish amounts inline (directs applicants to the EnerGov fee schedule); left null; Confirm via the Permit Center portal

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Turnaround: Not published

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(602) 506-6824

Office1645 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85006

Websitewww.maricopa.gov →

Plan reviewwww.maricopa.gov →

Inspection grading

Letter grade (A/B/C)

Maricopa offers a voluntary A/B/C grade card based on priority/priority-foundation violations; all inspection reports posted in an online database.

Inspection scores & grading

Grading system: Letter grade A/B/C/D (voluntary grade card). Maricopa County Environmental Services assigns A/B/C/D based on Priority and Priority Foundation violations; grade-card posting is voluntary. All inspection reports are public on the county food-inspection search.

Look up Maricopa County restaurant inspection scores →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Establishment permit (Type I / II / III)

Fee not published online — contact the department.

Type I (prepackaged/low-risk, no onboard handling), Type II (limited handling/prep), Type III (full onboard cooking of TCS foods); Annual permit fee is invoiced after approval via the EnerGov portal; specific amounts not published on the county page (null)

How to apply

Maricopa 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 8,663 food & drinking establishments serve ~4,585,871 residents in Maricopa County — one per ~529 residents, denser than the Arizona average (one per ~597).

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

The full approval stack

A code-compliant kitchen in Maricopa County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.

Building / plans	City of Phoenix Planning & Development Dept. (SHAPE PHX) · 602-262-7811
Fire marshal	Phoenix Fire Department - Fire Prevention
Zoning / planning	City of Phoenix Planning & Development Dept. - Zoning · 602-262-7811
Sewer / grease	City of Phoenix Water Services Dept. - Environmental / industrial waste (grease)
Business license	No general AZ business license; City of Phoenix Transaction Privilege (Sales) Tax license (+ AZ DOR)

Watch out for

1) Arizona-style reciprocity: MCESD accepts mobile units approved under state licensing requirements with no plan review, plan review fee, or facility inspection (attestation form + docs, then invoice)
2) A commissary agreement, toilet-use agreement, route sheet and unit photos are required with mobile applications

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
caterer	—	Food caterers operating at special events (permit listed on Food Permits page); fee not published
temporary/seasonal/special-event	—	Temporary/Seasonal Food Establishment Permit; fee not published on page (see county fee schedule)
market/grocery with deli	—	Micro Market Permit listed; fee not published

Equipment your Maricopa 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 Maricopa County with its neighbors.

Gila County, AZ

Restaurant permit: See page

La Paz County, AZ

Restaurant permit: See page

Pima County, AZ

Restaurant permit: $236

Pinal County, AZ

Restaurant permit: $64

Yavapai County, AZ

Restaurant permit: See page

Yuma County, AZ

Restaurant permit: See page

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Maricopa 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

Is plan review required in Maricopa County?

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

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

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Type I (prepackaged/low-risk, no onboard handling), Type II (limited handling/prep), Type III (full onboard cooking of TCS foods); Annual permit fee is invoiced after approval via the EnerGov portal; specific amounts not published on the county page (null)

Who issues food permits in Maricopa County?

Food permits here are issued by Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (MCESD), Environmental Health Division. 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.

Arizona 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.maricopa.gov · www.maricopa.gov · www.maricopa.gov · observed 2026-08-06