Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (restaurants); Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety (grocery/retail food stores). Restaurant and retail-food permitting in Florida is STATE-administered, not by the county. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Marion County food-facility health permits run about $242–$357 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $50. Confirm the exact amount with Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (restaurants); Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety (grocery/retail food stores). Restaurant and retail-food permitting in Florida is STATE-administered, not by the 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 Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (restaurants); Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety (grocery/retail food stores). Restaurant and retail-food permitting in Florida is STATE-administered, not by the county. issues the health permit.
About 509 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 409,959. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Public Food Service Establishment License (DBPR)
Annual, tiered by seating (statewide Rule 61C-1.008):
nonseating $242
1-49 seats $262
50-149 $273
150-249 $294
250-349 $315
350-499 $336
500+ $357. Plus $50 application fee (new/change of ownership)
Each fee includes a $10 Hospitality Education Program fee
Same statewide DBPR schedule applies in every FL county; there is no Marion-County-specific restaurant fee; Half-year rates available; Caterers licensed by DBPR at $262/yr
Plan review — required
DBPR charges no separate plan-review fee
plans/specs are submitted with the license application (form HR-7030 combined, or HR-7005 plan review), covered by the $50 application fee
State DBPR Division of Hotels & Restaurants inspects; outcome is met-standards / warning / emergency closure with violations listed, no letter grade; searchable statewide online database.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle (MFDV) / Hot Dog Cart License (DBPR)
$347/yr (half-year $178.50)
plus $50 application fee
Statewide DBPR fee; MFDVs must be affiliated with a licensed commissary; FDACS-regulated mobile units (selling packaged/retail food) instead pay $300 under Rule 5K-4.020
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Marion County’s permit cost compares
At about $242/year, Marion County’s restaurant health permit is about the Florida median ($242) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 80% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 45th-lowest of 66 Florida 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 509 food & drinking establishments serve ~409,959 residents in Marion County — one per ~805 residents, sparser than the Florida average (one per ~701).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$242 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.
FDACS retail-food annual permit examples: supermarket $650, grocery store $540, convenience store $330, retail bakery $355, wholesale bakery $530, meat market $455, seafood market $410, mobile vendor $300
FDACS optional plan review starts at $55.10 ($25 application + $30.10 first hour)
Local Marion County (Ocala) business tax receipt is a separate local requirement
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Caterer
$262/yr (+ $50 application fee)
Licensed by DBPR as a public food service establishment (caterer classification), Rule 61C-1.008
Bar / limited food service
$242/yr nonseating (+ $50 application fee)
A bar with limited/nonseating food service is a DBPR public food service establishment at the nonseating rate
Grocery / market with deli
Annual FDACS permit by type (Rule 5K-4.020): supermarket $650; grocery store $540; convenience store $330; convenience w/ significant food service $475; meat market $455; seafood market $410; health food store $300
Regulated by FDACS Division of Food Safety, NOT DBPR; A deli/food-service component may add a DBPR license
DBPR temporary food service event license fee is not stated on the fee page consulted; typically issued to the event/vendor; FDACS semi-permanent vendor $195
DBPR MFDV / hot dog cart $347/yr (+ $50 application); FDACS mobile vendor $300/yr; semi-permanent vendor $195/yr
DBPR for prepared-food carts/trucks; FDACS for packaged/retail mobile units
Equipment your Marion 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.
Annual, tiered by seating (statewide Rule 61C-1.008): nonseating $242; 1-49 seats $262; 50-149 $273; 150-249 $294; 250-349 $315; 350-499 $336; 500+ $357. Plus $50 application fee (new/change of ownership); Each fee includes a $10 Hospitality Education Program fee These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Marion County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: DBPR charges no separate plan-review fee; plans/specs are submitted with the license application (form HR-7030 combined, or HR-7005 plan review), covered by the $50 application fee
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Marion County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Statewide DBPR fee; MFDVs must be affiliated with a licensed commissary; FDACS-regulated mobile units (selling packaged/retail food) instead pay $300 under Rule 5K-4.020
Who issues food permits in Marion County?
Food permits here are issued by Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (restaurants); Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety (grocery/retail food stores). Restaurant and retail-food permitting in Florida is STATE-administered, not by 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.
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026