Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Waco-McLennan County Public Health District - Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
McLennan County food-facility health permits run about $258–$685 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $150. Confirm the exact amount with Waco-McLennan County Public Health District - Environmental Health Division 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 Waco-McLennan County Public Health District - Environmental Health Division issues the health permit.
About 539 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 268,583. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 (risk-based)
Effective 2025-09-01:
Low Risk $258
Medium Risk $475
High Risk $685 per year
Late payment fee $100; re-inspection $200; reinstatement of suspended permit $350; school inspections $258 (2/yr); farmers market $100
Plan review — required
$150 additional pre-opening/consultation (one free per establishment)
Waco-McLennan County Public Health uses Texas TFER demerit scoring (100 minus demerits); reports public.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Vendor Permit
$258/year (county rate
superseded)
Texas moved mobile-food permitting to state DSHS eff; 2026-07-01 (HB 2844); vendors who cook onboard faced large state fee increases; Verify current route/fee with DSHS
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How McLennan County’s permit cost compares
At about $258/year, McLennan County’s restaurant health permit is about the Texas median ($258) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 91% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 159th-lowest of 247 Texas 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 539 food & drinking establishments serve ~268,583 residents in McLennan County — one per ~498 residents, denser than the Texas average (one per ~566).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$258 annual health permit + $150 plan review.
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
Temporary food permit $52 (single event 1-14 days); $104 if submitted <3 business days prior; multi-event annual $200
Central Prep Facility/Commissary $165/year
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Food Establishment Permit (fixed) - priced by Risk Category
Low $258 / Medium $475 / High $685
Distinct scheme: risk-based tiers, not named categories; No separate caterer/bakery/bar/grocery-deli categories published (Waco-McLennan County Public Health District)
Central Preparation Facility / Commissary
$165
Farmers Market
$100
School Inspections
$258
Two inspections per year
Child Care / Adult Care General Sanitization Inspection
Equipment your McLennan 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.
Effective 2025-09-01: Low Risk $258; Medium Risk $475; High Risk $685 per year These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in McLennan County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $150 additional pre-opening/consultation (one free per establishment); Variance/HACCP evaluation $150
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in McLennan County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Texas moved mobile-food permitting to state DSHS eff; 2026-07-01 (HB 2844); vendors who cook onboard faced large state fee increases; Verify current route/fee with DSHS
Who issues food permits in McLennan County?
Food permits here are issued by Waco-McLennan County Public Health District - 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.
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026