Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), Food Safety & Lodging Program; fee caps set in K.S.A. 65-688 · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Meade County food-facility health permits run about $190–$1,100 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), Food Safety & Lodging Program; fee caps set in K.S.A. 65-688 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 Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), Food Safety & Lodging Program; fee caps set in K.S.A. 65-688 issues the health permit. Kansas sets food-establishment permit fees at the state level; Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), Food Safety & Lodging Program; fee caps set in K.S.A. 65-688 is the licensing authority. If your city or county runs its own health department, local fees and rules may also apply — confirm for your exact address.
About 6 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 3,911. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-21 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 / license (state-set)
Restaurants are licensed as '
Food'
establishments, fee by risk Category and facility square footage
Category I (cooks/cools/reheats TCS food
typical full-service restaurant), Application Fee + License Fee = Total: less than 5,000 sq ft = $300 + $250 = $550
5,000-10,000 sq ft = $325 + $300 = $625
10,001-50,000 sq ft = $350 + $500 = $850
over 50,000 sq ft = $350 + $750 = $1,100. Category II = $325 + $220 = $545. Category III (prepackaged/self-service only) = $275 + $190 = $465. New applications pay application fee + license fee
annual renewals pay the license fee only
Licenses run April 1-March 31
Set at the state level by Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), Food Safety & Lodging Program; fee caps set in K.S.A; 65-688; a single statewide fee schedule; Effective KDA application fee schedule rev; 2018-06-15; caps per K.S.A; 65-688. Where a city or county runs its own health department it may set local fees instead
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile food establishment (state-set)
Mobile units are licensed under the same '
Food'
application using the same risk-Category fee structure (no separate flat mobile fee published)
State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements
How to apply
See the department site above.
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Meade County’s permit cost compares
At about $190/year, Meade County’s restaurant health permit is about the Kansas median ($190) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 74% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 59th-lowest of 105 Kansas 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 6 food & drinking establishments serve ~3,911 residents in Meade County — one per ~652 residents, sparser than the Kansas average (one per ~514).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$190 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.
Equipment your Meade 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Meade 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a food permit in Meade County?
Restaurants are licensed as 'Food' establishments, fee by risk Category and facility square footage; Category I (cooks/cools/reheats TCS food; typical full-service restaurant), Application Fee + License Fee = Total: less than 5,000 sq ft = $300 + $250 = $550; 5,000-10,000 sq ft = $325 + $300 = $625; 10,001-50,000 sq ft = $350 + $500 = $850; over 50,000 sq ft = $350 + $750 = $1,100. Category II = $325 + $220 = $545. Category III (prepackaged/self-service only) = $275 + $190 = $465. New applications pay application fee + license fee; annual renewals pay the license fee only; Licenses run April 1-March 31 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Meade County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements
Who issues food permits in Meade County?
Food permits here are issued by Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), Food Safety & Lodging Program; fee caps set in K.S.A. 65-688. 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