Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Municipal Board of Health (Massachusetts food licensing is MUNICIPAL - each city/town Board of Health licenses under 105 CMR 590; there is NO Middlesex County health department). Representative city: Cambridge Inspectional Services Department. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Middlesex County food-facility health permits run about $50–$100 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Municipal Board of Health (Massachusetts food licensing is MUNICIPAL - each city/town Board of Health licenses under 105 CMR 590; there is NO Middlesex County health department). Representative city: Cambridge Inspectional Services 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 Municipal Board of Health (Massachusetts food licensing is MUNICIPAL - each city/town Board of Health licenses under 105 CMR 590; there is NO Middlesex County health department). Representative city: Cambridge Inspectional Services Department. issues the health permit.
Cities with their own health department: Cambridge, Lowell, Newton, Somerville, Framingham, Waltham, Malden, Medford, Arlington. Food businesses inside these cities apply to the city health department (with its own fees and rules), not Middlesex County. Confirm which authority covers your exact address.
About 3,754 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 1,623,952. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Non-alcohol $50.00 + $2.00 per seat (legal capacity)
Alcohol $100.00 + $2.00 per seat
Massachusetts has NO county-level health department; food establishment permits are issued and priced by each municipality's Board of Health under state code 105 CMR 590. Fees vary city to town; Cambridge (a Middlesex County city) is shown as a representative schedule; Lowell, Newton, Framingham, etc; each set their own fees
Plan review — required
Cambridge'
s published fee schedule does not list a separate plan-review line item
plan review is handled by the local Board of Health as part of new-establishment approval
Local boards of health inspect under 105 CMR 590 / FDA Food Code; no letter grade; inspection reports are public records posted online by the municipality.
Inspection scores & grading
Grading system: pass-fail (town/city-level; no county health dept, no letter grade). Massachusetts has NO county health departments - each city/town Board of Health inspects and posts its own reports under 105 CMR 590 / FDA Food Code; the state Division of Food Protection oversees. URL shown is the principal city (Cambridge ISD) example; other towns run their own portals.
Mobile Food Server permit (municipal - Cambridge example)
Cambridge $200.00
Each municipality permits mobile food units under 105 CMR 590; a truck typically needs a permit in EACH city/town where it operates; Commissary required; Fees differ by municipality
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Middlesex County’s permit cost compares
At about $50/year, Middlesex County’s restaurant health permit is below the Massachusetts median ($162) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 19% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 1st-lowest of 2 Massachusetts 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 3,754 food & drinking establishments serve ~1,623,952 residents in Middlesex County — one per ~433 residents, denser than the Massachusetts average (one per ~447).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$50 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.
The full approval stack
A code-compliant kitchen in Middlesex County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.
Operators must obtain a permit separately in each municipality where they operate
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
Cambridge $100.00
MA licensing is municipal (105 CMR 590); Cambridge shown as a representative Middlesex city; Fees vary by town
commissary / commercial food processing
Cambridge: Commercial Food Processing $100.00
Cambridge lists 'Commercial Food Processing' as the closest commissary/central-kitchen category
bakery / food processing
Cambridge: Bakery (Retail) $125.00
Retail bakery category on the Cambridge schedule
bar / limited food service
Cambridge: Food establishment (Alcohol) $100.00 + $2.00 per seat
Alcohol-serving food establishment tier; non-alcohol is $50 + $2/seat
grocery / market with deli
Cambridge: Retail Food Store $200.00 + $100.00 per 500 sq ft of selling area; Package Store $300.00 + $100.00 per 500 sq ft
Retail food store schedule (Cambridge); A deli/prep area may add a food establishment permit
temporary / seasonal event
Cambridge: Temporary Food Handler's Permit $25.00
Used for special events and farmers markets
pushcart / mobile vending
Cambridge: Mobile Food Server $200.00
Each municipality issues its own mobile permit; a truck typically needs one in every town where it operates
Equipment your Middlesex 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.
Cambridge: Non-alcohol $50.00 + $2.00 per seat (legal capacity); Alcohol $100.00 + $2.00 per seat These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Middlesex County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Cambridge's published fee schedule does not list a separate plan-review line item; plan review is handled by the local Board of Health as part of new-establishment approval; Confirm fee with the specific municipality
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Middlesex County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Each municipality permits mobile food units under 105 CMR 590; a truck typically needs a permit in EACH city/town where it operates; Commissary required; Fees differ by municipality
Who issues food permits in Middlesex County?
Food permits here are issued by Municipal Board of Health (Massachusetts food licensing is MUNICIPAL - each city/town Board of Health licenses under 105 CMR 590; there is NO Middlesex County health department). Representative city: Cambridge Inspectional Services Department.. 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