Missoula City-County Health Department (Missoula Public Health) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Missoula County food-facility health permits run about $85–$115 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $145–$285. Confirm the exact amount with Missoula City-County Health Department (Missoula Public Health) 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 Missoula City-County Health Department (Missoula Public Health) issues the health permit.
About 310 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 121,849. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Retail Food Establishment (RFE) License
$85 (2 or fewer employees at any one time) or $115 (more than 2 employees) per year
Annual RFE license fee is set by Montana state law (MCA 50-50-205); Missoula Public Health collects it and performs inspection; Fee is the same regardless of establishment type; local plan review fees are additional
Plan review — required
$285 basic plan review
$145 modified (minor remodel, menu/equipment change, new operation in existing licensed facility, change of ownership, or HACCP/food-process review)
No letter grade; Missoula City-County Health posts a searchable inspection database.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Retail Food Establishment License
$85 or $115 per year (same employee-count RFE license) plus applicable plan review ($285 basic / $145 modified)
Mobiles licensed as retail food establishments; plan review required before operating; Vending within Missoula city limits also requires a city Itinerant Vendor business license
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Missoula County’s permit cost compares
At about $85/year, Missoula County’s restaurant health permit is about the Montana median ($85) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 34% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 32nd-lowest of 56 Montana 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 310 food & drinking establishments serve ~121,849 residents in Missoula County — one per ~393 residents, sparser than the Montana average (one per ~365).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$85 annual health permit + $145 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
Montana retail food establishment license is state-issued (DPHHS) with statewide fees ($85 / $115), collected and enforced locally by Missoula Public Health
License fee is identical across establishment types (food service, tavern/bar, meat market, bakery, deli, catering, school cafeteria, etc.); differentiation is by employee count only
County-set fees cover plan review, temporary-event permits and re-inspections ($215 food-safety re-inspection)
Licenses expire annually; itinerant vendors in the city expire Dec 31
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
$65 single-day / $75 multi-day / $85 recurring (small, <=2 employees); $95 single-day / $105 multi-day / $115 recurring (large, >=3 employees); plus temporary plan review $35 (5+ days ahead) up to $105 (day of event)
County-set Missoula Public Health temporary food service permit and plan-review fees
Pushcart / mobile vending
$85 or $115 per year (state RFE license by employee count) plus plan review ($285 basic / $145 modified)
Mobiles licensed as retail food establishments; city itinerant vendor license also required to vend in Missoula city limits
Equipment your Missoula 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.
$85 (2 or fewer employees at any one time) or $115 (more than 2 employees) 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 Missoula County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $285 basic plan review; $145 modified (minor remodel, menu/equipment change, new operation in existing licensed facility, change of ownership, or HACCP/food-process review)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Missoula County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobiles licensed as retail food establishments; plan review required before operating; Vending within Missoula city limits also requires a city Itinerant Vendor business license
Who issues food permits in Missoula County?
Food permits here are issued by Missoula City-County Health Department (Missoula Public Health). 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