Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Monroe County food-facility health permits run about $103–$309 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Monroe County Health 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 Monroe County Health Department issues the health permit.
About 77 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 34,957. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
High Risk $309 / Medium Risk $206 / Low Risk $103 (2026)
Annual fee by risk level; Late fee $100 first month + $50 each additional month after Dec 31. Waterloo, IL department
Mobile food units permitted (in-county and out-of-county); fee amounts not published online
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 Monroe County’s permit cost compares
At about $103/year, Monroe County’s restaurant health permit is below the Illinois median ($125) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 46% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 24th-lowest of 62 Illinois 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 77 food & drinking establishments serve ~34,957 residents in Monroe County — one per ~454 residents, denser than the Illinois average (one per ~483).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$103 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County?
High Risk $309 / Medium Risk $206 / Low Risk $103 (2026) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Monroe County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Monroe County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food units permitted (in-county and out-of-county); fee amounts not published online
Who issues food permits in Monroe County?
Food permits here are issued by Monroe County Health 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