Monroe County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. Fees are set by Monroe County Code Section 310 (as amended by Ordinance 2025-48). Retail food service establishments are licensed annually with fees tiered by number of employees. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Monroe County food-facility health permits run about $165–$600 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $100. Confirm the exact amount with Monroe County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. Fees are set by Monroe County Code Section 310 (as amended by Ordinance 2025-48). Retail food service establishments are licensed annually with fees tiered by number of employees. 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, Environmental Health Division. Fees are set by Monroe County Code Section 310 (as amended by Ordinance 2025-48). Retail food service establishments are licensed annually with fees tiered by number of employees. issues the health permit.
About 336 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 139,342. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Service Establishment License (annual)
By number of employees:
1-5 employees $165
6-10 $330
11-20 $495
21+ $600. Change of ownership $165
Partial-year establishments opening 1-3 months prior to the licensing year pay 50% of the annual fee; Renewal due by Feb 28/29; late fees (as of 2025 ordinance) run high; late-fee policy revised to 100% of the license for the first month, then additional monthly amounts
Plan review — required
$100 one-time plan review / new establishment construction fee
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 $165/year, Monroe County’s restaurant health permit is above the Indiana median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 67% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 54th-lowest of 63 Indiana 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 336 food & drinking establishments serve ~139,342 residents in Monroe County — one per ~415 residents, denser than the Indiana average (one per ~577).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$165 annual health permit + $100 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
Retail food annual fees are tiered by employee count ($165 / $330 / $495 / $600)
Seasonal Retail Food Establishments operating up to 9 months/year: $100
Grocery/markets are licensed as retail food service establishments under Monroe County Code Section 310
Bakery / food processing
$150 (prepackaged food establishment only)
One-time new-establishment fee for prepackaged-only operations per MC Code 310
Temporary / seasonal event
$50 per event (Temporary Retail Food); $100 (Seasonal, operating up to 9 months/year)
Partial-year establishments (open 1-3 months prior to licensing year) pay 50% of the annual fee
Pushcart / mobile vending
$150 (motorized Mobile Food Service Establishment); $25 (non-motorized, prepackaged ice cream & novelties only); Vending machines of PHF $100 (first ten machines) + per-machine fee over ten
Mobile food establishment one-time new-establishment fee $165 in the code fee table
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.
By number of employees: 1-5 employees $165; 6-10 $330; 11-20 $495; 21+ $600. Change of ownership $165 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. Typical fees: $100 one-time plan review / new establishment construction fee
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 establishment one-time new-establishment fee listed at $165 in the code fee table; plan review $100
Who issues food permits in Monroe County?
Food permits here are issued by Monroe County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. Fees are set by Monroe County Code Section 310 (as amended by Ordinance 2025-48). Retail food service establishments are licensed annually with fees tiered by number of employees.. 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