Montgomery County, AL Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants and food trucks.
Montgomery County Health Department - Environmental Health Division (Alabama Dept of Public Health delegates food establishment sanitation to the county) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Montgomery County food-facility health permits run about $85–$265 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $80–$115. Confirm the exact amount with Montgomery County Health Department - Environmental Health Division (Alabama Dept of Public Health delegates food establishment sanitation to the county) 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 Montgomery County Health Department - Environmental Health Division (Alabama Dept of Public Health delegates food establishment sanitation to the county) issues the health permit.
About 456 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 224,980. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Food Service Establishment permit (annual, by seating)
$85 (0-25 seating)
$175 (26-75 seating)
$265 (over 75 seating)
State delegates to county: ADPH regulates food establishment sanitation statewide (Rules 420-3-22) but delegates permitting/inspection to the Montgomery County Health Department; Amounts are from the county Environmental Health Division Fee Schedule with an effective date of July 1, 2004; this is the schedule the county still publishes; confirm current amounts with the Health Department (334-293-6452) as the figures are dated
Alabama Dept. of Public Health 0–100 inspection score; posted at the establishment and in the ADPH food scores database.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile food unit (permitted under Food Service Establishment / ADPH rules)
the county'
s 2004 fee schedule has no separate mobile-food line
mobile food units are permitted under the Food Service Establishment category / ADPH Rules 420-3-22. Confirm the current mobile classification and fee with the Montgomery County Health Department (334-293-6452)
Alabama ADPH publishes statewide mobile/concession guidance; a base of operations/commissary is required; No dedicated mobile fee appears on the county schedule
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Montgomery County’s permit cost compares
At about $85/year, Montgomery County’s restaurant health permit is below the Alabama median ($118) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 34% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 3rd-lowest of 6 Alabama 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 456 food & drinking establishments serve ~224,980 residents in Montgomery County — one per ~493 residents, denser than the Alabama average (one per ~692).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$85 annual health permit + $80 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
State-delegated; ADPH sets the food rules (420-3-22) and delegates permitting/inspection to the Montgomery County Health Department
The published county Environmental Health fee schedule carries an effective date of July 1, 2004; the food figures below are internally consistent but dated; confirm current amounts (334-293-6452)
Food Service Establishment (restaurant) fee is by seating: $85 (0-25) / $175 (26-75) / $265 (over 75)
Food Processor fee is by gross sales: $175 (0-$999,999), $350 ($1M-$4.99M), $525 ($5M-$9.99M), $875 (over $10M)
Retail Food Service by size: $85 (under 2,500 sq ft) / $175 (over 2,500 sq ft); Temporary Food $10/day with a $30 minimum
County 'Food Processor' category, priced by gross sales, on the Montgomery County Environmental Health fee schedule (eff; July 1, 2004; confirm current amounts, 334-293-6452)
Grocery / market with deli
$85 (Retail Food Service under 2,500 sq ft); $175 (Retail Food Service over 2,500 sq ft)
County 'Retail Food Service' category, priced by square footage (eff; July 1, 2004; confirm current amounts)
Temporary / seasonal event
$10 per day (Temporary Food), $30 minimum
County 'Temporary Food' line on the 2004 fee schedule; confirm current amount with the Health Department (334-293-6452)
Equipment your Montgomery 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 (0-25 seating); $175 (26-75 seating); $265 (over 75 seating) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Montgomery County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $80 (Plan Review; Small); $115 (Plan Review; Large)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Montgomery County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Alabama ADPH publishes statewide mobile/concession guidance; a base of operations/commissary is required; No dedicated mobile fee appears on the county schedule
Who issues food permits in Montgomery County?
Food permits here are issued by Montgomery County Health Department - Environmental Health Division (Alabama Dept of Public Health delegates food establishment sanitation to the county). 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