Montgomery County, TN Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants and food trucks.
Tennessee Department of Health, Division of General Environmental Health (state-administered). Montgomery County is NOT one of TN's contract/metro counties, so permitting and fees follow the statewide TDH schedule. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Montgomery County food-facility health permits run about $210–$360 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Tennessee Department of Health, Division of General Environmental Health (state-administered). Montgomery County is NOT one of TN's contract/metro counties, so permitting and fees follow the statewide TDH schedule. 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 Tennessee Department of Health, Division of General Environmental Health (state-administered). Montgomery County is NOT one of TN's contract/metro counties, so permitting and fees follow the statewide TDH schedule. issues the health permit.
About 410 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 239,872. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 (TN Dept of Health)
$210/yr for establishments with 0-50 seats
$360/yr for establishments with 51 or more seats
Permit year July 1
June 30
Statewide TDH fee schedule (Rule Ch; 1200-23-01); In the six local-contract counties (Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Shelby, and Nashville) a local add-on applies, but Montgomery County uses the state fee only
Plan review — required
TDH reviews plans for new construction/remodel
a separate published plan-review dollar fee was not located
Confirm with Montgomery County (Clarksville) Health Dept
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 $210/year, Montgomery County’s restaurant health permit is above the Tennessee median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 78% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 89th-lowest of 94 Tennessee 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 410 food & drinking establishments serve ~239,872 residents in Montgomery County — one per ~585 residents, denser than the Tennessee average (one per ~706).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$210 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.
Watch out for
State-administered by TN Dept of Health; Montgomery County uses the statewide fee schedule (no local surcharge)
Restaurant fee is seating-based: $210 (<=50 seats) vs $360 (51+ seats)
Permit year runs July 1; June 30
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Bar / limited food service
$210
Bars/limited food service permitted as a Food Service Establishment; 0-50 seats $210, 51+ seats $360 (statewide TDH schedule)
Pushcart / mobile vending
TDH mobile food unit permit; Confirm with Montgomery County Health Dept
Commissary/base required; City of Clarksville rules may also apply
Temporary / seasonal event
TDH temporary food service permit; Confirm with Montgomery County Health Dept
Distinct permit type under TDH Rule Ch; 1200-23-01
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.
$210/yr for establishments with 0-50 seats; $360/yr for establishments with 51 or more seats; Permit year July 1; June 30 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: TDH reviews plans for new construction/remodel; a separate published plan-review dollar fee was not located; Confirm with Montgomery County (Clarksville) Health Dept
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. Commissary/base of operation required; Local ordinances (City of Clarksville) may also apply
Who issues food permits in Montgomery County?
Food permits here are issued by Tennessee Department of Health, Division of General Environmental Health (state-administered). Montgomery County is NOT one of TN's contract/metro counties, so permitting and fees follow the statewide TDH schedule.. 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