Local permits & fees

Morgan County, AL Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Alabama Department of Public Health - Morgan County Health Department (Environmental) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the 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 Alabama Department of Public Health - Morgan County Health Department (Environmental) issues the health permit.

About 194 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 125,133. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment Permit / Permit to Operate (ADPH Rules Ch. 420-3-22)

Alabama food establishment permits are issued by the county health department under ADPH Rules Chapter 420-3-22, which set permit requirements but do not establish a dollar fee
Morgan County publishes no food-service permit fee schedule online
Contact Morgan County Health Department, Decatur

A valid ADPH permit to operate is required for any establishment selling food; Alabama delegates food-establishment sanitation/permitting to county health departments under ADPH (a state agency); the state rules do not set a fee amount and Morgan County does not post one

Plan review — required

plan review of new/remodeled establishments is handled by the county Environmental office under ADPH rules
no published fee amount for Morgan County

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(256) 353-7021

Office3821 Highway 31 South, Decatur, AL 35603

Websitewww.alabamapublichealth.gov →

Plan reviewwww.alabamapublichealth.gov →

Inspection grading

Numeric score

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 service establishment permit (ADPH)

no published Morgan County mobile food permit fee
permit issued under ADPH Rules 420-3-22

Mobile and pushcart operations require an ADPH permit; no county dollar fee is published online

How to apply

Forms & applications →

Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.

Local food-service market

About 194 food & drinking establishments serve ~125,133 residents in Morgan County — one per ~645 residents, denser than the Alabama average (one per ~692).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

Watch out for

Administering authority: state agency (ADPH) delegating to the county health department; there is no standalone county EH department; Decatur is the county seat
ADPH Rules Chapter 420-3-22 govern permits but do not set a fee amount, and Morgan County publishes no fee schedule online
Temporary food-booth permits are required for public events, but no published Morgan County fee amount was found

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Temporary / seasonal event	a temporary food-booth permit is required for public events under ADPH Rules 420-3-22, but no Morgan County fee amount is published online	Alabama delegates permitting to county health departments under ADPH; Morgan County posts no fee schedule; Contact Morgan County Health Department, Decatur
Pushcart / mobile vending	mobile/pushcart food operations require an ADPH permit; no published Morgan County fee amount	Governed by ADPH Rules Chapter 420-3-22; no county fee schedule published online

Equipment your Morgan 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.

Compartment sinks

3-bay wash / rinse / sanitize — sized to your menu

Hand sinks

required in prep, cook & warewashing areas

Grease traps / interceptors

sized by drainage fixture units

Reach-in refrigeration

cold-holding at 41°F or below

Work tables & surfaces

NSF-listed, non-absorbent

Hoods & ventilation

over cooking equipment; make-up air

Dishwashers

high-temp or chemical sanitizing

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Morgan County with its neighbors.

Cullman County, AL

Restaurant permit: See page

Lawrence County, AL

Restaurant permit: See page

Limestone County, AL

Restaurant permit: See page

Madison County, AL

Restaurant permit: $200

Marshall County, AL

Restaurant permit: See page

How to open: typical permitting sequence

This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.

Confirm whether Morgan 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.

Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Morgan County?

Alabama food establishment permits are issued by the county health department under ADPH Rules Chapter 420-3-22, which set permit requirements but do not establish a dollar fee; Morgan County publishes no food-service permit fee schedule online; Contact Morgan County Health Department, Decatur These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Morgan County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: plan review of new/remodeled establishments is handled by the county Environmental office under ADPH rules; no published fee amount for Morgan County

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Morgan County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile and pushcart operations require an ADPH permit; no county dollar fee is published online

Who issues food permits in Morgan County?

Food permits here are issued by Alabama Department of Public Health - Morgan County Health Department (Environmental). 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.

Alabama statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: www.alabamapublichealth.gov · www.alabamapublichealth.gov · www.alabamapublichealth.gov · adph.org · observed 2026-08-07