Restaurants and food trucks.
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 Nassau County Department of Health, Office of Food Protection issues the health permit.
About 3,730 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 1,381,715. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Fee is set by the number of seats and type of operation; the county does not publish the seat-tiered dollar amounts online; Applied for in person at Office of Food Protection, 200 County Seat Drive, Mineola NY 11501 (516-227-9717); pay by certified check, money order, or credit card (no AMEX); Call for exact fee
State/local health departments inspect to the NYS Sanitary Code; violations listed in the statewide online database, no letter grade (NYSDOH does not support grading).
Temporary-event applications and fees must be received at least 3 full business days before the event; a $100 late fee applies to vendor applications received after the deadline; NY State tax-exempt orgs may have the vendor permit fee waived; Base temp fee amount not published online
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
A code-compliant kitchen in Nassau County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.
| Building / plans | Town of Hempstead Building Department (principal town; NY building permits are town-level) · 516-538-7100 |
| Fire marshal | Nassau County Office of the Fire Marshal (countywide commercial fire safety) · 516-573-9900 |
| Zoning / planning | Town of Hempstead Dept. of Planning & Economic Development / Board of Zoning Appeals · 516-538-7100 |
| Sewer / grease | Nassau County Dept. of Public Works - Sewer/Storm Water (countywide) |
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| caterer | — | Catering (providing food to anyone outside immediate family/friends) requires a food establishment permit; fee determined by number of seats & type of operation |
| bakery | — | Retail bakeries are among establishments requiring a Nassau County food establishment permit |
| bar/tavern | — | Taverns listed among establishments requiring a food establishment permit |
| market/grocery with deli | — | Delicatessens listed among permitted establishments; food vending units also permitted |
| temporary/seasonal/special-event | — | Temporary Food Service Establishments (street fairs, bazaars, carnivals, feasts) require a valid food establishment permit per NYS Sanitary Code Sub-part 14-2; fee based on food sold and event duration; application due >=3 business days before opening |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Nassau County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →