Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
New Hanover County food-facility health permits run about $250 annually. Plan review runs about $100–$250. Confirm the exact amount with New Hanover County Environmental Health (Wilmington) - permits under NC state food rules 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 New Hanover County Environmental Health (Wilmington) - permits under NC state food rules issues the health permit.
About 749 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 238,852. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
NC restaurants are permitted by New Hanover County Environmental Health under state rules; there is no recurring annual permit fee; The graded sanitation inspection is provided at no separate annual charge; costs are the one-time plan review and (for limited operations) the state Limited Food Service permit
Turnaround: Applications should be submitted at least 30 days prior to commencing operation
Sanitation score converts to a required grade card — A 90-100, B 80-89, C 70-79 (below 70 cannot operate) — posted at the establishment and available online.
NC has no annual permit fee; the cost is the one-time plan review; Mobile units must return daily to an approved commissary; a Commissary Agreement is required with the application
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | no annual permit fee (NC); a caterer is a permitted food service establishment grouped with restaurants/food stands/mobile units on the plan-review schedule (Food Service Plan Review $250) | NC uses plan-review fees rather than an annual permit fee |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | not separately priced; a commissary must itself be a permitted food establishment (no annual permit fee in NC) and is subject to plan review ($250) | No distinct commissary line on the New Hanover fee schedule |
| Bakery / food processing | retail bakeries and retail food sales are regulated by the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), not county Environmental Health; a bakery with on-site food service is permitted by New Hanover County EH (plan review $250, no annual fee) | Authority is NCDA&CS for retail food sales |
| Bar / limited food service | $75; Limited Food Service Establishment annual permit (NC state-set flat fee) | The Limited Food Service Establishment permit is NC's flat annual fee; a full bar serving meals is a food service establishment (plan review $250, no annual fee) |
| Grocery / market with deli | grocery/market retail food is regulated by NCDA&CS, not county EH; an in-store deli with seating is permitted by New Hanover County EH (plan review $250, no annual permit fee) | Split authority: retail food = NCDA&CS; deli food service = county EH |
| Temporary / seasonal event | $75; Temporary Food Establishment permit | Per the New Hanover County Environmental Health fee schedule (effective 07/01/2026) |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | Pushcart plan review $100; Mobile Food Unit plan review $250 (no annual permit fee in NC); Approved commissary required | Mobile units must return daily to an approved commissary; a Commissary Agreement is required |
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 New Hanover 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 →