NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
New York County food-facility health permits run about $280 annually. Confirm the exact amount with NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) 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 NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) issues the health permit. All five NYC boroughs are permitted by NYC DOHMH.
About 9,483 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 1,597,451. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-21 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
$280.00 per year (plus $25.00 if the establishment manufactures frozen desserts)
NYC DOHMH permits all five boroughs under one schedule; No effective date is published on the NYC.gov permit page
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Inspection scores & grading
Grading system: Letter grade A/B/C. NYC DOHMH inspection points convert to a posted letter grade: 0-13=A, 14-27=B, 28+=C. Searchable via NYC restaurant grades site and NYC Open Data (all five boroughs share one system).
$200.00 full-term (two-year) permit for units where food is prepared/processed on-site
$75.00 if pre-packaged
seasonal $35.00 / $15.00
no fee for honorably discharged veterans
Mobile Food Vendor permits are separately capped with a waiting list
How to apply
See the department site above.
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How New York County’s permit cost compares
At about $280/year, New York County’s restaurant health permit is above the New York median ($150) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 92% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 28th-lowest of 31 New York 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 9,483 food & drinking establishments serve ~1,597,451 residents in New York County — one per ~168 residents, denser than the New York average (one per ~445).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$280 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.
The full approval stack
A code-compliant kitchen in New York County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.
Equipment your New York 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether New York 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a food permit in New York County?
$280.00 per year (plus $25.00 if the establishment manufactures frozen desserts) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in New York County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in New York County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile Food Vendor permits are separately capped with a waiting list
Who issues food permits in New York County?
Food permits here are issued by NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). 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