Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Nobles County food-facility health permits run about $50–$785 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $450–$800. Confirm the exact amount with Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services 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 Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services issues the health permit. Minnesota sets food-establishment fees at the state level through Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services, EXCEPT in counties/cities that run their own health department (which set their own fees). Confirm which applies to your exact address.
About 36 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 21,727. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Set at the state level by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services; a single statewide fee schedule for counties without their own health department; Effective July 1, 2025
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile food establishment (state-set)
Mobile food unit or food cart license $150 (+$50 hospitality)
special-event food stand $75
State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements
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 Nobles County’s permit cost compares
At about $50/year, Nobles County’s restaurant health permit is about the Minnesota median ($50) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 19% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 35th-lowest of 81 Minnesota 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 36 food & drinking establishments serve ~21,727 residents in Nobles County — one per ~604 residents, sparser than the Minnesota average (one per ~519).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$50 annual health permit + $450 plan review.
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
Equipment your Nobles 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 Nobles 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 Nobles County?
MDH state license: $300 base + risk category ($185 low-risk / $430 medium-risk / $670 high-risk) + $50 statewide hospitality + $5 technology (a typical medium-risk restaurant ≈ $785/year); Applies where MDH licenses directly These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Nobles County?
Plan review may apply; check locally with the department. Typical fees: Plan review: $550 (low) / $750 (medium) / $800 (high) new; $450–$550 remodel
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Nobles County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements
Who issues food permits in Nobles County?
Food permits here are issued by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services. 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