Local permits & fees

Food Establishment Permit, IN Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Ohio County Health Department · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Food Establishment Permit food-facility health permits run about $150 annually. Confirm the exact amount with Ohio County Health 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 Ohio County Health Department issues the health permit.

About 7 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 6,004. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)

Last verified: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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

$150

Retail Food Establishment (annual, brick & mortar) $150. Calendar-year based (Jan 1; Dec 31); County: Ohio County, INDIANA (Rising Sun, IN)

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Phone812-438-2551

Office117 Sixth St Rising Sun, IN 47040

Websiteohiocountyhealthdept.com →

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Establishment

$150

Mobile Food Establishment annual permit $150; Mobile Food Establishment; Temporary (one-time use, max 14 days) $50; late/rush permit fee $25

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 Food Establishment Permit’s permit cost compares

At about $150/year, Food Establishment Permit’s restaurant health permit is above the Indiana median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 66% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 49th-lowest of 63 Indiana 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 7 food & drinking establishments serve ~6,004 residents in Food Establishment Permit — one per ~858 residents, sparser than the Indiana average (one per ~577).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$150 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.

Equipment your Food Establishment Permit 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 Food Establishment Permit with its neighbors.

Dearborn County, IN

Restaurant permit: See page

Ripley County, IN

Restaurant permit: $100

Switzerland County, IN

Restaurant permit: $75

Boone County, KY

Restaurant permit: $125

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Food Establishment Permit 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 Food Establishment Permit?

$150 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Food Establishment Permit?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Food Establishment Permit?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile Food Establishment annual permit $150; Mobile Food Establishment; Temporary (one-time use, max 14 days) $50; late/rush permit fee $25

Who issues food permits in Food Establishment Permit?

Food permits here are issued by Ohio County Health Department. 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.

Indiana 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: ohiocountyhealthdept.com · ohiocountyin.gov · observed 2026-08-21