Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health - Food Protection (serves Syracuse and all of Onondaga County) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Onondaga County food-facility health permits run about $130–$360 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health - Food Protection (serves Syracuse and all of Onondaga County) 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 Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health - Food Protection (serves Syracuse and all of Onondaga County) issues the health permit.
About 1,073 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 467,873. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-17 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 (annual)
Restaurants/bakeries/delicatessens $217-$360 depending on seating capacity
caterers $310
ice manufacturer $130
vendor commissary $223 (per county Environmental Health fee schedule)
Operated under permit per NY State Sanitary Code Subpart 14-1. Opening inspection not conducted until business documentation (business certificate/corp filing) and Certificates of Insurance (Workers' Comp and Disability) are submitted; Food Protection line (315) 435-6607, foodprotection@onondaga.gov
Plan review — required
a separate flat plan-review fee is not itemized on the county Environmental Health fee schedule
NY requires plans/menu review before construction or opening
Confirm current plan-review cost with Food Protection
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).
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Vendor / Push Cart Food Vendor Permit
Mobile food vendor $192
push cart food vendor $192
temporary food vendor $130 (per county Environmental Health fee schedule)
Operated under permit per NY Sanitary Code Subpart 14-1. Requires a Commissary Agreement (expires Jan 31 each year); notify the department immediately if modified/cancelled by calling 315-435-6607. Business documentation and insurance certificates required before opening inspection
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Onondaga County’s permit cost compares
At about $130/year, Onondaga County’s restaurant health permit is below the New York median ($150) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 60% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 9th-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 1,073 food & drinking establishments serve ~467,873 residents in Onondaga County — one per ~436 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 ~$130 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.
Watch out for
Concrete, published fee schedule: restaurant permits scale $217-$360 by seating; mobile/push-cart vendors $192; temporary $130
Late fees apply ($60 annual / $30 temporary); the county also permits caterers, commissaries, and vending machines
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
$310.00/yr
Caterers (per establishment); Article XIII fee schedule; annual permit, expires Jan 31
commissary/central kitchen
$223.00/yr
Listed as 'Vendor commissary'; commissary agreement required for mobile units, pushcarts, and caterers
bakery
$217.00-$360.00/yr
Bakeries grouped with 'Restaurants, bakeries, delicatessens'; fee by seating capacity: 0-25 $217, 26-50 $236, 51-100 $273, 101-150 $329, >150 $360
market/grocery with deli
$217.00-$360.00/yr
Delicatessens grouped with restaurants/bakeries; same seating-capacity fee tiers ($217-$360)
temporary/seasonal/special-event
$130.00 (temporary food vendor, per unit); $62.00 (special promotions)
Temporary food vendor per unit $130; 'Special promotions' $62. Late fee $30 if application filed <10 days before event
Equipment your Onondaga 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.
Restaurants/bakeries/delicatessens $217-$360 depending on seating capacity; caterers $310; ice manufacturer $130; vendor commissary $223 (per county Environmental Health fee schedule) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Onondaga County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: a separate flat plan-review fee is not itemized on the county Environmental Health fee schedule; NY requires plans/menu review before construction or opening; Confirm current plan-review cost with Food Protection
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Onondaga County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Operated under permit per NY Sanitary Code Subpart 14-1. Requires a Commissary Agreement (expires Jan 31 each year); notify the department immediately if modified/cancelled by calling 315-435-6607. Business documentation and insurance certificates required before opening inspection
Who issues food permits in Onondaga County?
Food permits here are issued by Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health - Food Protection (serves Syracuse and all of Onondaga County). 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