Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Onslow County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (Consolidated Human Services) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the 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 Onslow County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (Consolidated Human Services) issues the health permit.
About 379 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 213,676. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
North Carolina does not charge an annual food service establishment permit fee
the state permit is issued at no cost once the facility passes plan review and inspection
Counties charge only the one-time plan review fee
Permit issued per rules adopted under the NC Food Code; The cost to open is the plan review fee below
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.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit & Commissary (plan review)
$75 (mobile food unit &
commissary plan review)
Mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; the annual permit itself is free per NC law
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Local food-service market
About 379 food & drinking establishments serve ~213,676 residents in Onslow County — one per ~564 residents, denser than the North Carolina average (one per ~598).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Watch out for
Fees taken from the Onslow County Environmental Health Fee Schedule FY 2026-2027
Plan review required for new or remodeled facilities; application must include menu, scaled plans, and equipment spec sheets
Other food application fees: Temporary Food Establishments $75; Limited Food Service Establishments $75
One-time plan review fee; annual permit is free under NC law; Source: Onslow EH Fee Schedule FY 2026-2027
Bar / limited food service
$75 (Limited Food Service Establishments)
Application/plan review fee from the Onslow EH fee schedule
Temporary / seasonal event
$75 (Temporary Food Establishments)
Application fee; add 3.75% if paid by credit card
Pushcart / mobile vending
$75 (Mobile Food Unit & Commissary plan review)
NC issues the operating permit at no cost; only the plan review fee applies
Equipment your Onslow 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.
North Carolina does not charge an annual food service establishment permit fee; the state permit is issued at no cost once the facility passes plan review and inspection; Counties charge only the one-time plan review fee These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Onslow County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $250 (Food Service Establishments); Food Service & Lodging remodel of existing facility $125; add 3.75% if paid by credit card
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Onslow County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; the annual permit itself is free per NC law
Who issues food permits in Onslow County?
Food permits here are issued by Onslow County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (Consolidated Human 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