Restaurants and food trucks.
Osceola County food-facility health permits run about $242–$357 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Florida Dept of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels and Restaurants (restaurants); Florida Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety (groceries/retail food) 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 Florida Dept of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels and Restaurants (restaurants); Florida Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety (groceries/retail food) issues the health permit.
About 736 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 437,784. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
AUTHORITY: Restaurants in Florida are licensed STATEWIDE by DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants, not by the county; Same fee schedule applies statewide; the county only determines the licensing district and renewal date; Osceola County is in DBPR District 4 (renewal date 4/1)
State DBPR Division of Hotels & Restaurants inspects; outcome is met-standards / warning / emergency closure with violations listed, no letter grade; searchable statewide online database.
MFDVs that cook/prepare food are DBPR-licensed statewide ($347); Mobile units selling only prepackaged or non-potentially-hazardous foods are FDACS-permitted
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | $263 per year (DBPR Caterer license) plus $10 HEP fee; source https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/food-fees/ | Caterers are DBPR-licensed statewide |
| Bakery / food processing | FDACS: Retail Bakery with Food Service $490 / Wholesale Bakery $530 per year; source https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-5K-4-020 | Retail/wholesale bakeries and food processors are permitted by FDACS under Rule 5K-4.020, F.A.C; A bakery with on-premises seated dining is instead DBPR-licensed by seats |
| Bar / limited food service | DBPR Public Food Service Establishment license by seating (Nonseating $242 / 1-49 seats $262, etc.) plus $10 HEP; source https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/food-fees/ | A bar/lounge that serves food is licensed by DBPR as a public food service establishment by seat count; alcohol beverage licensing is separate through DBPR ABT |
| Grocery / market with deli | FDACS: Supermarket $650 / Grocery Store $540 per year; Convenience Store $330 (basic) / $430 (limited food service) / $475 (significant food service); Meat Market $455; Seafood Market $410; source https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-5K-4-020 | Groceries, supermarkets, convenience stores and markets are permitted by FDACS Division of Food Safety, not DBPR |
| Temporary / seasonal event | DBPR Temporary Food Service Events $91-$456 depending on event duration; source https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/food-fees/; FDACS Semi-permanent Vendor $195; source https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-5K-4-020 | DBPR handles temporary food service events tied to restaurants; FDACS covers semi-permanent retail vendors |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | DBPR Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle / Hot Dog Cart $347 per year plus $10 HEP; source https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/food-fees/; FDACS Mobile Vendor $300 (prepackaged/non-hazardous); source https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-5K-4-020 | Cooking/prep mobile units are DBPR-licensed ($347); prepackaged/non-PHF mobile units are FDACS-permitted ($300) |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Osceola County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →