Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Ottawa County food-facility health permits run about $372–$886 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $31–$734. Confirm the exact amount with Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH), Environmental Health / Food Service Division (serving Holland and the Grand Rapids-area Ottawa County). In Michigan the county licenses restaurants/food service; food processing plants, butcher shops, produce markets, convenience stores and grocery stores are licensed by the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD). 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 Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH), Environmental Health / Food Service Division (serving Holland and the Grand Rapids-area Ottawa County). In Michigan the county licenses restaurants/food service; food processing plants, butcher shops, produce markets, convenience stores and grocery stores are licensed by the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD). issues the health permit.
About 417 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 303,372. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Environmental Public Health fee schedule effective October 1, 2025. County (OCDPH) regulates restaurants, bars, concession stands, school lunch programs, catering operations, mobile food carts, coffee shops, cafes and temporary events
Michigan local health departments inspect under the Michigan Food Law/FDA Food Code (priority/core violations); no letter grade or score. Reports on MDARD's online Food Inspection Postings (MiSafe).
Michigan distinguishes Mobile Food Establishments from Special Transitory Food Units (STFU/TFU); a commissary/base of operations is required
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 | Licensed as a Fixed Food Service establishment (Risk 2-4 $886.00; Risk 1 $642.00); non-profit 501(c)(3) fixed $617.00 | OCDPH regulates catering operations; priced on the county Fixed Food License schedule by risk |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | Mobile Commissary License $330.00 | A commissary/base of operations serving mobile units is a distinct county license line |
| Bakery / food processing | food processing plants and butcher shops are licensed by the Michigan Dept; of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), not the county; A retail coffee/bakery serving operation is licensed as a county Fixed Food establishment (Risk 1 $642.00; Risk 2-4 $886.00) | Michigan splits wholesale/processing (MDARD) from retail serving (county) |
| Bar / limited food service | Licensed as a Fixed Food Service establishment by risk (Risk 1 $642.00; Risk 2-4 $886.00) | OCDPH regulates bars; priced on the Fixed Food License risk schedule (no separate bar-only line) |
| Grocery / market with deli | grocery stores, convenience stores and produce markets are licensed by MDARD, not Ottawa County; An in-store deli/food-prep area may require a county Fixed Food license; confirm with EH (616-393-5645) | Retail food (grocery) = MDARD jurisdiction in Michigan |
| Temporary / seasonal event | Temporary Food License $254.00; 501(c)(3) Temporary $188.00; Seasonal Food License $642.00 (501(c)(3) $494.00); Temporary Food Consultation (office issuance) $136.00 | Temporary licenses limited to 14 days, max 3 per year |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | Mobile License $330.00; Transitory Food Unit (TFU) License $244.00 plus TFU Paid Inspection Fee $90.00 | Michigan splits Mobile Food Establishments from Special Transitory Food Units; a commissary is required |
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 Ottawa 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 →