Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Pitt County Environmental Health (operating under NC DHHS Div. of Public Health rules, 15A NCAC 18A .2600) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Pitt County food-facility health permits run about $75–$120 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $200–$250. Confirm the exact amount with Pitt County Environmental Health (operating under NC DHHS Div. of Public Health rules, 15A NCAC 18A .2600) 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 Pitt County Environmental Health (operating under NC DHHS Div. of Public Health rules, 15A NCAC 18A .2600) issues the health permit.
About 374 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 175,119. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment Permit
$120/yr (state statutory fee, G.S
130A-248, reassessed annually
permit does not expire while operating)
Limited food service establishment: $75/yr
Fee is set by NC statute, not the county; Late payment fee $25; reinstatement fee $150
Plan review — required
$200 per facility (Pitt County, for new facilities or change of use)
State cap: a local health dept may charge up to $250
Turnaround: Plans reviewed within ~2 weeks of receipt; application must be submitted 30 days before opening/change of ownership
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 / Push Cart permit (food establishment permit)
$120/yr (permitted as a food establishment under G.S
130A-248)
Requires a permitted commissary; applications via the county permitting portal
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Pitt County’s permit cost compares
At about $75/year, Pitt County’s restaurant health permit is above the North Carolina median ($70) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 29% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 79th-lowest of 95 North Carolina 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 374 food & drinking establishments serve ~175,119 residents in Pitt County — one per ~468 residents, denser than the North Carolina average (one per ~598).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$75 annual health permit + $200 plan review.
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
NC plan-review-fee model: local plan-review fee ($200 in Pitt) plus a statewide $120 annual food-establishment permit fee
State (Dept.) may charge $250 for plan review of prototype franchised/chain facilities
Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) applications go through the portal, due 15 days before the event; TFE fee not published in reviewed county sources
Up to $50 of each $120 permit fee is retained by the state
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Bar / limited food service
$75/yr (limited food service establishment, state fee G.S; 130A-248)
Limited food service is a distinct statutory permit class
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
$120/yr (permitted as a food establishment, G.S; 130A-248)
Standard food-establishment annual permit fee applies
Pushcart / mobile vending
$120/yr (mobile food unit / push cart, food establishment permit)
Requires a permitted commissary
Temporary / seasonal event
Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) fee not published in reviewed county sources; applications due 15 days before the event via the county portal
Regulated under 15A NCAC 18A .2600
Equipment your Pitt 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.
$120/yr (state statutory fee, G.S; 130A-248, reassessed annually; permit does not expire while operating); Limited food service establishment: $75/yr These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Pitt County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $200 per facility (Pitt County, for new facilities or change of use); State cap: a local health dept may charge up to $250
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Pitt County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Requires a permitted commissary; applications via the county permitting portal
Who issues food permits in Pitt County?
Food permits here are issued by Pitt County Environmental Health (operating under NC DHHS Div. of Public Health rules, 15A NCAC 18A .2600). 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