Local permits & fees

Portage County, OH Food Facility Permits

Restaurants and food trucks.

Portage County Health District · 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 Portage County Health District issues the health permit.

About 293 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 162,665. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)

Last verified: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Operation License

Fee not published online — contact the department.

The county's official Fee Schedule page (portagecounty-oh.gov) is behind a user login and not publicly viewable; the health district's own site (portagehealth.net) does not post FSO fee amounts; Contact 330-296-9919

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Phone330-296-9919

Emailpchd@portageco.com

Office999 East Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266

Websiteportagehealth.net →

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile FSO

Fee not published online — contact the department.

Not published online

How to apply

See the department site above.

Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.

Local food-service market

About 293 food & drinking establishments serve ~162,665 residents in Portage County — one per ~555 residents, denser than the Ohio average (one per ~574).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

Equipment your Portage 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.

Compartment sinks

3-bay wash / rinse / sanitize — sized to your menu

Hand sinks

required in prep, cook & warewashing areas

Grease traps / interceptors

sized by drainage fixture units

Reach-in refrigeration

cold-holding at 41°F or below

Work tables & surfaces

NSF-listed, non-absorbent

Hoods & ventilation

over cooking equipment; make-up air

Dishwashers

high-temp or chemical sanitizing

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Portage County with its neighbors.

Cuyahoga County, OH

Restaurant permit: $126

Geauga County, OH

Restaurant permit: $28

Mahoning County, OH

Restaurant permit: $28

Stark County, OH

Restaurant permit: $28

Summit County, OH

Restaurant permit: See page

Trumbull County, OH

Restaurant permit: See page

How to open: typical permitting sequence

This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.

Confirm whether Portage County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
Confirm zoning and permitted use.
Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
Pay plan-review fees.
Respond to plan-check corrections.
Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
Receive approval before storing or preparing food.