Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE), Office of Environmental Health (local public health agency administering the statewide CDPHE/SB25-285 retail food fee schedule) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Pueblo County food-facility health permits run about $481–$581 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $50–$155. Confirm the exact amount with Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE), Office of Environmental Health (local public health agency administering the statewide CDPHE/SB25-285 retail food fee schedule) 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 Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE), Office of Environmental Health (local public health agency administering the statewide CDPHE/SB25-285 retail food fee schedule) issues the health permit.
About 313 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 169,422. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Retail Food Establishment License (Restaurant/Caterer, by seating capacity)
Colorado retail food license fees are set by the STATE (SB25-285) and are identical statewide; they phase up 2026-2028. PDPHE administers licensing for Pueblo County; Limited food service establishments (bars/limited menu) are $338
Plan review — required
$155 Retail Food Plan Review Application (statewide SB25-285 schedule)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Pueblo County’s permit cost compares
At about $481/year, Pueblo County’s restaurant health permit is above the Colorado median ($338) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 98% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 63rd-lowest of 64 Colorado 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 313 food & drinking establishments serve ~169,422 residents in Pueblo County — one per ~541 residents, sparser than the Colorado average (one per ~428).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$481 annual health permit + $155 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
Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE) is a local public health agency that licenses retail food establishments using the statewide CDPHE fee schedule
Colorado retail food license fees are set statewide by SB25-285 and increase in 2026, 2027 and 2028; each establishment pays only one applicable category fee
PDPHE publishes separate plan review packets for fixed facilities and for mobile units/push carts
Colorado's statewide SB25-285 schedule groups caterers with restaurants, licensed by seating capacity; Administered by PDPHE
Bar / limited food service
$338 (Limited Food Service Establishment), 2026; source https://la-h-health.colorado.gov/news-article/notice-to-retail-food-establishments
Statewide SB25-285 category for limited-menu operations
Grocery / market with deli
Grocery with deli: $469 (under 15,001 sq ft) / $894 (over 15,000 sq ft); grocery without deli $244 / $441, 2026; source https://la-h-health.colorado.gov/news-article/notice-to-retail-food-establishments
Statewide SB25-285 schedule, priced by square footage and whether a deli is present
Pushcart / mobile vending
Mobile full service $481 / prepackaged food only $338, 2026; source https://la-h-health.colorado.gov/news-article/notice-to-retail-food-establishments
Statewide SB25-285 mobile retail food establishment fees; PDPHE requires a mobile plan review packet and commissary/servicing area
Equipment your Pueblo 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.
$481 (0-100 seats) / $538 (101-200 seats) / $581 (over 200 seats), 2026 statewide SB25-285 schedule; source https://la-h-health.colorado.gov/news-article/notice-to-retail-food-establishments These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Pueblo County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $155 Retail Food Plan Review Application (statewide SB25-285 schedule); source https://cdphe.colorado.gov/dehs/rf/licensing; PDPHE's 2023 plan review packet listed a $100 non-refundable plan-review application fee plus $50/hour for plan review and pre-opening activities
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Pueblo County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. State fee schedule; PDPHE requires a mobile-unit/pushcart plan review packet and an approved commissary/servicing area
Who issues food permits in Pueblo County?
Food permits here are issued by Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE), Office of Environmental Health (local public health agency administering the statewide CDPHE/SB25-285 retail food fee schedule). 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