Local permits & fees

Pulaski County, AR Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) - Food Protection; local Pulaski County Health Unit (state-administered) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Pulaski County food-facility health permits run about $35 annually. Plan review runs about $50–$500. Confirm the exact amount with Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) - Food Protection; local Pulaski County Health Unit (state-administered) 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 Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) - Food Protection; local Pulaski County Health Unit (state-administered) issues the health permit.

About 952 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 400,009. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Service Establishment Permit (state, ADH)

$35 per year (flat, set by Ark
Code Ann
20-57-204)

State-administered; a single statutory flat annual permit fee applies to all food service establishments statewide regardless of size or type (one of the lowest in the U.S.); Not tiered by seating/sales

Plan review — required

1% of total estimated construction cost, minimum $50, maximum $500 (one-time, first year only)

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(501) 280-3100

Office3915 West 8th Street, Little Rock, AR 72204

Websitehealthy.arkansas.gov →

Plan reviewhealthy.arkansas.gov →

Inspection grading

Routine inspection — no public letter grade

Arkansas Dept. of Health issues no letter grade or score — only in/out of compliance; full inspection reports posted in the ADH online portal.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit (food service establishment permit)

$35 per year (same statutory flat food service establishment fee)

Commissary/base of operations required; plan review (1% of cost, $50-$500) applies to units that prepare food; Contact the Pulaski County Health Unit to apply

How to apply

Forms & applications →

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

How Pulaski County’s permit cost compares

At about $35/year, Pulaski County’s restaurant health permit is about the Arkansas median ($35) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 7% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 60th-lowest of 75 Arkansas 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 952 food & drinking establishments serve ~400,009 residents in Pulaski County — one per ~420 residents, denser than the Arkansas average (one per ~703).

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

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$35 annual health permit + $50 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

State-administered by ADH: a flat $35/yr permit covers all food service establishments statewide (no size/type tiers)
One-time plan review fee = 1% of estimated cost, min $50 / max $500, billed the first year alongside the $35 permit
Temporary food establishment permit is $5 per day, up to 14 consecutive days per event
Apply through your local County Health Unit (Pulaski County Health Unit, Little Rock/North Little Rock)

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Temporary / seasonal event	$5 per day (temporary food establishment, up to 14 consecutive days per event; max ~$70)	State ADH fee; apply through the Pulaski County Health Unit; All other categories (restaurant, bar, grocery, bakery, caterer, mobile) use the single statutory $35/yr food service establishment permit; Arkansas does not break out category-specific fees

Equipment your Pulaski 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 Pulaski County with its neighbors.

Faulkner County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

Grant County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

Jefferson County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

Lonoke County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

Perry County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

Saline County, AR

Restaurant permit: $35

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Pulaski 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.

Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Pulaski County?

$35 per year (flat, set by Ark; Code Ann; 20-57-204) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Pulaski County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: 1% of total estimated construction cost, minimum $50, maximum $500 (one-time, first year only)

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Pulaski County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Commissary/base of operations required; plan review (1% of cost, $50-$500) applies to units that prepare food; Contact the Pulaski County Health Unit to apply

Who issues food permits in Pulaski County?

Food permits here are issued by Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) - Food Protection; local Pulaski County Health Unit (state-administered). 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.

Arkansas statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: healthy.arkansas.gov · healthy.arkansas.gov · law.justia.com · observed 2026-08-07