Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Ramsey County Public Health - Environmental Health (Licenses & Inspections). NOTE: Ramsey County licenses all establishments EXCEPT those in Saint Paul and Maplewood; establishments in the City of Saint Paul are licensed by St. Paul Dept. of Safety & Inspections (DSI), delegated from MDH. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Ramsey County food-facility health permits run about $270–$1,598 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $139–$737. Confirm the exact amount with Ramsey County Public Health - Environmental Health (Licenses & Inspections). NOTE: Ramsey County licenses all establishments EXCEPT those in Saint Paul and Maplewood; establishments in the City of Saint Paul are licensed by St. Paul Dept. of Safety & Inspections (DSI), delegated from MDH. 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 Ramsey County Public Health - Environmental Health (Licenses & Inspections). NOTE: Ramsey County licenses all establishments EXCEPT those in Saint Paul and Maplewood; establishments in the City of Saint Paul are licensed by St. Paul Dept. of Safety & Inspections (DSI), delegated from MDH. issues the health permit.
About 1,182 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 536,075. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 License (annual, calendar-year, class-based)
Class A Food Service:
$1,598
Class B: $1,125
Class C: $941
Class D High Risk: $757
Class D Med/Low Risk: $630
Limited Food Service: $432
Limited School Food Service: $270 (totals shown, incl
small state surcharge
add ~2% late fee)
Combined food &
retail classes are priced separately
Fees per Ramsey County 2026-2027 Comprehensive Fee Schedule (effective/approved 1/27/2026); License is calendar-year (Jan 1-Dec 31) and non-transferable; A food-waste-diversion program discount is available
Plan review — required
Required for new construction/remodel/added equipment
Food establishment plan review base ~$737 (varies by class)
Mobile Food Unit or Food Cart plan review: $304
a $139 plan-review tier also listed for certain categories
Turnaround: Plan review must be completed before construction; a final inspection is required before the county issues a license (specific business-day turnaround not published)
Ramsey County (and City of St. Paul) inspect under the Minnesota Food Code; no letter grade. Reports not posted online — available on request.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit / Food Cart License (annual)
Mobile Food Unit:
$173
Food Cart: $173 (both totals incl
state surcharge)
Mobile/Food Cart plan review: $304
Seasonal Temporary Food Stand $232; Special Event Food Stand w/ TCS food $88 (1 day) / $136 (2-10 days); St; Paul food trucks use a St; Paul DSI Mobile Food Vehicle license instead
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Ramsey County’s permit cost compares
At about $270/year, Ramsey County’s restaurant health permit is above the Minnesota median ($50) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 91% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 77th-lowest of 81 Minnesota 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 1,182 food & drinking establishments serve ~536,075 residents in Ramsey County — one per ~454 residents, denser than the Minnesota average (one per ~519).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$270 annual health permit + $139 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
Jurisdiction split: Ramsey County covers the county EXCEPT Saint Paul and Maplewood (each licensed by their own city programs)
MN moved to a simplified retail 'Food Handler' license structure (MDA) effective Aug 1, 2025
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Catering kitchen / commissary
—
Listed as a licensed/inspected establishment type
Grocery store / convenience store / delicatessen
—
Market/grocery-with-deli licensed type (combined food & retail class); specific fee not extractable from the fee-schedule PDF
Temporary food stand (events)
Seasonal Temporary Food Stand $232; Special Event Food Stand w/ TCS food $88 (1 day) / $136 (2-10 days)
Ramsey County 2026-2027 Approved Fee Schedule
Equipment your Ramsey 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.
Class A Food Service: $1,598; Class B: $1,125; Class C: $941; Class D High Risk: $757; Class D Med/Low Risk: $630; Limited Food Service: $432; Limited School Food Service: $270 (totals shown, incl; small state surcharge; add ~2% late fee); Combined food & retail classes are priced separately These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Ramsey County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Required for new construction/remodel/added equipment; Food establishment plan review base ~$737 (varies by class); Mobile Food Unit or Food Cart plan review: $304; a $139 plan-review tier also listed for certain categories
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Ramsey County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Seasonal Temporary Food Stand $232; Special Event Food Stand w/ TCS food $88 (1 day) / $136 (2-10 days); St; Paul food trucks use a St; Paul DSI Mobile Food Vehicle license instead
Who issues food permits in Ramsey County?
Food permits here are issued by Ramsey County Public Health - Environmental Health (Licenses & Inspections). NOTE: Ramsey County licenses all establishments EXCEPT those in Saint Paul and Maplewood; establishments in the City of Saint Paul are licensed by St. Paul Dept. of Safety & Inspections (DSI), delegated from MDH.. 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