Amarillo Area Public Health District (Department of Environmental Health), which covers Potter and Randall Counties · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Randall County food-facility health permits run about $100–$773 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $150. Confirm the exact amount with Amarillo Area Public Health District (Department of Environmental Health), which covers Potter and Randall Counties 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 Amarillo Area Public Health District (Department of Environmental Health), which covers Potter and Randall Counties issues the health permit.
About 235 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 148,255. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Fee schedule effective September 1, 2025, administered by the Amarillo Area Public Health District; Tiered by gross annual food sales, mirroring the DSHS structure
Plan review — required
district fee schedule lists an Application/Plan Review of $150 for recreational water only
no distinct retail-food plan-review fee is published
Amarillo/local health authority uses Texas TFER demerit scoring (100 minus demerits, fail above 30 demerits); reports public.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit permit
AAPHD fee schedule does not list a distinct mobile food unit fee
CONFIRMED 2026-08-10: Under Texas HB 2844, effective July 1, 2026 mobile food units are permitted via a single statewide DSHS Mobile Food Vendor license (Type I $309; Type II $618 +$400 pre-licensing; Type III $876 +$500 pre-licensing); Local mobile permits expired June 30, 2026; AAPHD may still inspect on behalf of the state; The AAPHD fee schedule does not list a distinct local mobile food unit fee
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Randall County’s permit cost compares
At about $100/year, Randall County’s restaurant health permit is below the Texas median ($258) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 45% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 8th-lowest of 247 Texas 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 235 food & drinking establishments serve ~148,255 residents in Randall County — one per ~631 residents, sparser than the Texas average (one per ~566).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$100 annual health permit + $150 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
Amarillo Area Public Health District is a bi-county district covering both Potter and Randall Counties
Texas HB 2844: statewide DSHS mobile food unit permit replaces local food-truck permits effective July 1, 2026
Contact: Environmental Health, Simms Municipal Building Suite 275, 806-378-9472
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
$52 per booth per day / $200 annual permit endorsement
Amarillo Area Public Health District temporary food service fees (schedule effective 9/1/2025)
Equipment your Randall 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.
Tier 1 $258 (sales $0-$49,999.99) / Tier 2 $515 ($50,000-$149,999.99) / Tier 3 $773 ($150,000+); Tier 0 Farmers Market $100; Tier 0-NC non-profit/group care $0 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Randall County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: district fee schedule lists an Application/Plan Review of $150 for recreational water only; no distinct retail-food plan-review fee is published
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Randall County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. CONFIRMED 2026-08-10: Under Texas HB 2844, effective July 1, 2026 mobile food units are permitted via a single statewide DSHS Mobile Food Vendor license (Type I $309; Type II $618 +$400 pre-licensing; Type III $876 +$500 pre-licensing); Local mobile permits expired June 30, 2026; AAPHD may still inspect on behalf of the state; The AAPHD fee schedule does not list a distinct local mobile food unit fee
Who issues food permits in Randall County?
Food permits here are issued by Amarillo Area Public Health District (Department of Environmental Health), which covers Potter and Randall Counties. 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