Restaurants and food trucks.
Richland County food-facility health permits run about $100–$450 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with South Carolina Department of Agriculture - Retail Food Safety & Compliance (STATE-administered; retail food safety transferred from SC DHEC to SCDA effective July 1, 2024) 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 South Carolina Department of Agriculture - Retail Food Safety & Compliance (STATE-administered; retail food safety transferred from SC DHEC to SCDA effective July 1, 2024) issues the health permit.
About 829 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 425,138. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
STATE-administered gross-sales schedule (no county schedule); A one-time new-establishment/change-of-ownership application applies on top of the annual inspection fee; the specific new-permit dollar amount is set out on SCDA's 'How to Apply' page (confirm; commonly cited as $100); Once the fee is paid no paper permit is issued; the posted grade sticker serves as the permit; Late penalties: +$50 (30-59 days past due), +$100 (60+ days)
A grade decal (A >87 pts, B 78-87, C <78) is posted at the main entrance with a QR code linking to the SC Food Grades online inspection reports.
STATE-administered by SCDA; A commissary/servicing base is required; Mobile supplemental application is available in English, Spanish and Chinese
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery / market with deli | Same statewide annual inspection fee by gross FOOD sales: $100 ($0-$250,000); $150 ($250,001-$500,000); $200 ($500,001-$750,000); $250 ($750,001-$1,000,000); $300 ($1,000,001-$1,250,000); $350 ($1,250,001-$1,500,000); $400 ($1,500,001-$1,750,000); $450 ($1,750,001+) | STATE-administered: SCDA does not break out grocery separately; a convenience store/grocery that prepares or packages food on-site pays on gross food sales (alcohol/general merchandise excluded) |
| Temporary / seasonal event | temporary/seasonal food at events is handled through SCDA's Event Authorization Application under Reg 61-25; a specific dollar fee is not on the annual inspection fee schedule; Confirm with SCDA (803-896-0640) | STATE-administered: distinct 'Event Authorization' pathway, fee not published on the annual schedule |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | mobile food establishments use a Mobile Food Establishment supplemental application under Reg 61-25; the annual inspection fee follows the same gross-food-sales schedule ($100-$450); Confirm the exact mobile fee/base with SCDA (803-896-0640) | STATE-administered: distinct mobile supplemental application, but the fee is the uniform gross-sales inspection fee; commissary required |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Richland County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →