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 Wisconsin DATCP, Division of Food and Recreational Safety issues the health permit. Wisconsin sets food-establishment fees at the state level through Wisconsin DATCP, Division of Food and Recreational Safety, EXCEPT in counties/cities that run their own health department (which set their own fees). Confirm which applies to your exact address.
Restaurant / food-facility permit
Food establishment permit / license (state-set)
- {'
- note'
- : '
- State (DATCP) annual license fee for a Retail Food Establishment
- Serving Meals
- Tiered by operational complexity.'
- , '
- prepackaged'
- : 105, '
- simple'
- : 230, '
- moderate'
- : 330, '
- complex'
- : 540, '
- unit'
- : '
- USD/year'
- }
Set at the state level by Wisconsin DATCP, Division of Food and Recreational Safety; a single statewide fee schedule for counties without their own health department; Effective Fee schedule form F-fd-101 Rev; 02/2022 (amounts current as of the DATCP fee schedule PDF observed 2026-08-21); fees last restructured under the 2020 ATCP 75 revision
Plan review — check locally
- {'
- note'
- : "
- DATCP calls this the '
- Pre-Inspection Fee'
- (charged for a new establishment / pre-opening review)
- Tiered to match the license level."
- , '
- prepackaged'
- : 130, '
- simple'
- : 320, '
- moderate'
- : 470, '
- complex'
- : 770, '
- unit'
- : '
- USD (one-time, new establishment)'
- }
Reach the department
OfficeRichland County Health & Human Services, Environmental Health, 221 West Seminary St, Richland Center, WI 53581
Inspection grading
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile food establishment (state-set)
{'note':
- "
- Mobile retail food establishments serving meals pay the same tiered license fees as fixed establishments
- each mobile tier also carries the same pre-inspection fee
- A '
- Mobile Base
- No Food Prep'
- base unit is $45. Transient (special-event) serving-meals fees are lower: Prepackaged $45, Non-TCS $75, TCS $170."
- , '
- prepackaged'
- : 105, '
- simple'
- : 230, '
- moderate'
- : 330, '
- complex'
- : 540, '
- mobile_base_no_food_prep'
- : 45, '
- unit'
- : '
- USD/year'
- }
State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements
How to apply
See the department site above.
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a food permit in Richland County?
{'note': 'State (DATCP) annual license fee for a Retail Food Establishment; Serving Meals; Tiered by operational complexity.', 'prepackaged': 105, 'simple': 230, 'moderate': 330, 'complex': 540, 'unit': 'USD/year'} These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Richland County?
Plan review may apply; check locally with the department. Typical fees: {'note': "DATCP calls this the 'Pre-Inspection Fee' (charged for a new establishment / pre-opening review); Tiered to match the license level.", 'prepackaged': 130, 'simple': 320, 'moderate': 470, 'complex': 770, 'unit': 'USD (one-time, new establishment)'}
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Richland County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements
Who issues food permits in Richland County?
Food permits here are issued by Wisconsin DATCP, Division of Food and Recreational Safety. 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.