Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Richmond City Health District (RCHD), Environmental Health (Virginia Dept. of Health local district) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Richmond city food-facility health permits run about $40 annually. Plan review runs about $40. Confirm the exact amount with Richmond City Health District (RCHD), Environmental Health (Virginia Dept. of Health local district) 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 Richmond City Health District (RCHD), Environmental Health (Virginia Dept. of Health local district) issues the health permit.
About 677 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 229,247. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment Permit (annual)
$40.00 application/processing fee (statewide VDH)
Virginia food establishment permits carry no separate annual permit fee beyond the application fee
Process governed by statewide VDH Food Regulations (12VAC5-421); Apply/pay by mail or in person to RCHD Environmental Health, 400 E; Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219; (804) 205-3912. A Certified Food Protection Manager is required
Plan review — required
$40.00 plan review fee (statewide VDH) for new or remodeled food establishments, or when adding/changing equipment
Turnaround: not published on RCHD page; VDH requires plan review and approval before construction/remodel/opening
Mobile units follow RCHD Mobile Unit Guidelines; generally must operate from an approved commissary/base of operation; Multi-jurisdiction operation may require permits in each locality
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Richmond city’s permit cost compares
At about $40/year, Richmond city’s restaurant health permit is about the Virginia median ($40) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 15% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 105th-lowest of 133 Virginia 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 677 food & drinking establishments serve ~229,247 residents in Richmond city — one per ~339 residents, denser than the Virginia average (one per ~630).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$40 annual health permit + $40 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
Virginia food permitting is administered by VDH through local health districts, so fees ($40 application + $40 plan review) are set statewide rather than by the city
RCHD publishes an 'Opening a Food Establishment' procedures checklist tailored to the type of operation
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Caterer
$40
VDH Richmond City charges a flat $40 food establishment permit; caterers permitted as food establishments
Commissary / central kitchen
$40
Permitted as a food establishment; flat $40 permit fee
Bakery
$40
Permitted as a food establishment; flat $40 permit fee
Market / grocery with deli
$40
In-store deli/coffee shop permitted as a food establishment; flat $40 permit fee (page cites coffee shops among ~1,100 permitted establishments)
Temporary / special event
$40 annually
Temporary Food Establishment permit, $40 annually
Food processing / wholesale
—
Wholesale, home-based food operations, and product packaging are regulated by the Virginia Dept; of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS), not VDH Richmond City; no local fee
Equipment your Richmond city 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.
$40.00 application/processing fee (statewide VDH); Virginia food establishment permits carry no separate annual permit fee beyond the application fee These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Richmond city?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $40.00 plan review fee (statewide VDH) for new or remodeled food establishments, or when adding/changing equipment
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Richmond city?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units follow RCHD Mobile Unit Guidelines; generally must operate from an approved commissary/base of operation; Multi-jurisdiction operation may require permits in each locality
Who issues food permits in Richmond city?
Food permits here are issued by Richmond City Health District (RCHD), Environmental Health (Virginia Dept. of Health local district). 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