Rutherford County, TN Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Rutherford County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health, operating under the Tennessee Department of Health (Tennessee Food Safety Act). Permitting is STATE-administered; Rutherford is not one of TN's six locally-run metro health departments. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Rutherford County food-facility health permits run about $210–$360 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Rutherford County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health, operating under the Tennessee Department of Health (Tennessee Food Safety Act). Permitting is STATE-administered; Rutherford is not one of TN's six locally-run metro health departments. 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 Rutherford County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health, operating under the Tennessee Department of Health (Tennessee Food Safety Act). Permitting is STATE-administered; Rutherford is not one of TN's six locally-run metro health departments. issues the health permit.
About 628 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 367,101. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Permit (TN Code 68-14-713)
Annual, by seating:
0-50 seats $210
51+ seats $360 (statewide statutory fee)
Delinquency penalty = one-half the permit fee if delinquent >
30 days
Statewide statutory schedule applies in all state-administered TN counties, including Rutherford; Seating tiers ($210 / $360) confirmed via Shelby County TN (gov) FAQ citing the state schedule; other amounts confirmed via TN Code 68-14-713. Auxiliary (limited) food service operations $100. Permit year runs July 1-June 30
Plan review — required
TN Dept
of Health does not publish a separate plan-review fee
plan/menu review is part of the permitting process under Rule 1200-23-01
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Rutherford County’s permit cost compares
At about $210/year, Rutherford County’s restaurant health permit is above the Tennessee median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 78% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 90th-lowest of 94 Tennessee 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 628 food & drinking establishments serve ~367,101 residents in Rutherford County — one per ~585 residents, denser than the Tennessee average (one per ~706).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$210 annual health permit.
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
Fees are set by state statute (TN Code Ann; 68-14-713), not by the county
Temporary food service establishment $30; school food service $80; child-care/congregate meal sites (0-50 seats) $50; farmers market food units $300 (all per TN Code 68-14-713)
Delinquency penalty: one-half the permit fee if delinquent more than 30 calendar days
Six TN counties run their own health departments (Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Shelby, Sullivan); Rutherford is NOT among them, so state fees apply
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
$100/yr (Auxiliary food service operation, TN Code 68-14-713)
TN's 'auxiliary food service operation' is the closest enumerated category to a limited/central-prep operation
Bar / limited food service
$100/yr (Auxiliary food service operation, TN Code 68-14-713)
Limited food service operations are permitted as auxiliary food service operations; a full-service establishment uses the seating tiers ($210 / $360)
Temporary / seasonal event
$30 per temporary food service establishment; farmers market food units $300 (TN Code 68-14-713)
Statewide statutory fees
Pushcart / mobile vending
mobile units are not separately enumerated in TN Code 68-14-713; permitted as a food service establishment (0-50 seat tier = $210/yr)
Requires a commissary/base of operations
Equipment your Rutherford 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.
Annual, by seating: 0-50 seats $210; 51+ seats $360 (statewide statutory fee); Delinquency penalty = one-half the permit fee if delinquent >30 days These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Rutherford County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: TN Dept; of Health does not publish a separate plan-review fee; plan/menu review is part of the permitting process under Rule 1200-23-01
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Rutherford County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units require a commissary/base of operations; Local business licensing (Murfreesboro/Rutherford County) is separate
Who issues food permits in Rutherford County?
Food permits here are issued by Rutherford County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health, operating under the Tennessee Department of Health (Tennessee Food Safety Act). Permitting is STATE-administered; Rutherford is not one of TN's six locally-run metro health departments.. 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