Saginaw County Health Department, Environmental Health / Food Service Sanitation (licenses restaurants). Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county. 1600 N. Michigan Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602; (989) 758-3686. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Saginaw County food-facility health permits run about $270–$1,025 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $880–$2,035. Confirm the exact amount with Saginaw County Health Department, Environmental Health / Food Service Sanitation (licenses restaurants). Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county. 1600 N. Michigan Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602; (989) 758-3686. 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 Saginaw County Health Department, Environmental Health / Food Service Sanitation (licenses restaurants). Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county. 1600 N. Michigan Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602; (989) 758-3686. issues the health permit.
About 375 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 187,782. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 License (fixed, annual, by seating)
Food service establishment (includes license surcharge):
0-50 seats $560.00
51-75 seats $670.00
76-100 seats $815.00
101+ seats $1,025.00. Non-profit: 0-50 $270.00
51-75 $325.00
76-100 $398.00
101+ $518.00
From Saginaw County Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective 10/1/2025. Licenses expire April 30 each year
Michigan local health departments inspect under the Michigan Food Law/FDA Food Code (priority/core violations); no letter grade or score. Reports on MDARD's online Food Inspection Postings (MiSafe).
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit / Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU)
Mobile Food Unit license $555.00 (includes license surcharge)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Saginaw County’s permit cost compares
At about $270/year, Saginaw County’s restaurant health permit is below the Michigan median ($372) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 91% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 22nd-lowest of 63 Michigan 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 375 food & drinking establishments serve ~187,782 residents in Saginaw County — one per ~501 residents, about the Michigan average (one per ~501).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$270 annual health permit + $880 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
Full published fee schedule (eff; 10/1/2025) covers for-profit, non-profit, and seasonal restaurants plus temporary, STFU, mobile, and plan review
Temporary food license: 1-9 days $139.00, 10-14 days $169.00; non-profit 1-9 days $75.00, 10-14 days $90.00
Michigan model: county licenses restaurants; MDARD licenses grocery/retail markets
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
Temporary 1-9 days $139.00, 10-14 days $169.00; non-profit 1-9 days $75.00, 10-14 days $90.00. Seasonal food service (by seating) $445.00 (0-50) / $525.00 (51-75) / $640.00 (76-100) / $820.00 (101+) (eff; 10/1/2025)
From Saginaw County EH Fee Schedule
Pushcart / mobile vending
Mobile Food Unit $555.00 (incl; license surcharge); STFU $300.00, non-profit STFU $150.00, plus STFU inspection fee $90.00 (eff; 10/1/2025)
STFU & Mobile plan review $1,275.00
Bar / limited food service
Limited plan review $880.00 (eff; 10/1/2025)
'Limited' appears in the fee schedule as a plan-review category; a standalone limited-service annual license amount is not separately listed
Grocery / market with deli
grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not Saginaw County
Saginaw County licenses restaurants (food service establishments) only
Equipment your Saginaw 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.
Food service establishment (includes license surcharge): 0-50 seats $560.00; 51-75 seats $670.00; 76-100 seats $815.00; 101+ seats $1,025.00. Non-profit: 0-50 $270.00; 51-75 $325.00; 76-100 $398.00; 101+ $518.00 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Saginaw County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: By seating: 0-50 seats $1,115.00; 51-75 $1,325.00; 76-100 $1,580.00; 101+ $2,035.00. STFU & Mobile $1,275.00; Limited $880.00 (eff; 10/1/2025)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Saginaw County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Seasonal food service (by seating) $445.00 (0-50) to $820.00 (101+)
Who issues food permits in Saginaw County?
Food permits here are issued by Saginaw County Health Department, Environmental Health / Food Service Sanitation (licenses restaurants). Grocery/retail food markets are licensed by MDARD, not the county. 1600 N. Michigan Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602; (989) 758-3686.. 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