San Bernardino County, CA Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
San Bernardino County Public Health - Environmental Health Services (EHS) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
San Bernardino County food-facility health permits run about $267–$841 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $122.50–$1,845. Confirm the exact amount with San Bernardino County Public Health - Environmental Health Services (EHS) 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 San Bernardino County Public Health - Environmental Health Services (EHS) issues the health permit.
About 3,872 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 2,195,611. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Public Eating Place (Retail Food) Permit
Annual (EHS Fee Schedule, data date 6/30/2026), seat-based:
Seat/risk-based recurring fee set by Board of Supervisors; Ghost kitchens, shared-kitchen providers and commissaries each require a separate additional permit; Re-score grade inspection billed at $245/hr (0.5 hr min $122.50)
Plan review — required
Retail Food Plan Check (Public Eating Place / School prep, new):
0-1,499 sqft $1,534
1,500-5,999 sqft $1,739
6,000+ sqft $1,845. Major remodel 0-1,499 $1,358 / minor $1,144 / plan change $885 (higher tiers scale up)
Hourly billable plan check $245/hr (0.5 hr min $122.50)
5% e-plan submittal discount
Turnaround: Not published in the fee schedule; plan check required before construction/remodel
San Bernardino posts A/B/C letter-grade cards (100-point scale) plus a green/yellow/red pass placard; both required in the window.
Inspection scores & grading
Grading system: 100-point score + letter grade with color placard (green Pass / yellow Conditional Pass / red Closed). San Bernardino County DEHS starts each facility at 100 points and deducts per violation; a score, letter grade and colored placard are posted at the public entrance (also published on Yelp). Facilities inspected at least twice/yr.
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How San Bernardino County’s permit cost compares
At about $267/year, San Bernardino County’s restaurant health permit is below the California median ($491) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 91% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 10th-lowest of 40 California 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 3,872 food & drinking establishments serve ~2,195,611 residents in San Bernardino County — one per ~567 residents, sparser than the California average (one per ~491).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$267 annual health permit + $122 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.
The full approval stack
A code-compliant kitchen in San Bernardino County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.
Equipment your San Bernardino 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.
How much is a food permit in San Bernardino County?
Annual (EHS Fee Schedule, data date 6/30/2026), seat-based: Public Eating Pl 0-24 seats $622; 25-99 seats $731; 100+ seats $841. Seasonal versions $311 / $366 / $421. School full-service prep $628; snack bar food prep $267; camp public eating place $592 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in San Bernardino County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Retail Food Plan Check (Public Eating Place / School prep, new): 0-1,499 sqft $1,534; 1,500-5,999 sqft $1,739; 6,000+ sqft $1,845. Major remodel 0-1,499 $1,358 / minor $1,144 / plan change $885 (higher tiers scale up); Hourly billable plan check $245/hr (0.5 hr min $122.50); 5% e-plan submittal discount
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in San Bernardino County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Risk-tiered; Compact Mobile Food Operations follow CCDEH CMFO guidelines; Some carts/CMFO may be permit-exempt ($0)
Who issues food permits in San Bernardino County?
Food permits here are issued by San Bernardino County Public Health - Environmental Health Services (EHS). 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